Struggling to stick to your health goals? You’re not alone. Many people know what to do but can’t seem to make it happen. As a dietitian, I’ve seen this challenge repeatedly, and traditional advice often misses the mark. Enter motivational interviewing in nutrition—a powerful approach that helps clients unlock their own motivation for lasting change.
I’m Kellie Lunday, a registered dietitian, AFPA’s Nutrition Content Lead, and contributor to AFPA’s new Nutrition and Behavior Change certificate of specialty. As a registered dietitian with nearly ten years of experience guiding clients to healthier lives, I’m excited to share why motivational interviewing is transforming nutrition coaching. This article explores how motivational interviewing training can empower you as a coach, a dietitian, a student, or a wellness enthusiast. We’ll also take a look at how AFPA’s certificate of specialty equips you to master MI specifically in a nutrition setting. Let’s dive in!
What is Motivational Interviewing?
I’m passionate about motivational interviewing because it helps build lasting habits and it allows you to form strong bonds with clients. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered technique that fosters behavior change by helping clients resolve ambivalence. Unlike directive coaching, MI builds collaboration, letting clients discover their own reasons for change through engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning. At its heart lies the OARS technique—Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, and Summarizing.
For example, instead of saying, “Cut out sugary drinks,” a coach might ask, “What might change in your day if you swapped sugary drinks for water?” This taps into why MI works in nutrition: it empowers clients to own their goals. A 2014 cluster randomized control showed a significant increase in fiber, vegetables, and fruits with motivational interviewing for dietary change.
Affirmations in motivational interviewing, like “You’ve shown real dedication by tracking your meals,” boost confidence. Motivational interviewing questions examples—such as “What’s one small step you feel ready to take?”—create a safe space for exploration. These tools make MI ideal for nutrition coaching.
One of my clients felt a ton of pressure to lose weight based on her doctor’s recommendations. She assumed she needed to follow a low carb diet, despite not wanting to give up many of her cultural foods. Using OARS, I was able to help her find an approach based on her diet preferences and strengths in the kitchen. This was a huge nutrition breakthrough for her to reject a restrictive mindset and still eat the foods she loved!
MI in Nutrition Coaching
Traditional coaching often prescribes promote diets or workouts, but these can feel restrictive. Motivational interviewing for health coaches changes the game with healthy client-centered conversations . By listening empathetically, coaches help clients find intrinsic motivation for MI for healthy eating behavior.
(Content Note: The following discusses weight loss, which may be sensitive for some readers.) A 2017 study showed MI clients maintained significantly more weight loss over two years than those given standard advice. One of my previous clients worked as a busy engineer wanted to lose weight to support her fertility journey. Through MI, she identified her “why” and built sustainable habits for her meal and snack patterns that helped her lose weight and reach her goals.
Motivational interviewing in nutrition also excels by addressing ambivalence. Clients may want change but feel stuck. MI helps them move forward, making it a must for nutrition coaching professionals.
I had a client who was really struggling to kick start his weight loss journey. Using open-ended questions like “what other areas of your life have you been successful?” and reflecting on his financial achievements with budgeting, my client was able to think of his diet in terms of calorie “spending”. Rather than praise his weight loss, I affirmed his commitment to logging and taking inventory of his usual eating patterns. Throughout our work together, he was able to lose over twenty pounds, get off his blood pressure medication, and have more energy to coach his track team!
Key Techniques of Motivational Interviewing
Ready to try MI? A motivational interviewing cheat sheet can guide you. Here are core techniques of motivational interviewing:
- Open-ended Questions: “What would make healthy eating easier for you?”
- Affirmations: “You understand the importance of healthy eating and made an effort to try new recipes.”
- Reflective Listening: If a client says, “I’m too busy to cook,” respond, “Time feels like a big challenge for you.”
- Summarizing: Recap the client’s thoughts to show understanding.
Integrating techniques like engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning in diet counseling is key for motivational interviewing for dietitians and nutrition coaches. These techniques help clients explore barriers without judgment. The comparison below highlights MI’s edge:
| Approach | Traditional Coaching | Motivational Interviewing |
| Style | Directive, advice-heavy | Collaborative, client-driven |
| Client Role | Passive recipient | Active participant |
| Outcome | Short-term compliance | Long-term behavior change |
In AFPA’s Nutrition and Behavior Change certificate of specialty, I teach and dive deeper into each of the components of MI, with my favorite being the art of evoking. It is a skill that helps you draw out a client’s “why” and elicit their own internal motivations for change. I find this to be an essential part of nutrition coaching to drive lasting success.
