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How to Complete On Your Own B:

Plan for your Client Interview
Use the Interview Plan Template provided to prepare for the initial meeting with the client.

Select Two Diet Plans and Track your Diet and Exercise Habits
Use the Diet and Exercise Journal provided to track your diet and exercise habits for two different diet plans of your choice for three days each (six days total). Keep in mind that the purpose of these plans is to offer you different approaches to healthy eating. ***If you have any dietary restrictions, or if you or your parents have any concerns about following any of these plans, please consult with your doctor. If your doctor determines that you are unable to participate in this task, please make alternate arrangements with your mentor.***

Finalize Your Client Questionnaire
Based on the feedback you received from your mentor in On Your Own A, along with your experience following two diet plans in this task, make any final edits to your client questionnaire and highlight the edits in the questionnaire. Then submit your final questionnaire to your mentor.

 

Plan for Your Client Interview

1. Handle the logistics for the client interview. Think about whom you might like to interview and make an appointment to interview that person in about a week.
   
   
   1. Schedule the interview. Ask an acquaintance or peer if s/he would be willing to be your “real world” client for this interview. When making arrangements, make sure to:
      
      
      • Choose someone who is not a close relative or friend, so you can remain objective during the client interview. You don’t want any prejudices or biases to interfere with professionalism. Because the interview is for educational purposes and you are not a trained professional, do not select anyone you know to have particularly complicated dietary or emotional needs.
        
        
      • Provide your prospective client with a copy of the Confidentiality Agreement and ask if they are comfortable with it. As part of the rotation, you and your client are required to sign this agreement at the time of the interview, stating that their information will remain confidential between you and the mentor, unless a referral is required. If they do not want to sign a confidentiality agreement, you must choose another person to interview. (If you are under 18, you also need to obtain your parent's signature, so plan accordingly prior to the actual interview.)
        
        
      • Inform your client that you will be videotaping or recording the session. Explain that your mentor will use the recording later to provide feedback on your performance.
        
        
      • Provide the client with a blank Diet and Exercise Journal and ask them to record their food intake for at least one day prior to the interview. Encourage them to fill out more than one day (ideally 3 days) if they can. Be sure to give them the Diet and Exercise Journal in advance of the interview and ask them to bring the completed version to the interview. (You will need the diet history information for activities in On Your Own D.)
        
        
   2. Make arrangements for video or audio recording equipment. You will need to tape the interview (with audio or video equipment). If you have questions about the logistics of obtaining or using the equipment, check with your mentor.

2. Prepare for your client interview. Use the Interview Plan Template to help you capture your thoughts as you prepare for your meeting with the client. The questions you answer in the template will help you anticipate challenges that may come up during the interview. What are the questions that might stump you in the meeting? How can you help put a client at ease? You’ll want to put your best foot forward since this is your first time meeting with the client, so the better prepared you are, the better the interview will be. For reference, you may refer to helpful links on conducting effective client interviews in the Resources section (link above).

 

Select Two Diet Plans and Track Your Diet and Exercise Habits

1. Select two diet plans from the list below to follow for three days each. Research information on eight potential diet plans and select the two that you want to follow for three days each. For more information on each of the diets, refer to the Diet Plans section of the Resources (link above).
   
   
   • Low cholesterol diet: This diet limits the amount of fats you eat. It is often prescribed for people who have high cholesterol.
     
     
   • Low sodium diet: This diet aims to reduce the daily intake of sodium or salt. It is often prescribed for someone with high blood pressure or heart disease.
     
     
   • Vegetarian (Lacto Ovo) diet: This is a vegetarian diet that omits meat, fish and poultry, but allows for the consumption of dairy products and eggs. This is a diet people may choose for moral, religious or health reasons.
     
     
   • High fiber diet + eight glasses of water a day: This diet calls for increasing the amount of fiber one eats, by eating whole grain foods such as cereals and bread and fresh fruits and vegetables. If you select this diet, it is important to also drink lots of water at regular intervals. This diet is a general healthy way to eat and helps to prevent heart disease and cancer.
     
     
   • Caffeine-free diet: This diet eliminates caffeine-based products from your diet regimen. People may follow this diet for a variety for reasons, ranging from general health to sleep regulation.
     
