Dietitians’ Day offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on our professional journeys, the lessons learned, and the growth we continue to experience as Dietitian’s. Across the team at Compeat, we’ve gathered a variety of perspectives and insights that shape how we approach nutrition support, client care, and professional development. Here, we share some of the key lessons that stand out to many of us, with the hope that they resonate with others in the field.

Shifting the Focus: From Weight-Centric to Behaviour-Focused Approaches

In the early days of our careers, many Dietitian’s were taught to prioritise weight-focused, prescriptive diets. The idea was to help clients achieve specific weight goals through restrictive approaches. While well-intentioned, this weight-centric model often led to poor sustainability, unrealistic expectations, and at times, negative health outcomes.

Fast forward, and for many this focus has shifted drastically. Instead focusing on behaviours and habits that support health, rather than weight loss, tends to be more sustainable and empowering for clients. A weight-neutral approach can create space for clients to focus on performance, health, and long-term wellbeing without the pressure of rigid expectations.

Sustainability and Balance: Building a Lifestyle (for your clients & yourself!)

There’s a shared realisation within the team that focusing on sustainability is critical when guiding clients towards long-term health. The diet industry often promotes quick fixes, but we’ve come to understand that true success lies in helping clients create sustainable lifestyles. It’s about cultivating habits that fit into a person’s everyday life.

A few of us also wish we had known earlier how essential it is to integrate work-life balance and to maintain professional boundaries. The risk of burnout and compassion fatigue is real, and learning how to manage it from the start would have been invaluable. Recognising when to step back, recharge, and protect our mental and emotional wellbeing is as important as caring for our clients’ health.

The Power of Counselling and Up-skilling in Behavioural Change

Another lesson that has emerged over time is the profound impact of counselling and behavioural change techniques. For some of us, these tools weren’t fully appreciated early on. As we gained experience, we recognised that it’s not just about providing nutrition advice but also about understanding and addressing the underlying behaviours that drive food choices.

When working with clients, building trust and offering tailored behavioural training techniques has proven to be a game-changer. For many, learning how to structure consultations around listening, empathy, and collaboration has led to better results. Helping clients build confidence in their ability to make sustainable changes, while supporting them through the process, has become a cornerstone of our practice.

Trusting Instincts and Challenging the Status Quo

As Dietitian’s, we’re often taught to respect authority and adhere to established systems, especially in larger public health environments. However, the importance of trusting our instincts and having the confidence to challenge the status quo is important when necessary. Whether it’s pushing for more client-centric approaches or advocating for new ideas, we’ve learned that even those with “less experience” have valuable perspectives to offer.

At times, it can be difficult to challenge longstanding structures or systems—particularly as new graduates. It’s essential to feel empowered to question practices that may not be serving clients’ best interests, and to contribute fresh ideas that can improve outcomes.

Reflecting and Growing Together

These collective reflections highlight the ongoing growth within our team and the dietetics profession more broadly. Each dietitian brings unique perspectives, shaped by their personal experiences, and together, we continue to evolve in our practices. The challenges and learning moments we’ve encountered are not just personal milestones, but opportunities to improve as a team and elevate the quality of care we provide to our clients.

As we continue to grow and develop in our careers, we recognise the importance of building an inclusive, sustainable, and compassionate approach to nutrition care. This Dietitians’ Day, we celebrate our profession and the incredible impact Dietitian’s have on the lives of those we support.

A huge thanks to our team for sharing their learnings to contribute to this piece.

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