People, not Patients

The medical profession has a tough task in trying to combat obesity. It’s not simple. It’s costly and it’s frustrating.

As a nutritionist, I’m personally frustrated. We need to be more creative in our approach. We need to champion smart people and organizations to work with people (not patients) to move in the right direction. We need to listen more. Talk less. We also need to work as teams. Straightforward communication is key.

Recently a client shared a handout of directions from his new doctor about what he NEEDED TO DO to lose weight. It was a list of high calorie foods to be avoided at all costs. Or he’d fail.

The list was a slash and burn of foods, many of them nutrient-dense and real foods that any trained nutrition professional would include in daily in a sound weight loss plan. It also included one line about how it was ok to have artificial sweeteners (really?, that’s not even food, but go ahead, have all you want).

It was a typed list, New Times Roman font, totally uninspiring and didactic, like the kind of handout you get for a colonoscopy prep. Everyone gets the same one. You either succeed or fail. Follow the list. FOLLOW THE LIST. See you in six months.

Here’s the thing that really gets me. This client has been doing incredibly well with his weight loss and lifestyle goals. We’ve been working together weekly through video sessions. We check in about what’s going well and what’s not. We set goals, together, but mostly he does the goal setting and I give him advice to balance it all out. We talk about a new food to try each week. Real food. Real cooking. Recipes. Walking. Shooting a few hoops. Doing things he enjoys. Things he’s never done before. Things he never thought he could do before.

Did the doctor ask him about that? Did he ask him about his success? How he felt? No, just treated him as another number and handed him the paper of what he must do.

This simple piece of paper just reduced 11 months of our hard work to a second guess. So, yeah, I’m frustrated.

We can do better. We must do better. Let’s get back to listening more and fostering real relationships, inspiring ones. That’s how we’ll make changes that last a lifetime.

Couponing for real food.

Have you noticed the coupon craze sweeping the nation? Food companies seem to be encouraging coupon savings more and more. But the coupons offered often highlight processed foods. It’s tough to eat healthy on a budget – here’s some tips to help you out.

• Collect coupons online. Food companies love to offer coupons, thinking you will try their product and buy it again. Look for the “offers” button on their website, most refresh every month.
• Know your store’s coupon policy. In some stores you may be able to use multiple coupons on one item, re-use your coupons over and over again, or use expired coupons.
• Look out for sales items that you have a coupon for already, this equals double savings. This works very well with Whole Foods, which provides in-store coupon booklets and online printable coupons.

Couponing not for you? Here are some tips for getting the best deal without all the clipping.

• Compare unit prices to get the absolute best deal. For example, a bag of chopped broccoli is marked up to $3/lb compared to a head of broccoli for $1.50/lb.
• Take a minute to look for super savings before shopping. There’s usually a weekly special – stock up and freeze excess for later.
• Discover new dry goods at the bulk section of the store like coconut granola, Turkish dates, and red lentils. These items are priced very low and the best part is that you can control the quantity you purchase!
• Buy the grocery store’s brand. More often than not, the store brand contains the same exact ingredients and is even cheaper than a specialty brand on sale.

Want sustainable meats and seafood, organic produce, and specialty foods? You’re in luck. Shopping at natural food stores will usually give lower prices on these items compared to conventional grocery stores. Check out their flyers for even more savings like The Whole Deal coupon booklet offered in Whole Foods stores.

Happy and healthy shopping!

By Liz Schneider