Nutrition Counseling & Meal Planning Flashcards

Which counseling model is most aligned with helping a LEAP client navigate resistance to dietary change?

Answer: Motivational interviewing (MI)

Motivational interviewing helps resolve ambivalence and builds intrinsic motivation for adherence to restrictive dietary protocols like LEAP.

A client states, 'I know I should follow the meal plan, but eating out with friends is really hard.' A CLT using motivational interviewing would BEST respond with:

Answer: 'Tell me more about what makes eating out challenging for you.'

Reflective listening and open questions explore the client's barriers, a core MI technique that builds rapport and supports behavior change.

When a CLT sets SMART goals with a client for meal planning, what does the 'T' in SMART stand for?

Answer: Time-bound

Time-bound goals include a specific deadline, making them more actionable and measurable for the client.

A client with IBS on a LEAP plan reports that her husband cooks all meals and is skeptical of the protocol. The CLT's BEST strategy is to:

Answer: Invite the husband to a counseling session to explain the evidence base and practical meal strategies

Engaging key household members improves the social support environment, which is a critical determinant of dietary adherence.

Which stage of the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) describes a client who says, 'I've been meal prepping my LEAP foods every Sunday for three months'?

Answer: Maintenance

Maintenance is characterized by sustained behavior change beyond six months; three months of consistent behavior places the client in the Action stage, but consistent practice beyond six months would indicate Maintenance.

Which assessment tool is most useful for a CLT to identify a client's readiness to adopt a therapeutic elimination diet?

Answer: Readiness ruler or confidence/importance scaling from MI

Readiness rulers from motivational interviewing quickly quantify both importance and confidence, guiding how much counseling support the client needs before beginning the protocol.

A client in Phase 1 of LEAP reports feeling isolated because she cannot share meals with coworkers. The CLT should FIRST:

Answer: Validate her feelings and brainstorm compliant portable meal options she can bring to shared settings

Validating emotions and problem-solving together demonstrates empathy and builds practical strategies that support adherence without bypassing the protocol.