3 Questions to Help You Gain Clarity on Your Nutrition Goals
Are you feeling unhappy with your eating habits and unsure of where to start? These three questions, which are ones that I try to ask my clients when I get the chance, can help you cut through the noise and calm overwhelm, so that you can get clear on your next steps toward change:
1. On a scale of 0-10, with 0 meaning “completely dissatisfied” and 10 meaning “perfectly satisfied,” how satisfied are you with your current eating habits?
If you are desiring a change in your eating habits, then chances are your answer won’t be “10/10”. (Though it should be noted that the ultimate goal isn’t necessarily to be at “10/10” 100% of the time—nobody’s perfect, and perfectionism is a characteristic of white supremacy anyway.) What this question allows us to do is to try to quantify, or at least provide some additional language, in describing your experience. What does “10/10” look like for you and how does it compare to your eating habits now? How far do you feel your current eating habits are from your personal ideal?
What if I’m perfectly satisfied with my eating habits even though there’s something that I should be changing?
If you’re feeling like there’s something that you “should” be changing, then you probably aren’t perfectly satisfied with your eating habits, are you? Seriously though, “we don’t know what we don’t know” is a valid fear and the answer to this question isn’t straightforward.
In most cases, this idea that we “should” be changing our eating habits usually comes from a health-related concern. Perhaps it’s a new diagnosis, or fear of receiving a new diagnosis. Some questions that may be worth exploring in this scenario:
What outcome is being promised if I do change my eating habits?
Is it guaranteed that changing my eating habits will lead to this outcome?
Are there other ways that I can get to this outcome aside from changing my eating habits?
In addition to the above, what other factors are at play when it comes to making/not making this change?
2. What made you say [x] and not 0?
Usually when I ask clients this question, they expect me to say “What made you say [x] and not 10?” and they give me answers to both anyway. 😅 Our brains are wired to focus on the negative as a means of survival, and so we often miss the things that are going well. What this question does is to help build confidence—you’re not starting from nothing. You know what eating habits satisfy you, and you’re already doing some of them. This can also be an opportunity to reflect on what helped you establish some of your current habits, and perhaps use some of those ideas and techniques to build new ones.
What if I did say 0?
That sounds really tough. I’m sorry to hear that it feels like nothing when it comes to your eating is going well at all, and I think it’s cool that you’re wanting to make a change now.
Have there been times in your life where you felt differently about your eating habits? What are some differences between then and your eating habits now?
3. What would need to change for [x] to become [x+1]?
Often when people are unsure of where to start when it comes to changing their eating habits, it’s because they are trying to jump from wherever they are to their 10/10 “ideal” scenario. This question helps to break things down into smaller, more manageable steps toward a larger goal.
What if I am struggling to answer this question?
If you haven’t done so already, you might find it helpful to write out your answers to the previous two questions. Seeing your answers might make it easier for you to visualize your next steps. Similarly, and if you feel comfortable, you might find it helpful to talk through your answers with someone (I know a dietitian…) who might be able to reflect back your answers in a way that you might be unable to notice on your own.