In 2023, more and more people are searching for personalized nutrition advice.
The global personalized-nutrition market was valued at $14 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $37 billion by 2030 — almost three times the size of the market in 2021. According to McKinsey data, this is due to the increased interest of millennials and Gen Z consumers, of whom 49% and 37% respectively expressed a strong preference for products, services or apps that leverage personal data to personalize the consumer experience.
Now is the time to position yourself so you can best serve those in your community searching for nutrition guidance.
A great way to do this is to hire registered dietitians (RD), and licensed dietitians and nutritionists (LDN).
“There is so much misinformation out there regarding nutrition,” said Janyce Gately, a registered dietitian and certified health and wellness coach at Waverley Oaks Athletic Club. “Employing RDs and LDNs is a good place to start. They are trusted, reliable sources for nutrition information. They must receive certification from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to practice, pass a national exam and complete continuing education requirements to maintain registration. In addition, most insurance plans provide coverage to work with an RD for various health reasons.”
For resources to educate club members, Gately recommended The Nutrition Care Manual from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a trusted source among registered dietitians. In addition, peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Nutrition, the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Journal of Nutritional Science offer up-to-date research on the latest studies to help sort out fact from fiction.
“The importance of balanced nutrition cannot be understated,” said Gately. “No one can outrun a poor diet, and when I use the word diet, I just mean the way a person eats. You can exercise for an hour a day to build muscle and burn calories, but the real hard work happens in the other 23 hours of the day with what we choose to feed ourselves. Stress, fatigue, busy schedules, budget and a person’s cooking skills can all impact how and what we eat.”
Sarah Kroft, a dietitian at Reh-Fit Centre, agreed nutrition plays a vital role in helping members meet their goals, but the important thing to remember is balance.
“Focus on the bigger picture,” said Kroft. “Don’t worry or obsess about the small things. Be smart. Be aware. Healthy eating must be sustainable, so make it work for their life. Remember, everything in moderation.”
Gatley agreed that balance is key.
“Fueling the body with a balanced diet can help manage cravings, hunger and energy levels throughout the day,” said Gatley. “Good nutrition can also help ward off disease.”
The Reh-Fit Centre provides a variety of nutrition services and education opportunities to help members navigate nutrition and fight disease. It also offers assessments including body composition analysis and blood analysis which then feeds members and clients to the dietitians.
“We offer dietitian services to our specialty programs such as the Cardiac Rehabilitation program in both group and individual settings,” explained Kroft. “We also offer one-on-one nutrition counseling for initial consults and follow up visits, educational sessions to our members on a variety of nutrition topics, cooking demonstrations, and meal planning.”
When it comes to educating your members, Kroft recommended starting with the most basic nutrition advice, which in her opinion are the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. From there your educational pathway can go in any direction depending on what the member’s needs are.
Gately echoed the importance of helping each person on an individual basis.
“When we consider chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, some forms of cancer and type 2 diabetes can be managed or improved with the proper diet, it makes sense for everyone to sit with a registered dietitian and do a ‘checkup’ on their eating habits to see how they can maximize their intake to stay healthy,” said Gately.
With more people gaining interest in personalized nutrition, now is the time to help your members reach their goals and improve the overall health of your community.
