The beginning of a new year is like a clean slate, a time when we all can start over and let our good intentions prevail. But as you know from working with clients, “less than perfect” habits creep back in all too easily. The truth is, when it comes to resolutions, especially those centered on food choices and dieting, most are getting it all wrong. It’s no wonder many of your clients have to create new resolutions each year, because nothing ever really sticks long-term. So this New Year it’s time for a new approach, one that you can use to help your clients lose or maintain their weight with lasting results. Here are some tips to help you guide clients as they set their resolutions:

Counseling Tip #1: Help your clients take a positive approach to healthy eating. Guide them to steer clear of commitments like “I’m giving up” this, or “I’m avoiding” that food. This negative way of thinking is what eventually sparks feelings of deprivation, which often leads to cravings. And who can avoid an intense craving? Not me and I am sure not you either. So instead of a perpetuating the negative way of thinking about food choices, let’s start helping clients think of what foods they SHOULD be eating by focusing on what they may need to add to their diet.

Counseling Tip #2: Teach clients how to diversify their diet and include all foods. Choosing a variety of nutrient-rich foods is the best way to help people get the important vitamins and minerals our bodies needs and help us to feel more satisfied. Nutrient-rich foods provide a wide-range of unique nutrients and tend to contain fewer calories per serving, so adding these foods to the diet is the perfect way to help your clients manage their weight and improve their health.  Start by sharing ways they can include foods from all of the food groups like low-fat milk and dairy products, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and leans meats, seafood, beans, eggs and nuts.

Counseling Tip #3: There is no one-size fits all approach, so customize and individualize your clients healthy eating plan. We are all unique and therefore our approach to eating should be as well. Try incorporating their personal values into their food choices and help them set realistic goals you know they can accomplish. Is it important for your client to buy local food? Is cost and convenience their priority? Do cultural traditions take precedence? All of these factors should be considered when you help clients take small steps toward their goals.

Counseling Tip #4: It’s important to encourage your clients to enjoy what they eat. I am sure you are wondering how weight management, New Year’s resolutions and “enjoying” food all come together, but I promise that this really works! Taste, flavor, satiety and pleasure are all an important part of eating, and these factors should be a part of your clients’ healthy eating plan. With some savvy meal planning and preparation suggestions, you can help them balance their diet across all five food groups and still include some of their favorite “indulgences” every now and then and not feel guilty about doing so.

Now that you have a glimpse of our counseling strategies for a new approach to healthy eating and lifestyle change, we encourage you to follow our New Year, New Approach blog series on www.mealsmatter.org throughout the month of January. By following you will learn more about each of the above tips and strategies, and gain some helpful advice from our experts.  In addition to providing your clients with our effective nutrition education booklets, share our Meals Matter blog as an added tool for achieving long-term success with their New Year’s resolutions.

Ashley Rosales
Registered Dietitian