How Do You Translate Complex Nutritional Information Into Actionable Advice?
To help nutrition professionals translate complex nutritional information into actionable advice, we asked dietitians and co-founders for their best strategies. From explaining research simply to tailoring advice to a client's learning style, here are the top five tips these experts shared on making nutritional guidance more accessible.
- Explain Research Simply
- Use Relatable Analogies
- Avoid Over-Explaining
- Provide Relevant Actionable Steps
- Tailor Advice to Client's Learning Style
Explain Research Simply
It first starts with fully understanding the research. I have always said that you should feel comfortable explaining the information to a 10-year-old and a PhD candidate to truly show knowledge of it. Next, try to make it as succinct as possible. Keep it short and direct, but be able to answer any questions they may have. Not everyone is interested in the nitty-gritty details. There was some semi-recent research showing that when dividing the same calories by either 6 (small meals) or 3 (large meals), the group eating fewer, larger meals showed more satisfaction and less desire to snack. Simply saying that recent research shows that committing to larger, more balanced meals may help with controlling hunger is enough for most clients.
Use Relatable Analogies
Simplifying complex nutritional information is key to helping clients make informed decisions. For example, I worked with a client who found macronutrient balance confusing. I explained it by comparing their diet to building a balanced plate: proteins as the building blocks, carbohydrates as the fuel, and fats as the helpers in nutrient absorption. This analogy made the concept clear and actionable for them. They adjusted their meal planning accordingly, leading to better energy levels and overall health. Breaking down scientific terms into everyday language empowers clients to achieve their nutritional goals without feeling overwhelmed.
Avoid Over-Explaining
It might sound counterintuitive, but I try not to over-explain complex nutrition information to my clients. As an eating-disorder dietitian, I have many clients whose disordered habits stem from obsessing over nutrition science and being extremely rigid about what and how much they can eat. Instead of getting into the weeds over certain niche nutrition topics during nutrition counseling sessions, I spend as much time as possible listening to each client describe their own eating habits, challenges, life circumstances, and goals. Then, I'll offer some personalized guidance based on both nutrition science and that individual client's needs, being careful not to give irrelevant nutrition education.
For example, a client who is drastically under-eating doesn't need to hear about nutrient timing or the different types of fat — they need to understand the importance of eating enough overall. It's important not to overwhelm people with information they don't need, because nutrition is personal and not everyone needs to be focusing on the same things.
Provide Relevant Actionable Steps
You have to provide your education and recommendations in applicable ways the client can move forward with. If you just speak in science-y terms, or just medical jargon, it comes across as condescending or the information is not consolidated in their brain. For example, telling a diabetic client to cut out excessive carbohydrates in their diet is useless, especially if they don't know where their carbohydrate intake is coming from. Rather, pointing out how there's a lot of sugar coming from their beverages and then defining a goal to cut back on sugar-sweetened beverages would provide a more relevant, actionable step for them to consider taking.
Tailor Advice to Client's Learning Style
As nutrition professionals, one of the most critical aspects of our work is translating complex nutritional concepts into practical, actionable advice that resonates with our clients. This process begins with understanding the client's current knowledge, their motivation, and how they best learn. When we present information that aligns with their level of understanding and speaks to their personal motivators, we significantly increase the likelihood of their engagement and confidence, empowering them to take meaningful action.
A key step in this process is assessing the client's learning style and preferences. For instance, some clients may be visual learners, benefiting from images, diagrams, or charts to grasp complex topics. Others might find auditory explanations more effective, preferring detailed discussions or verbal instructions. Tailoring our communication methods to match these preferences can make nutritional advice more approachable and easier to implement.
When dealing with particularly complex information, it's essential to identify the primary takeaways and convey them in a way that is both clear and relevant to the client. One effective strategy to gain insights into a client’s learning preferences is to ask them directly during the intake process. This allows us to customize our approach, ensuring that the client receives information in the most impactful way.
To illustrate this approach in practice, I once worked with a client struggling to understand the connection between their dietary habits and their persistent fatigue. After identifying that they were a visual learner and highly motivated by understanding the 'why' behind recommendations, I created a simple visual chart that connected their current eating patterns with their energy levels throughout the day. This visual representation, coupled with a clear explanation of the underlying nutritional principles, allowed the client to see the immediate relevance of the dietary changes. They not only understood what needed to be done but were also inspired to make the necessary adjustments, leading to noticeable improvements in their energy levels.
By prioritizing personalized education, we not only make complex nutritional information more accessible but also foster a sense of empowerment in our clients, enabling them to make lasting, positive changes to their health.
