It seems like every other minute theres a new diet or wellness trend on the rise.
Take out thegrains, and thebloatingwill go away.
Remove the dairy, and the acne will clear up.
Tim Robberts
Go keto, and the pounds will melt away.
And this isnt just for registered dietitians or other health professionals.
The way you use language to communicate your message is extremely important.
When talking about health and wellness, it can be easy to fall into jargon traps.
Wellness terminology can come across as intimidating to someone who doesnt know where to begin.
It also isolates people who have low health literacy.
Break things down in a clear and concise way.
Use the term but break it down to its most basic form.
For example, omega 3s are fatty acids that may support heart health and reduce inflammation in the body.
Blanket statements get thrown around, and an individuals own specific life and circumstances are not taken into account.
And for people of size who also have chronic conditions?
As wellness practitioners, we should communicate in a non-judgmental tone.
Have you thought about ways to incorporate them into your plate?
This doesnt mean that you should ignore someone telling you about their sugar intake.
And random, but not so random side note, restriction usually never works.
Along similar lines, removing shameful commentary is important.
Saying things like the reason people have diabetes is because they drink soda is inaccurate and counterproductive.
When youre communicating with your audience, check in to verify theyre following what youre saying.
This isnt just about saying, Are you following so far?
Its about creating an environment that welcomes questions.
If youre on Instagram, I recommend using the questions feature on the app.
It will help you create a space where questions are acknowledged and addressed.
But if you want me to do this in a different way, c’mon let me know.
This can leave people feeling like their traditional ways of eatingdont fit within the mainstream wellness paradigm.
When people see themselves represented through your work, they are more likely to engage with you.
And asking shouldnt be followed up by recommending that they stop eating their cultural foods.
By doing this, were able to service people better.
This will help you tailor your recommendations to the individual.
Once you obtain information about someones cultural practices, incorporate that into your recommendations.
The goal is to explore what vegetables theyre open to adding to their plate with the tortillas.
Use your platform to bring underrepresented people to the table.
Engage with, listen to, and feature people that may not fit the dominant wellness archetype.
Amplify their voices and gain perspective through their experiences.
Include people of different cultural backgrounds, skin tones, ages, and body sizes.
Oftentimes, willpower is promoted as the only thing a person needs to improve their health.
There are, however, practical things that we can do to make our message more accessible.
By addressing barriers, you make it easier for more people to get what they need.
Start by asking questions that will help you learn more about clients experiences.
For example, What are the food options you have in your neighborhoodin terms of groceries and restaurants?
or What makes it difficult to eat balanced meals?
Also, What would you better have for make breakfast for yourself most mornings?
you might also make recommendations that take into account barriers to wellness.
As wellness practitioners, we are eager to share all of our knowledge and resources with the public.
We want people to live healthier lives, and want to help them get there.
However, you dont need to have the solutions to every single one of everyones problems.
However, its important to recognize that these are major issues that wont be resolved by providing wellness counseling.
So there you have it.
Practical ways to communicate in a more inclusive way as a wellness practitioner.
Keep in mind that these concepts can be applied to different configs.
We all have an opportunity to shift the way wellness is communicated to the masses.
Lets bring as many people as we can into the conversation, versus preaching to the same choir.
She is passionate about education communities on plant-based eating, in ways that are accessible and culturally relevant.
