When you take that first step into learning anything about nutrition, it can truly be overwhelming.  Searching for precise information that fits your exact mind and body states can be impossible.  It does exist . . . in the form of dozens of books, and thousands of web sites and articles . . . far too many sources for you to sort through in your busy life, let alone understand and implement into meaningful and successful changes.

This is where a coach or guide will fit into the process of discovery.  In looking for a nutritionist or dietitian there are five criteria that would simplify your search. The process they use should be:

Flexible
Your body and mind are shifting moment by moment – you will find that you have different goals, perceptions, and abilities over time . . . nutrition coaching must be as flexible as you are.

Holistic
Is there a holistic approach to the process – working with nutrition changes on all of your mind and body states . . . mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical?  Are the “formulas” just based on physical criteria, or can they help teach you how to shift your nutritional needs according to your whole state of being?

Educational
Just providing you with lists of “do’s” and “don’ts” will never work on a long term basis - especially when your body, mind, tastes, goals, and life changes with time.  Your very nature will propel you to want to know how and why you are doing things.

Non-Restrictive
Every diet currently on the market will attempt to fit your life into their “box” . . . with no respect for your uniqueness.  Sure there are “formulas” that account for your height, weight, age, etc. . . . but not your evolving physical capacities, mental states, and emotions.  These can change those formulas significantly when you take all of these states into account.

Intuitive
In the past century everything revolved very heavily around scientific proof and systems . . . although this has been a tremendous blessing to the understanding of the human body and it’s responses to nutrient changes . . . intuition must be part of the coaching process.  This will guide you to make decisions based on your natural perceptions and instinct.  A coach must be able to use the valuable scientific knowledge of our day and age . . . and combine that with a deeper understanding that there is a discovery process that you are on that goes far beyond science, your goals, and your current life circumstances.  You will know on a very deep level what is right for you . . .