Last weekend our whole team was lucky enough to attend a two day workshop run by Health Change Australia. Massive kudos to our directors for organizing this for us; was a great experience getting our entire team together (doctors, reception/admin staff and allied health) to learn more about how to effectively motivate our clients to make the changes required to maximize their health. See Irwin’s great comments about how we introduce ourselves here.
One of the issues that came up was that giving our clients a food diary, before they have even come in to see us can be off putting, and in some instances, has been a barrier to attending appointments.
Yes, we find it incredibly useful to have the food diary there in the initial consult as it provides a great overview of what the client eats. Furthermore, research shows that people who keep a food diary are more likely to achieve their goals. You can read more of my thoughts on food diaries here. However, if that is stopping people from getting the help they need, well then we as practitioners must find a better way. As a result, we have decided to scrap this initiative, and then we can discuss in the first consult to get a better grasp on how the client feels about it, and also ensure that they do truly understand why we may ask them to do it.
What do you think? Do you think having a food diary to help assessment, or to help you keep accountable is useful?
Chloe McLeod is a dietitian at BJC Health.
This blog focuses on diet & nutrition generally and diet & nutrition in relation to the treatment of arthritis and arthritis-related diseases. Contact us if you’d like our help in managing diet-related health issues
