"Patient buy-in and commitment are critical, so it's first important for the patient to understand the why behind your ask and the value of keeping accurate food logs and exercise diaries. I discuss what trends or patterns we're looking for and how identifying those things will help them create changes or help us detect food allergies, improving their quality of life. It's about compromise, too; if patients don't want to track each moment they eat or exercise in real-time, they still need to commit to doing it at the end of the day while it's still fresh in their minds. In my discussions, I identify the barriers and obstacles that could prevent them from tracking and keeping good records and help them find solutions to work through those challenges."

As a dietician, you will work with a diverse population of patients, and many of them may be new to services and support or just be reluctant to start a new program. Whatever the reason, you must be able to coach patients on the best techniques to track their intake and exercise and also coach them through obstacles that might prevent them from doing so successfully. Describe techniques or strategies you use, and give specific examples where possible.