A custom-fit plan is created, in combination with effective education, to implement permanent changes in habits, food choices, and exercise.
Fact from Fiction: The level of understanding and accuracy of nutrition information varies greatly among individuals who seek nutrition counseling. It is essential (and my personal mission) to provide fact and evidence based information that can help patients feel confident in the food and lifestyle changes that we develop together during a session.
Show and Tell: Materials and visual models are very important in enhancing nutrition education. The following list is just a very small example of materials, models and information sources that are used in a nutrition counseling session:
- The amount of sugar, fats, and protein in any food item
- Your Body Mass Index plotted on a BMI curve – and heights, weights, and BMI for children
- Charts that identifies and indicate specific benefits of phyto-chemicals (contained in the pigment) in fruits and vegetables
- Examples of single “portion” sizes of various food items
- A website that provides information, study results, safety issues regarding herbs and supplements,
and so much more…
A Plan in Place: Following aforementioned steps, we develop a food (and exercise) plan that is a custom fit to an individual’s lifestyle and preferences. Subsequent visits target problem solving; additional food planning, further education, coaching, addressing new medical conditions and lab work, etc. This helps an individual stay on track and focused toward achieving his or her goals.