Knowing what it means to “eat healthy” and making healthy eating work in everyday life are two very different things.
Conflicting nutrition advice, busy schedules, existing habits and the pressure to make the “perfect” choice can make even small changes feel overwhelming.
That’s where personalized nutrition support can make a difference.
We sat down with Kevin Capps, Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist at First Stop Health, to talk about what gets in the way of healthier eating, why small changes can be more powerful than a complete diet overhaul and how nutrition fits into a more connected approach to health.
There is so much conflicting information. Keto, vegan, Mediterranean and other approaches can all claim to be the “right” way to eat. On top of that, every person comes in with their own beliefs, experiences and reasons behind how they eat.
Simply handing someone a diet plan doesn't solve that.
As dietitians, we have time to listen, understand where someone is coming from and make sure they feel heard. We start with their current habits and goals, identify the barriers they're experiencing and help them decide what changes they're actually willing to make.
Instead of expecting a complete diet overhaul, we focus on small changes that have a better chance of becoming sustainable.
Takeaway: “It's all about the baby steps.”
Nutrition can play a role in many different health goals, but Kevin says cardiovascular health, type 2 diabetes and weight management are among the most common concerns he sees.
That can mean working toward clinical goals such as weight loss, A1C management, blood pressure or cholesterol. It can also mean addressing everyday behaviors, from how meals are put together to snack choices and eating patterns.
Nutrition is especially important because medication alone doesn't address every factor that contributes to someone's health.
As Kevin puts it, the goal isn't only to remove unhealthy choices. It's also to help people incorporate foods and nutrients that support their overall health.
For Kevin, one of the biggest advantages of a connected care model is the ability to communicate with the other providers supporting a patient.
When a patient is referred by a primary care provider, Kevin can understand the reason for the referral before the nutrition visit begins. First Stop Health providers can also share relevant information across disciplines so the care team has greater context going into future sessions.
That matters because health needs don't exist in isolation.
“We are in regular communication about the patients with any relevant information that we need going into another session.”
Kevin says that experience is significantly different from previous environments where communicating across disciplines could mean separate systems, emails and delays. Having providers connected within the same care environment makes collaboration more efficient.
For employees, one of the biggest barriers to working with a registered dietitian can simply be access.
Cost, insurance coverage and other obstacles can prevent people from getting nutrition support when they need it. Kevin sees virtual access as an opportunity to change that by giving employees another way to connect with nutrition expertise earlier and more consistently.
And the impact isn't limited to long-term health goals.
More balanced meals, for example, can support better energy throughout the workday. Nutrition can also be an important component of managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
For Kevin, it comes back to access and the opportunity to see people make meaningful changes.
“I've seen huge changes being made and gratitude coming from the patients. Feeling better, more energy, overall better health.”
He says having easier access to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to work with a dietitian has been one of the most satisfying parts of providing care at First Stop Health. And sometimes, those small changes add up to a much bigger story.
See what that looked like for one of Kevin's patients, who worked with her care team over several months to build new habits and make progress toward her health goals.