This page is where will find ideas that you may be able to use for your programs and protocols. The list will grow and they will be posted as we create them. The goal is that the tasks should be easy and simple.
Idea 1:
- Create a food list – there is one in the Healthy Gut DFY for gut health foods and in Healthy Gut itself and I plan to create one for Healthy Hormones. But you can do this for any topic or just create a list of foods you want them to eat. Ask them to check off all the foods on the list that they currently eat – put it in categories and put in check boxes. This will help them see that the healthy eating task is not so overwhelming. Then ask them to pick a food on the list they don’t eat and try it. Provide them with some suggestions for using the food they pick, if they need help with that or and if they don’t, ask them to describe how they would use it. Try to get them to picture how it might taste.
- For online programs: They would do this exercise on their own unless you are having live online meetings. But to make it more experiential – have them post the one food they picked into your closed Facebook group page and get the group to post their ideas for using the food and of course, you make sure you post an idea – perhaps even post a link to a recipe – what ever you think would be the most useful for the client.
Idea 2:
- Have them do a food journal – minimum 3 days – 5 would be better. Make sure one of the days is a weekend day. Then work with them to “fix” it. They make the choices as to what to add and take out and you help them balance it out. This is psychologically very good for them because they have the control and they are working with their existing style of eating and just modifying it instead of trying a completely new way of eating. If you have the done-for-you menu plans or your own menu plans – then give these to the clients for ideas
- For online programs – have them do the food journal on their own and then break it down for discussion as a group. This can be done in a Facebook group or an online meeting. You start with breakfast: Ask them to post in the chat (in an online meeting) or the Facebook page. Ask them which of the breakfasts they put in their journal they enjoyed the most or worked for them the best. Once you see their answer, then ask them to come up with a suggestion to improve it (only don’t word it that way – say “add to it to help meet your goal” Let’s say they need more fibre. For example: “What do you think you could add to this to increase the fibre?” And of course, you will have some suggestions, too if they need them. And maybe the group will as well. If their breakfast is already good then tell them so, congratulate them and then ask them about the next best breakfast they enjoyed. Or you can ask them why they think this is such a good breakfast and get them to describe why it worked for them or why they liked so much (maybe they can describe the taste) (this is getting them to relive the experience). You can also ask them to create another breakfast idea they think would give them a similar result. Just one task to keep it simple
Idea 3: Using the menu plan as a teaching tool. Most people will not follow the menu plan so instead of having them think it is a waste of time or they have no use for it, have them do the exercise below. If allows them to choose what they try and makes them really think about their taste buds and what appeals to them. – something that they do not often get to do. Listen to the Replay of Meeting 6 for the discussion.
- Take an existing menu plan that is appropriate for your area of focus or will work for the menu plan and instead of having the client follow the menu plan, ask them to pick 5 recipes they think they will like and the task between sessions is to try at least one of the recipes. Discuss why the ingredients ahead of time are beneficial for their health concerns so they understand why they are doing it. This works for groups and one-on-one for offline and online that’s live ( you are holding live meetings online)
- For recorded programs: Post this as a task in the closed facebook group and have them post their choices and then encourage them to pick one to make an report back. As they post their choices, you can post info as to why the ingredients at beneficial. What will be interesting to see is other members comments – you can even ask why they think it is beneficial – this will depend on what you have taught them. If you are using the menu plans from DFY from Healthy Gut or DFY from Healthy Hormone, then the front section tells them why certain foods help.
Idea 4: Another idea for using the menu plan. Listen to the Replay of Meeting 6 for the discussion.
- For live sessions in person or online, group or one-on-one, do a one day menu plan in the session – they get to use the menu plan for suggestions and the get to adapt the recipes or the meals (with your guidance) to make it more to their liking. This starts the process of teaching them how to plan for themselves.
- For record programs, same process only do it in the facebook group. Have them start by suggesting breakfast, then lunch snack dinner. Post each meal as a separate thread. Encouraged them to post their thoughts or ask questions about how to change a meal or recipe to make it more to their liking. You could also do this as a special bonus live webinar
Idea 5: Listen to the Replay of Meeting 6 for the discussion.
- Pick a meal to discuss and ask them to pick three foods (ie vegetables) that would help their health condition to work into the meal. This can be done for live groups or one-on-one. And in the Facebook group for record programs – the assignment is in the program but the discussion is done in the Facebook group
Idea 6: Most people need a chewing exercise: Listen to the Replay of Meeting 6 for the discussion
- For in-person session – group or one-on-one – have a snack there to take them through an exercise where they chew bites of food 40 times. Give instructions as to how to do it including bite size.
- For recorded programs, put the assignment into the program – maybe record yourself chewing 40 times as a demo and make recommendations for types of foods to try chewing 40 time like toast or pasta or raw vegetables