How to Address Nutrition in Wellness Coaching: 5 Strategies
Discover effective strategies to integrate nutrition into wellness coaching, informed by leading experts in the field. This article delves into proven principles and practical tips to enhance clients' mental and physical health through diet. Gain the knowledge to guide informed food choices and create impactful, whole-food based meal plans.
- Emphasize Nutrition's Role in Mental Health
- Promote Science-Backed Nutrition Principles
- Guide Clients Toward Informed Food Choices
- Recommend Whole-Foods Based Diets
- Offer Customized and Generic Meal Plans
Emphasize Nutrition's Role in Mental Health
In wellness coaching sessions, I view nutrition as an integral part of overall mental and physical well-being, but I approach it with a focus on balance and collaboration. While I don't provide specific dietary recommendations myself (as I am not a registered dietitian), I emphasize the importance of nourishing the body and how it impacts mental health. Good nutrition is a key factor in managing stress, mood regulation, and cognitive function, which can deeply affect clients' well-being.
I incorporate nutrition into my sessions in a few ways:
Raising Awareness: I educate clients on the connection between nutrition and mental health. For example, how blood sugar imbalances can contribute to anxiety or irritability, or how omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain health. I provide general information and encourage clients to pay attention to how certain foods make them feel emotionally and physically.
Self-Awareness Exercises: I often ask clients to keep a food and mood journal, noting how they feel after meals or snacks, and we discuss any patterns they notice. This helps clients become more mindful of how their eating habits are influencing their mental and emotional state.
Referral to Experts: If a client's nutrition needs are more specialized—such as managing a condition like diabetes, food allergies, or significant weight concerns—I always refer them to a registered dietitian (RD). I work closely with nutrition professionals to ensure that clients get the expert guidance they need while maintaining a holistic approach to their wellness.
By fostering collaboration with other healthcare professionals—such as dietitians, doctors, and therapists—I ensure that my clients receive well-rounded support. This way, they can tackle their wellness goals from multiple angles, whether it's nutrition, mental health, or physical fitness.
I also take into account that each person's needs and preferences are unique, so I work with clients to set realistic and personalized goals that fit their lifestyle. Ultimately, the goal is to empower clients with knowledge and resources to make the best choices for themselves, without overwhelming them with rigid rules.
Promote Science-Backed Nutrition Principles
Nutrition is an obvious key aspect of good health, and I include it in my practice to support healing, inflammation management, and overall function. With a B.S. in Human Nutrition/Dietetics from Colorado State University, I know how to address common nutrition concerns. While my primary focus is musculoskeletal problems, I know that good nutrition improves patient outcomes.
My Approach to Nutrition in Wellness Coaching
I frequently discuss fundamental nutrition principles with patients, answering questions about weight loss, energy levels, inflammation, and musculoskeletal health. Many ask about dietary supplements, particularly what to take for joint pain, muscle recovery, digestion, and immune support. I focus on science-backed recommendations on vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements.
I also like to emphasize a whole-food, nutrient-dense diet for long-term health, offering general advice on: Anti-inflammatory eating habits for joint health and chronic pain, Protein intake for muscle repair and recovery, Hydration for overall function and injury prevention, and Balanced macronutrients for energy and metabolism
Rather than extreme diets, I promote sustainable, evidence-based habits, including intermittent fasting, tailored to individual needs.
When I Refer to a Registered Dietitian (RD)
While I provide general nutrition advice and supplement recommendations, I do not create detailed meal plans or offer medical nutrition therapy for complex conditions. If a patient needs diabetes management, cardiovascular care, gastrointestinal support, or precise macronutrient planning, I refer them to a registered dietitian (RD). RDs specialize in medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and create personalized plans based on medical history and goals. I view collaboration with RDs as essential to ensuring patients receive expert, individualized guidance.
The Importance of a Collaborative Approach
By integrating nutrition, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and holistic therapies, I take a comprehensive approach to health. Addressing both structural and nutritional factors helps patients achieve better long-term outcomes, whether for pain relief, mobility, or overall wellness. Ultimately, I provide reliable, practical nutrition guidance while referring to an RD when specialized expertise is needed. Combining integrative health strategies with expert nutritional care allows patients to make informed decisions that support their wellness journey.
Guide Clients Toward Informed Food Choices
Nutrition plays a huge role in overall wellness, and I always emphasize its importance in any wellness coaching conversation. However, I believe in sticking to my expertise--so while I discuss general healthy eating principles and food choices, I avoid making specific dietary recommendations.
Instead, I focus on educating and guiding clients toward making informed food decisions that align with their lifestyle, goals, and cultural preferences. For example, I might suggest incorporating nutrient-dense snacks like a combination of protein and fiber-rich foods, healthy fats, or naturally sweet options instead of processed alternatives. Simple choices like fresh fruits, nuts, yogurt-based snacks, whole-grain options, or homemade energy bites can make a big difference in maintaining steady energy levels throughout the day.
If someone needs a personalized meal plan or has specific health concerns, I always recommend working with a registered dietitian or nutritionist who can provide science-backed, individualized advice.
At the end of the day, wellness isn't just about eating "perfectly"--it's about balance, sustainability, and developing a healthy relationship with food. My role is to support that journey by offering insights from the food industry, consumer trends, and practical strategies that make healthy eating more accessible and enjoyable.
Recommend Whole-Foods Based Diets
In my coaching work, I promote an individualized whole-foods based diet with a focus on an adequate and balanced nutrient content. For bariatric patients, that often means basing their meals on things that are high in protein and low in carbs, which keep them feeling full and heal quickly after surgery. A study published in Obesity Surgery (2022) found that patients who followed a protein-dominant diet in the first six months after the surgery lost significantly more weight and had fewer complications! So, for diabetic patients, I recommend some low-glycemic-index foods that will help them to stabilize their blood sugar. High-fiber diets that emphasize whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats lowered Hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c levels by 1.5% after six months according to a 2021 study in Diabetes Care. At Ambari Nutrition, we've promoted these principles through our product line, providing meals and snacks that integrate these dietary focus areas.
I also frequently recommend meal plans that incorporate our bariatric-friendly protein shakes or diabetic-approved snacks so that patients always have a healthy option that's convenient. I also educate patients about portion control, mindful eating and hydration - all of which are critical for long-term success. One of our 2023 customer case studies showed that while using personalized meal plans and Ambari Nutrition products at the same time, users experienced 15% more weight loss than those without Ambari Nutrition. I emphasize consistency and accountability, too, as patients record what they eat and track their progress.
Offer Customized and Generic Meal Plans
We have a Certified Nutrition Coach on staff full-time at our 3 med spas! To accommodate the needs of our weight loss clients who enroll in our GLP-1 programs, we currently offer nutrition counseling services in two ways: - a generic, yet elaborate meal plan for those in need of simple tweaks to their current lifestyle - a customized and robust meal planning session via Zoom for clients who desire dramatic changes to their eating habits For the most part, our dietary recommendations include a Mediterranean-style diet... because diets like Keto, gluten-free or zero-carb tend to be less sustainable. Nutritional guidance services like these are ideal for clients who are seeking increased energy, balanced hormones and bigger weight loss results over time.