     
   • Five fruits and vegetables a day: This diet requires eating five portions of fruits and vegetables a day, for a good source of fiber, plus a whole range of vitamins and minerals. This diet is a general healthy way of eating.
     
     
   • No fast food and junk food for a week: This diet eliminates fast food and junk food for one week from your diet regimen. This includes any food purchased at a fast food restaurant, school or vending machines. Typical fast food includes pizza, burgers and fries. This diet is for someone who wants to maintain healthy eating principles.
     
     
   • Low sugar diet: This diet limits your daily sugar intake. It is often prescribed for someone who wants to lose weight or is a diabetic, or someone who wants to eat healthier.

   As you consider which plans to choose, ask yourself:

   • How is this plan different from my normal diet?
     
     
   • Will this plan challenge me to try new and healthier foods? If so, how so?
     
     
   • Do I know someone who has been on a similar diet and has liked it or found it difficult to follow? After trying this diet, could I relate to that person better or compare my experience with them?
     
     

2. Follow the diet plans you selected and track your diet and exercise habits as you go. Use the Diet and Exercise Journal as a template to help you track the two diet plans of your choice for three days each (six days total). You should also record your exercise for each day, keeping in mind the guidelines for healthy exercise (at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise or strength training a day). For reference, you may look at the sample journal available in the Resources section, which shows a completed journal for one day and includes examples of how to appropriately document portion size, and exercise, etc.
   
   
3. As you track your eating habits, remember to complete the self-reflection section in the Diet and Exercise Journal at the end of each diet. Think about how you feel as you are experimenting with the different diet plans and record your thoughts in the self-reflection section at the bottom of your Diet and Exercise Journal.

 

Finalize Your Client Questionnaire (if you choose to make additional edits)

1. Make any final edits to your client questionnaire, based on the feedback you received from your mentor in On Your Own A along with the insights you gained while following two diet plans in this task. (As a reminder, you should have saved your questionnaire with the following filename when completing step 3 of the Step-by-Step Guide for Create Your Client Questionnaire in OYO A: [YourLastName]_OYOC_MyClientQuestionnaire[Date=YYMMDD].doc)
   
   Your experience trying new diet plans and tracking your progress has given you a chance to see what it’s like to be in the client’s shoes. You may consider updating your questionnaire:
   
   
   • Would you add any new questions to the questionnaire?
     
     
   • Would you order your questions differently?

   Highlight your edits in the questionnaire (so your mentor knows what has changed since your last submission).

 

Submit Your Work

1. Review your work to make sure it is complete before submitting it for review.
   
   
2. Review the checklist located in the Submit your work section of this task and submit the following documents to your mentor:
   
   
   • Interview Plan Template
     
     
   • Diet and Exercise Journal
     
   • Final Client Questionnaire (if you choose to make additional edits)
     

3. Once you have submitted your materials, answer the questions in the Reflect on what you learned section of this task. You may answer the questions in a separate a Word document. Review the checklist located in the Submit your work section of this task and submit your response to your mentor when you are ready.

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Tracking your Diet Plans in the Diet and Exercise Journal:

• When you track your diet, record each meal and snack as you go. It’s easier than trying to remember everything you ate at the end of the day.
  
  
• Choose foods that are appropriate for the diet plan you selected.
  
  
• Accurately describe the portion size as well as the type of food (for example, 3 oz. of 2% cottage cheese, 8 oz. of skim milk). Try to avoid vague terms such as: a handful, a bite, some or a little.
  
  
• Record the type of exercise and the duration (for example, walking for 30 minutes).
  
  
• Complete the self-reflection section of your Diet and Exercise Journal at the end of each day, so you can list your immediate reactions when they are fresh in your mind.
  
  

Planning for your Client Interview:

• Think about specific challenges that may arise before the interview and how you might approach them.
  
  
• Try to imagine yourself in the client’s shoes. Treat the client like you would like to be treated.

  
  

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When referring to a Wikipedia resource, note that while Wikipedia is a valuable resource, unlike some other websites anyone can contribute to or modify the site (whether they're knowledgeable about the topic or not). As a result, the site is subject to constant change by questionable sources. Be sure to cross-check information on Wikipedia with other reputable sites to ensure accuracy.

