Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

More than 70% of 2018 worldwide deaths were from noncommunicable diseases (diabetes, cancer, etc.). The World Health Organization (WHO) blames tobacco use, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol use, air pollution—and unhealthy diets. As a health coach, I focus on working with the client and appreciating their uniqueness. The client describes what they want to accomplish, even when a physician refers them. I help them create their plan towards their goal. I rely on what the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) refers to as primary and secondary foods. An ideal diet won’t be enough, even if other risk factors are non issues. What if someone hates their job, or has no hobby, or can’t sleep because the neighbor’s dog keeps barking? The “primary food” is their sense of well-being. A healthy diet is secondary. In this workshop, participants learn to: 1) share autonomy; 2) better understand clients/patients; 3) incorporate “primary” and “secondary” foods in health literacy with clients/patients; and 4) develop ways to do this that suit them and their practices. We’ll do this by: 1) role playing–filling out self-assessment questionnaires (of mine, based in part on those used by IIN and by the College of Staten Island); 2) reflecting, sharing results; 3) brainstorming to create drafts of their own tools; and 4) reflecting on the processes and experience.