RUMFORD — Rumford Hospital will offer three nutrition programs for community members on the first three Wednesdays of December. Tricia Dunton, a registered and licensed dietitian, will present the programs from 3 to 4 p.m. in the hospital’s Conference Room A on the ground floor.

Rumford Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab program is urging its clients to attend.

On Dec. 2, Dunton’s talk will be “An Introduction to MyPyramid.” She will break down each food group and discuss daily recommendations and nutritional benefits.

For the second session on Dec. 9, she will talk about “Smart Shopping and Label Reading,” with nutrition fact labels, shopping tips, nutrient density, eating on a budget and meal planning techniques.

On Dec. 16, “The Savvy Chef” will focus on meal preparation, substitution suggestions and serving suggestions, topped by a cooking demonstration.

Dunton is a 2006 graduate of the University of Maine Orono, where she majored in human nutrition. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of New Hampshire in 2007, and later that year passed the registered dietitian examination. Dunton is employed by the Central Maine Medical Center Wellness Center through a community collaboration with Western Maine Community Action’s Women, Infant and Children program.

The nutrition classes are free and open to the public. Registration is preferred by calling 369-1136.