Helen Costello, MS, RDN, LD, was named this year’s New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Outstanding Dietitian of the Year for 2019. Helen’s service to NHAND began in the late 1980s. She has served as Treasurer, President-elect, President, Past President and most recently from 2013-2016 as Delegate from New Hampshire to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics House of Delegates. As President-elect, Helen led the second effort to gain licensure in NH. Licensure was finally granted following the third attempt by the Board of Directors. On the national level, Helen has served on the Executive Committee of the Hunger and Environmental Nutrition dietetic practice group. Her positions with the DPG include Secretary, Chair-elect, Chair and Past Chair.
Helen received her BS degree in Food and Nutrition from Montclair State College in New Jersey. She received her MS degree from the University of New Hampshire in Animal and Nutritional Sciences and another MS degree from Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in the field of Food Policy and Applied Nutrition: Agriculture, Food and Environment. Helen began her career at Elliot Hospital as a staff dietitian before establishing a private practice as an independent nutrition consultant. In 2001 she established Nutrition Crossroads. As Owner of Nutrition Crossroads, she provided strategic consulting services to organizations requiring access to nutrition education and local food production in New Hampshire. In 2007 Helen began her tenure as the Program Manager, Recipe for Success Program, for the New Hampshire Food Bank. Helen left the NH Food Bank in November of 2018 to consult and to start a farm in Maine.
Helen has been recognized over the years with numerous awards. She has published several articles for the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in addition to other periodicals. Helen has provided professional and community leadership through her many affiliations while serving at the New Hampshire Food Bank including the Governor’s Taskforce on Farm Viability in New Hampshire.
NHAND commends Helen for her service to the dietetics profession and wishes her success in her new venture as a farmer!