Busting Common MI Myths
New to MI? A common myth that I encounter with new students is that MI “takes too long” and clients “just want to be told what to do”. With practice, I’ve been able to sprinkle MI skills into my nutrition coaching sessions and have seen clients make even great progress than those wanting to take a backseat to changing their lifestyle habits. Here are some of the most common MI misconceptions that might hold you back:
- Myth: MI is just “sympathetic to a situation.” Reality: MI is a structured, evidence-based approach requiring skill, empathy,and practice.
- Myth: MI takes too long. Reality: Even brief 15 minute MI sessions can spark change, per a 2005 study in the British Journey of General Practice.
- Myth: MI only works for motivated clients. Reality: MI is designed to ignite motivation in ambivalent clients.
Why MI is the Future of Nutrition Coaching
Nutrition motivational interviewing is revolutionizing how coaches guide clients toward healthier eating habits. In an era where personalized nutrition is king, MI’s client-centered approach aligns perfectly with the need for tailored dietary plans that respect individual preferences, lifestyles, and cultural backgrounds. Unlike traditional methods that push one-size-fits-all diets, MI empowers clients to co-create solutions, making it a cornerstone of modern nutrition coaching.
Research underscores MI’s impact on nutrition outcomes. A 2016 systematic review found that MI significantly improved dietary habits in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Another trial showed MI reduced sodium intake by over 500mg per day in clients with kidney disease. These results highlight why MI works in nutrition: it tackles psychological barriers like emotional eating or lack of motivation, fostering sustainable change.
MI also equips coaches to address diverse dietary needs. For example, a client struggling to reduce processed food intake due to time constraints might say, “I’m too busy to cook.” Using MI, a coach could ask, “What small step could fit into your schedule to prep healthier meals?” This collaborative approach helps clients overcome barriers while respecting cultural or socioeconomic factors, such as limited access to fresh produce. The World Health Organization notes that MI enhances dietary adherence and lifestyle change, making it a vital skill for inclusive coaching.
The demand for motivational interviewing training in nutrition is surging. As clients seek coaches who prioritize empathy over directives, those trained in MI stand out. Motivational interviewing courses like AFPA’s Nutrition and Behavior Change certificate of specialty provide hands-on tools to master MI, from eliciting change talk to navigating resistance. With nutrition coaching evolving rapidly, MI is the key to staying ahead.
I believe MI is critical for sustainable habits and the future of nutrition coaching. A client that I worked with wanted to try out a plant-based diet but was overwhelmed by where to start and was worried he wouldn’t get enough protein. By exploring his motivations, like family and health, as well as discussing strategies he was already aware of, he found ways to make dinners more plant-forward and add protein powder to his morning smoothies. I am excited for coaches to take this course and strengthen their MI skills to get clients start on the right path to change.
How to Get Started with Motivational Interviewing Training
Eager to try MI? It’s a powerful tool that will serve your nutrition practice well, but it does require some practice to master. Here are a few tips for getting started and getting better at MI.
- Practice OARS: Use motivational interviewing questions examples like “What’s one health goal you’re excited about?” in daily conversations.
- Create a Cheat Sheet: Build your own motivational interviewing cheat sheet to track techniques.
- Enroll in Training: AFPA’s Nutrition and Behavior Change certificate of specialty offers hands-on how to use MI in nutrition coaching.
Transform Your Nutrition Coaching with MI
Motivational interviewing is reshaping nutrition coaching by empowering clients to drive their own change. Whether you’re a coach, a student, or a wellness enthusiast, MI offers a proven framework for success. With motivational interviewing training through AFPA’s Nutrition and Behavior Change certificate of specialty, you can lead this revolution. Enroll now and shape the future of nutrition coaching!
Written by
Kellie Lunday, MS, RD, LD
Kellie Lunday is AFPA’s nutrition content lead and a registered dietitian with nearly a decade of experience in corporate wellness, health education, and performance optimization. She received her MS in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University and completed her dietetic internship at The University of Texas in Austin. Previously, she has worked in various roles at Exos and the University of Texas at Austin. She is passionate about travel, global cuisines, fitness, and advancing consumer health through evidence-based education.
