6 strategies to improve your consultation

As a nutritionist it can be frustrating when patients cancel their appointments over and over again. That they do not follow the original structure of the eating plan or simply that they do not commit to practicing the recommendations. The importance of adherence to the treatment offered in the nutritional consultation lies in:

• Positively impact your health, especially to reduce the risks of chronic diseases, achieve tangible changes in body composition and prevent complications when you already have a chronic disease.
• Achieve a feeling of satisfaction for having met personal and health objectives. The following strategies can be of great help to help your patients stick to a healthy life in the short and long term:

Forget about complicated plans and recommendations

For some patients it can be overwhelming to undergo one or more health treatments. Design your plans/recommendations in such a way that they are easy to understand and follow. The following ideas have been effective in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes:

• Structured plans with breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner options.
• Provide the supermarket list.
• Tips to control the desire to eat when you are not hungry.
• Teach portions for each food group.
• Provide long-term food variety and flexibility.

** Be interested and create an environment of trust **

Be open to feedback about what works, what is difficult to follow, and individual preferences. The efforts of the health team to help solve a problem or adapt recommendations to your lifestyle have been reported as a great driver for sticking to treatment. Another tool to achieve an environment of trust and introspection is the “Motivational Interview”. Studies with trained nutritionists in different clinical settings have given positive results in behavioral changes and attachment on the part of patients.

Individual interventions and realistic goals

Be realistic in your goals and recommendations, especially considering the following: -Not all people work the same way.

• Not all patients have the same abilities to put the recommendations into practice or follow the eating plan.

Team up with other health professionals

Remember that you don’t have to know everything, rely on other disciplines and health professionals to achieve optimal and complete treatment.

Explain the reason for the recommendations

Use science-based information to teach your patients the importance of following a certain recommendation. The goal is for them to learn to make better choices that realistically and positively impact their health. *

Monitor frequently

Don’t lose track of your patients for too long, regular monitoring has been reported as key to maintaining a long-term healthy life. **I give you 4 Key Practices to grow your practice but these classes will only be FREE today. CLICK here **