I started Dietetically Speaking back in September 2015, on a bit of a whim after feeling frustrated about the nutritional nonsense I was seeing on social media.

Running Dietetically Speaking has been a really rewarding learning process for me. So for my 100th blog post I wanted to reflect on 100 things I’ve learn’t over the past 4 years from running Dietetically Speaking – based on my own experiences, reflections and opinions.

I split this up into 4 sections:

• Nutrition messages
• Running a business & website
• Being on social media
• Being a dietitian

Here we go!

Nutrition Messages

1. Nutrition is extremely individual
2. Healthy eating does not have to be complicated
3. Socio-economic factors have a massive influence on health outcomes
4. The words we use to talk about nutrition and health matter – avoid stigmatising language
5. It’s important to think about the bigger picture of health – not just nutrition
6. Sleep has a huge impact on health and nutrition-related outcomes
7. Food is so much more than the sum of it’s parts
8. Self-compassion is vital for improving relationship with food
9. No food needs to be avoided unless it is poisonous or you are allergic to it
10. Most answers about nutrition start with “It depends on…”
11. There is much more to sustainable eating than plant-based diets
12. It is rarely helpful to comment on what others are eating
13. Context matters in all areas of nutrition
14. A plant-based diet doesn’t need to be a plant-only diet
15. The complexity of nutrition is often under-estimated
16. The appeal to nature fallacy is very common with nutritional beliefs
17. Low-carb diets continually resurface under many different disguises!
18. Food beliefs are often deep-rooted, tribal and linked with sense of self
19. No nutrition messages should be black and white
20. Sometimes all you can do is laugh at the latest ridiculous fad diet
21. Focusing on health is much more important than just weight
22. A flexible approach to healthy eating is vital
23. Nutritional science contains many fascinating shades of grey
24. Food should complement our life, rather than dominate it
25. Variety is an important part of a satisfying and nutritious diet

Running a Business & Website

1. Feel the fear and do it anyway!
2. Learning the technical skills of running a website can be a lot less daunting than it seems
3. There’s a fine line between diligence and Imposter Syndrome
4. Writing the first few lines of any article is the biggest step
5. Don’t be afraid to pitch ideas
6. Somebody else’s success does not take away from your own
7. Don’t undervalue your services
8. Ask for help or advice when you need it
9. Help other people when they ask you for advice
10. Perfectionism is not helpful
11. Focus on the process, not the outcome
12. It’s OK not to have everything figured out yet
13. Reframe perceived ‘failures’ as learning opportunities
14. Use a laptop stand and a good chair – your back will thank you!
15. Make time to rest
16. Make time for non-work related hobbies and activities
17. Set boundaries between work time and home time
18. Make use of local support and initiatives
19. Use to-do lists to prioritise workload
20. Time-block to increase productivity
21. Don’t be afraid of technology
22. Brainstorm ideas with others when possible
23. Learn how to say no when necessary
24. Believe in yourself and your message
25. Protect the integrity of your brand

Being on Social Media

1. Creating good content should be the main focus
2. Social media algorithms will change – so don’t rely on them too much
3. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, use a few social media platforms
4. Social media can be a fantastic way of networking with other health professionals
5. Science communication isn’t a matter of pride
6. Using humour can be a great way of conveying a message
7. It’s fine to change your mind or admit if you got something wrong
8. Breastfeeding and consuming animal products are often contentious issues to discuss on social media
9. Collaborate where possible
10. Have a diverse social media feed
11. Taking time away from social media is important
12. If a food picture looks messy, zoom in really close!
13. Sprinkling seeds on top of a meal makes it look 100% more fancy
14. Dietitians are very divided on whether it’s OK to swear on social media!
15. Experiment with different features on social media platforms
16. Don’t tolerate disrespectful interactions on social media
17. Remember the echo chamber effect of social media
18. Turn off social media notifications if it is becoming too addictive or distracting
19. Having a few social media image templates is handy
20. You can never predict how well a post will do
21. Use social media analytics data
22. Get creative with content ideas
23. Engage with your audience
24. Scheduling posts in advance can be useful
25. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, just keep trying

Being a Dietitian

1. There is a place for both specialist and generalist dietitians
2. The word ‘dietitian’ will be spelt incorrectly about 50% of the time!
3. I will always be learning
4. I will be called a Nutritionist frequently
5. Dietitians should embrace technology
6. Business and marketing skills are needed for freelance dietitians
7. Dietetics has diverse career options
8. Blogging is fantastic for continuous professional development
9. Clients are the expert in themselves and their own lives
10. Our clients teach us so much
11. One of the best ways of learning is to teach somebody else
12. The stack of dietetic magazines beside my bed will always be there!
13. It is rare for two nutrition professionals to agree on everything
14. People are often shocked that dietitians eat cake and crisps
15. Unfortunately there are a lot of self-proclaimed nutrition experts
16. Evidence-based messages aren’t always as appealing as pseudo-scientific magic bullet solutions
17. Psychology and knowledge of behaviour change play a big role in nutrition consultations
18. Dietetic referrals for “low albumin” will keep on rearing their head!
19. One person can never know absolutely everything about nutrition
20. Advice should always be individualised for clients
21. Good MDT working is great for patient-centred care
22. Appreciation of the complexity of nutrition increases with experience
23. You don’t need to rush into a specialised role
24. Clinical practice and media/social media work complement each other
25. Dietitians need to take our own advice in relation to self-care, so that we can really show up for our clients