What do you think is the best avenue for educating people on healthy eating?

I'm new to this site, so just to give a brief intro about myself: I'm working as a Registered Dietitian doing diabetes education in an outpatient setting. I really enjoy my time with my patients and I find this a very rewarding field. But after three years at my current position, I want to branch out. I think our education program is wonderful, and I wish more people had access it such an indepth education program. My main concern is that I'm helping one patient at at time, while meanwhile fighting to correct all of the misinformation that is out there. Many people do not have the means to attend formal education classes, so they rely on friends and family members to give them dietary guidance, which is often times incorrect.

My goal is to utilize the internet to reach the masses, to promote RD's and do some serious PR to promote our organization. So I am interested in any feedback you can offer. If you were an average consumer, where would you look for nutrition information or dietary guidance? Is the internet something you think most people have access to? What other forms of mass media might help reach a large population? I would appreciate any feedback and recommendations!

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Permalink Reply by Sugar and Sprouts on July 1, 2008 at 6:48am

One place I would start promoting RDs is on twitter. It seems VERY weird at first - you type in what you are doing at the moment you are typing, but it quickly becomes addictive and is a great PR tool. You can search for others who have a nutrition interest, etc.

If you do check it out, I am @sugarsprouts and would be happy to give you a shout out to the people "following" my tweets.

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Permalink Reply by Susana on July 5, 2008 at 2:17pm

I started changing my lifestyle about twenty years ago when I met a woman that taught me a lot about good and bad proteins, good and bad carbohydrates, and so on. Since then, I'm always learning something new.

Internet is a good source of information but don't trust everything. I also read books. My husband and I research together and have our own conclusions.

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Permalink Reply by David on July 5, 2008 at 11:48pm

Great question Amy.

I think that the Internet is definitely the route for R.D.'s to go. Especially with the need to reach more people with increased speed and ease without compromising your ability to advise them on their food and other nutrition and other issues.

The accessibility and efficiency factor that this affords, is going to be more needed, especially as people are starting to realize more and more about the complex interplay between food, and health.

That's why I am so impressed by the work that all three of you--including Lisa--have done with Iowa Avenue, Weight1Minute, and the Healthy Lifestyle Bloggers network.

Quite frankly, I think you guys are onto something major.
Keep up the great work.

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Permalink Reply by Susan on July 6, 2008 at 5:14am

Amy,

I come out of the advertising/marketing industry, with 12+ years in the Internet space.

Currently, over 70% of all US adults have broadband internet access either at home or through an outside connection (e.g., workplace, library, et al). As such, the internet is a tremendous means for educational purposes.

With that said, when it comes to medical advice, there is research that indicates that consumers prefer a "personal touch". As such, I agree with previous posters recommending video as a means for reaching the masses (video has a strong viral aspect), along with a strong SEO program for enabling the consumers to find the information.

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Permalink Reply by Metroknow on July 10, 2008 at 9:23pm

Sorry I'm late to the conversation - its a great one!

While I definitely agree on the Internet, youtube, etc., being incredibly important and useful, I have to say, I think if you want to have the greatest impact you should focus on volunteer work with individual young people through a volunteer program. I have worked as a mentor in the past via a volunteer arts organization (my wife and I mentored 6 high school students for several months through a city arts grant), and we were really able to make a lasting impression (I believe).

Unfortunately, to me the problem with relying on mass media including the Web for this kind of life change is information overload. With the guidance changing radically from day to day in the mainstream (yesterday margarine was the savior, today it's the killer), there is nothing like having a person you know and respect who can answer specific questions, or provide tailored guidance, particularly in the mid to late teens. What is lost for most these days is personal contact; working individually with kids at that critical age where they are beginning to really make their own decisions can leave such a strong impression that they will be permanently changed in their perception.

That said, reaching a greater volume of people is certainly important - it's why I do it on Almost Fit. :)

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Permalink Reply by summergirl on July 17, 2008 at 8:16am

As someone who only recently sought out the help of a RD/certified Nutritionist, I found myself wondering after the first visit... "Why doesn't my health insurance plan (or ANY for that matter) offer REAL plan coverage for this... encouragement to go see and RD... and why isn't a RD someone that EVERYONE should go see as regularly as a family physician?" I have CIGNA and the way our co. plan works is that they consider one R.D. within a 50 mi radius as "in-network". The bulk of cost is mine to pay if I go to this person, as the plan will only cover 10% of costs... it just so happens that the sole authorized dietician's office location is 25 miles away (in Chapel Hill, NC) from where I live ...and she just so happens to charge 3x as much as the RD I see in my city-Raleigh, NC; there are MANY RD's available in this area... but my huge plan only gives the 10% break to one. Thus I go to my more local contact and pay right out of pocket ... a third of what i'd pay to the plan participant. I think there should be an RD in every University health office and a free initial visit given (required) to every college freshman. I also think you should have a huge ad-campaign on tv to let people know who you are and what you actually do. I think many are simply unaware that RD's exist until they are required to see one for a health condition. I became aware of my RD, because she gave a brief presentation at a running club that I was a member of a few yrs ago. She spoke for maybe 30 min's on good nutrition and then ... how her profession helps athletes as well as every day people. This would be great exposure for you if in private practice.