A variety of techniques and visual aids are used in diet counseling. The emphasis is placed on motivation and practical application. This may include personalized instruction in the rationale for recommended changes, food purchasing and preparation, menu planning and selection, suitable portion sizes, behavior modification strategies, etc., all encouraging patient participation. FSNC has extensive experience with computer applications in nutrition services. The nutrition programs available at the Center include Computrition and Nutritionist IV and V. Students and staff use these programs for nutrient analysis, estimating current and required nutrient intake, and planning and analyzing recipes.
Students also prepare patient education material on a variety of topics.
Programs for making slides and overheads, flow charts and spreadsheets are available for designing presentations and reports. Students also have access to Medline and the Internet.