What is nutrition counseling and how it works?
Nutrition counseling, for me, is about connecting and establishing trusting relationships. We start with a nutrition assessment. Then we set your health goals and identify resources you already have and those you might need to achieve them. And finally, we create a step-by-step action plan.
Nutrition assessment
Nutrition counseling starts with evaluating your current health concerns, health history, eating habits, and foods that you eat regularly. We collect and assess the information to understand your starting point.
Setting Compelling Goals
We then discuss what it is you want to achieve, clarify and set your health goals. Having specific, measurable, compelling, and achievable objectives helps stay motivated and focused on the task. Further along the process, we revisit this conversation from time to time to re-evaluate and set new goals.
We partner up
Then we start constructing your personalized plan to achieve these goals, and we do it together. And of course, you are in the driver’s seat now because you know yourself better than me or anybody else. When I suggest something, I explain how it’s going to help you improve, how it’s going to affect your body and move you in the direction of your goals. However, you are the only one who can make those changes happen. Are you willing to do it? Will my suggestion work for you in your life? Is it the best place to start? Your contribution to this discussion is not only welcome – it’s the key to your success.
What you take home
By the end of the session, we agree on a couple of steps to implement at home. For example, it can be new food to try, replace some food(s) with different ones, or change the timing of your meals. Alternatively, we might agree on a new skill or habit to start developing. We foster a friendly and curious attitude toward ourselves.
Why follow-up sessions are so important?
The follow-ups are crucial for this kind of experiential work that we do together. As you go home to try out the plan we created during the consultation, you have success or not. Often things work out, and sometimes they don’t. There isn’t a single plan that works for everyone.
It’s crucial to discuss what worked for you and what didn’t to learn from our mistakes and build on successes. In addition, the follow-up sessions are essential for staying engaged and getting support and encouragement. Many of my clients appreciate accountability as well.
Who can benefit form Nutrition counseling?
Most of my clients see me when they have some health concerns like digestive discomfort, or they want to lose weight. Sometimes they are referred by a doctor for a specific medical condition like high blood sugar or elevated cholesterol. From time to time, I see a perfectly healthy client who wants to validate their eating pattern.
In my experience, most people can benefit from talking to a nutritionist. We have lost the skill and the tradition of cooking wholesome meals daily. We used to acquire those skills from our mothers, grandmothers, and other family members in the past. As a consequence, “nutrition education” was built into our upbringing. Unfortunately, we now rely on the food industry to feed us and inform us, and the results are far from ideal. The majority of the diseases of the Western world, like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, are linked to our lifestyle and food choices.
Nutrition information is confusing
There is a lot of information available about food and nutrition. Quite often, it is confusing and even contradictory. One day we learn to eat eggs the next day, we should stay away from them. Fruits are good for us, but what if we are trying to lose weight? Should we avoid them? Will we be missing essential nutrients then? All these questions might get you really frustrated, stressed out, and even anxious. I often address my clients’ food-related stress and give them peace of mind.
a nutrition coach by your side
Another reason people seek my help is that they need help making the changes in their diet and eating habits. Even with a good knowledge of nutrition and what healthy eating looks like, they often have a hard time making it happen. For instance, most of us know and agree that sweets are not nutritious foods. However, so many of us are still unable to say No! to sweets. My coaching skills can help you make the change. Through series of engaging and motivating sessions, nutrition counseling helps you build new healthy eating habits.
Do you take Care First Blue Choice insurance?
Thanks,
Gerri O’Boyle
I don’t participate with Care First. Thanks for asking, Gerri.