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

Posted by Amy on June 28, 2008 at 9:26pm in Education

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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ask The Dietitian on June 29, 2008 at 7:05am: Well, if I was an average consumer I would obtain my info from a registered dietitian - but there lies the problem. RDs tend to be "expensive" in most people's eyes. Also, I am not sure people realize what a registered dietitian is and how much education is involved and what we have to offer. I also believe the internet is the best place to reach the masses and is widely underutilized by RDs. But you and I can change all that.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Salinas on June 29, 2008 at 8:04am: Amy-
Hello, and welcome! Without a doubt I believe the internet is rapidly becoming the major resource for many, health, news, history, entertainment etc. Unfortunately much of what is displayed or presented if you will, on the internet is not qualified or confirmed. But fortunately the internet is a very cost effective, efficient, effective method to reach the masses. However, it is important to find resources that are reputable that will ensure trust and confidence. The sky is the limit if the proper steps are taken.......my two cents!

Thanks!
Mark; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tom Rooney on June 29, 2008 at 9:03am: Hi Amy,

In my humble opinion, to reach the masses quickly, nothing is faster than doing a video education module. Usually about 10 minutes in length or less (most people can't stay focused enough for a longer message) and then you want to post it on YouTube as well as your site. Having a social network such as this can help promote your video for you.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by May on June 30, 2008 at 7:30am: I completely agree. I think that's where people will go first and it has the capacity to spread so quickly in that format - provided it's catchy and/or interesting enough.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Eilers on June 29, 2008 at 9:24am: Welcome!

Many people do not even know that going to a Registered Dietitian is even an option. So they get their eating information from books or the Internet.

Besides, there are so many experts out there who offer good programs, it is hard to choose. Whose program is good? Who has the best available information? Who stands out above the rest?

Anyway, if everybody does their part, we can all reach more people and help make this world a better, healthier place.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Steve v4.6 on June 29, 2008 at 10:02am: What you're doing is becoming more and more relevant and important to an increasing population. Bravo!

I'm fascinated by the reach of certain retail organizations (Costco for example) that create community both online and in print. Would writing helpful articles for their publications to their membership be a possibility?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susanna on June 29, 2008 at 10:47am: I concur with the other responses: the internet is a great tool, particularly blogs and videos.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Nelson on June 29, 2008 at 11:08am: Hi Amy,

Here's my two cents -

One main thing I have learned when trying to provide online nutrition education is "if you try to help everyone, you help no one". So, very important to find your niche. If you try to cover too broad an area, the message gets watered down and is not effective. Then find the place online where your target goes for information and establish a "web presence" there.

Good luck!
Lisa
eNutritionServices; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amy on June 29, 2008 at 8:03pm: Thanks for all your input. As I said, this is all new to me but I'm very excited to get started and find my niche. I really enjoy writing, so if there's any way I can incorporate that into a job, what could be better? I'm just starting to explore my options, and I'm happy to start here!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Foster on June 30, 2008 at 12:04am: Hi Amy, welcome to one of the answers to your question: Iowa Ave is a great place for like-minded, healthy thinkers to congregate and help spread the good word about healthy eating. But while I feel the internet, as well as most media, are great ways to share information and educate, healthy eating needs to start at home and in school--but mostly at home. People are influenced by behavior and associations they see on a daily basis. What we all need to do, as indivuduals, is take personal accountability of our actions, especially when it comes to eating healthy.

peace,
Mike; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa Newton on June 30, 2008 at 5:31am: As many people have stated, I truly believe the Internet is a powerful tool for spending the message of a healthy lifestyle. More and more people are gaining their health information online, so the importance of having a good, reliable, and professional information source becomes a high priority, which is the main reason Iowa Avenue exists.

It is people like you, Diana, David, Mike, Susanna, Metroknow, Miguel, and all of the other Iowa Avenue members are so important. We are all people with different backgrounds, different ideas, and different educations coming to one place to express our views, thinking, and still have a little fun.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gabrielle Shafer on June 30, 2008 at 7:13am: I would think that you start a grass roots movement by starting at your local YMCA, libraries, schools, groceries and health food stores by offering seminars geared toward both adults and children and in doing this you could promote your web site as well. I think that this is an excellent idea to really amp up people's knowledge about health and diet. With our national obesity epidemic something more really needs to be done and this would be a great start in creating a small audience that could grow over time.; ▶ Reply to This