TASK RESOURCES

Tracking Diet & Exercise

Sample Diet and Exercise Journal - This is a one-day sample of a completed Diet & Exercise Journal based on Jay Carter's diet history.

Exercise

The Benefits of Exercise - This site offers insights into the benefits of exercise for adolescents, including how to start an exercise program, what kind of exercise is best and how much exercise is enough.

Guidelines for Healthy Exercise - This FAQ addresses questions related to the recommended amount of daily exercise for teens and how much exercise is too much.

Maintaining Professionalism with Clients

Ask the Expert: What does client confidentiality mean in your field and why is it important? And what do you tell your clients about confidentiality and their rights? 

The Importance of Keeping Client Information Confidential - The issue of client confidentiality is an important one. This FAQ explains why confidentiality is vital to a dietitian's professionalism and must be taken seriously at all times.

Information on Various Diet Plans

Low Cholesterol Diets

Recipes for Low Fat and Low Cholesterol Meals

Reducing Cholesterol with Lifestyle Changes

The Best Foods to Lower your Cholesterol and Protect your Heart

How to Cook Low Cholesterol Meals

A Guide to Choosing Low Fat and Low Cholesterol Foods

Low Sodium Diets

Finding Out How Much Sodium You Need

Choosing Foods for a Reduced Sodium Diet

Building a Low Sodium Diet

Tips for a Low Sodium Diet

Sodium Content of Common Foods

Vegetarian (Lacto Ovo) Diets

Information on Vegetarian Meal Planning

Nutritional Adequacy of Vegetarian Diets

Lacto Ovo Vegetarian Menus

High Fiber Diets (Combined with Eight Glasses of Water a Day)

How to Make a High Fiber Diet Part of Your Lifestyle

Benefits of Following a High Fiber Diet

Making Healthy High Fiber Food Choices

Are Eight Glasses of Water Enough?

Water Intake and Athletes

Caffeine-free Diets

Caffeine Facts

Caffeine Content of Foods and Drugs

How Caffeine Affects the Body

Caffeine Content Chart

Five Fruits and Vegetables a Day

Ways to Get Your Five Fruits and Vegetables a Day

What Counts Towards the Daily Recommended Intake of Fruits and Vegetables

Fast Food and Junk Food

Your Guide to Eating Out

How to Plan to Avoid Junk Food

Fat Calories in a Fast Food Meal

Fast Food Nutrition Facts

Fast Food Means Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance for Teens

A Teen's Guide to Fast Food Facts

What is Junk Food?

The Facts on Junk Food and Fast Food Calories

Low Sugar Diets

How to Cut Back on High Sugar Foods

How to Resist the Sweet Temptation

Low Concentrated Sweet Diets

Side Effects of Sugar and Recommendations for Sweets

How to Limit Sugar Intake

 

GENERAL NUTRITION RESOURCES

Nutrition Tools & Practices

The Diagnosis & Treatment Process Specific to Nutrition - This document describes a process that health care professionals, and dietitians and nutritionists in particular, typically use to assess what is wrong with their patients, and how they develop treatment plans to help them.

MyPlate - This site provides information on the MyPlate Program, which was designed by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to promote healthy nutrition in children over two years of age. It serves as a general guide to daily food choices and includes age-specific food plans, calorie counters, and general nutrition guidelines.

Background Information

The American Dietetic Association - This is the site for the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

The American Society for Nutrition - This is the site for The American Society for Nutrition, a premier research society dedicated to improving the quality of life through the science of nutrition.

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food and Nutrition - Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's web site, this page gives you general useful information on food and nutrition.

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Dietary Guidelines for Americans - Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's web site, this page provides guidelines regarding how good dietary habits can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.

Nutritional Needs of Adolescents - This article provides a detailed account of facts and statistics regarding the nutritional needs of adolescents.

The Science of Biology, Eighth Edition, William K. Purves - This link requires a username and password. Your username is vista1, and your password is arginine. Using the menu at the top of the screen, select Chapter 50 (on nutrition) for the most relevant material.