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July 11, 2006
Life with a personal dietitian
This piece written by Barbara Quinn, RD, CDE is very funny to us dietitians. For some reason (and I think it's the same with other professions) it's hard for family members to take our knowledge/specialties seriously. As long as they get the information and they listen and act - job well done.
My husband has a personal dietitian and it's not who you think. This relationship started a year or so ago when he took a nutrition class from Michelle, an extremely talented registered dietitian who also happens to be my friend and co-worker.
"Let me tell you what I learned from 'my' dietitian," he'd say when he got home from class each week.
"Pray tell," I'd respond with wifely enthusiasm.
"She showed us that a reasonable serving size is this big... ," he'd demonstrate as he made a fist with his hand. "That's the limit on how much I should eat... a fistful of meat, a fistful of pasta... if I want to eat healthfully."
"Interesting!" I'd say, wondering if he had heard anything I'd said to him over the past two decades of our marriage.
"You know," he informed me a few weeks later, "MY dietitian says I need to eat lots of vegetables. And I've found they really do add a lot of flavor to meals."
"Real-ly," I'd manage to smile through my teeth.
Have I had any influence on this man's nutritional profile in the last 20-odd years? I remember when we were first married I couldn't get him to drink low-fat milk. So I did what any resourceful dietitian/wife would do. When he wasn't looking, I'd sneak to the refrigerator and pour nonfat milk into his carton of whole milk.
He never suspected a thing... until he caught me in the act one day. But it was too late. By that time, he was already accustomed to the taste of lower fat milk. How's THAT for a personal dietitian?
Still, my husband has become spellbound with the important nutrition concepts he has learned from his "P.D." (Personal Dietitian).
One evening as I was preparing to leave the next day for a NUTRITION conference, I asked my dear spouse, "What is the most important thing you have learned from Michelle?"
"The most important?" he said, obviously enthused about my question. "Self-talk... even though I hate to admit it because it's a little touchy-feely."
"Positive self-talk?" I attempted to interject.
"Just self-talk," he corrected. "Talking to yourself like your mother would: Are you really hungry? Do you really want a double cheeseburger? Eat your vegetables"
I nodded knowingly.
"And lastly," he continued, on his roll, "exercise, exercise, exercise. Nothing will change unless you..."
"Exercise?"
"Right!"
I'm SO glad he shared all this valuable information with me.
Posted by Lisa at July 11, 2006 09:54 AM
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