OVERVIEW
This is another opportunity to work independently to complete tasks outside of the simulation. In this “On Your Own” task, you will plan for a client interview and also explore different healthy diet plans that will allow you to feel what it’s like to follow a prescribed diet.

Remember that you should complete the “On Your Own” task in parallel with the corresponding simulation task. Refer to the rotation schedule for details.

Plan for your Client Interview
When preparing for the initial meeting with a client, remember that the work begins even before the client walks in the door. Now that you’ve created a questionnaire, you will take the next step and prepare for the client interview. You will need to schedule a 30 minute appointment with a peer or acquaintance who will serve as your “client” for this task. But first you want to anticipate the different challenges that might come up in that meeting. There are many questions you should ask yourself before the initial meeting takes place. For example, what are your goals for the interview, and how might you handle sensitive questions? Prep work is an important part of being a thorough Nutritional Advisor.

You will need to videotape or record the client interview, so your mentor can later provide feedback on your performance. In planning for the interview, you should speak to your mentor about making arrangements for video or audio recording equipment.

Complete the attached Interview Plan Template to help you prepare for the interview with your client.

Select Two Diet Plans and Track your Diet and Exercise Habits
One of the goals of the Nutrition Advisor rotation is for you to get lots of practice making healthy choices about your own nutritional health. With that in mind, you now have a chance to try out a couple of diet plans and experiment with the foods you eat. You will choose two different plans and follow each of them for three days.

The purpose of these diet plans is not to lose weight, but to try out different healthy approaches when it comes to the kinds of foods you eat. You will learn about what you like and don’t like to eat as well as the potential benefits and challenges that come with making changes to your diet. Keep in mind that these are not “formal” diet plans that prescribe exact foods and amounts you should eat at each meal, but they do encourage you to incorporate certain types of healthy foods into your normal routine. As you try the different plans, be sure to follow a balanced diet with about the same number of calories you usually consume to maintain your current weight. Also, keep track of your diet and exercise habits, and think about how each plan made you feel. Was it difficult? Would you follow it in the future? Did you discover a new favorite food?

Use the attached Diet & Exercise Journal to record your food intake and activity level for each day (and each plan). You’ll need to keep close track of everything you eat and drink during this period. When you have completed the Diet & Exercise Journal for each plan (six days total), submit it to your mentor for feedback.

Finalize Your Client Questionnaire
Based on the feedback you received from your mentor in On Your Own A, you should make any final edits to your client questionnaire if you haven’t already done so. In addition, your experience following the different diet plans may prompt you to revise your client questionnaire further, as you consider what it’s like to be “in the client’s shoes.” You’ll want to make sure you included all the questions you need that will help you gather the most relevant information from a client. Remember, later you will use this questionnaire to interview the peer you selected to serve as your client.

If you choose to revise your questionnaire, submit it to your mentor for feedback.