Infuse Issue 6 December 2018 | Page 11

How do you balance the delivery of scientifically sound information, while remaining accessible to your audience? Whether I’m developing content for TV, digital platforms, magazines, books or presentations, I always have to remind myself to think direct and consolidated. Anyone who knows me knows that I can blab! I remember back to one of my very first TV segments-it was about lowering cholesterol. I had 10+ pages of notes for a four-minute segment (no joke). I wanted to give the audience every single piece of information they could possibly need: the types of cholesterol, numbers to hit, health risks, best and worst foods, info on triglycerides, supplements, medications, and more. Needless to say, I wasn’t very effective! Image courtesy of Robin Maizes What would your advice be to a dietitian just starting out in his or her career? I quickly learned it’s vital to focus on just a few key messages, because the audience will walk away remembering only a tiny fraction of what they hear. The lesson: LESS really is MORE. Keep learning, listening and evolving. There’s an opportunity to learn something new and grow at every turn; don’t miss your chance! Oh, and another pearl - this might be the single most important piece of wisdom you’ll ever receive. When you’re out at a dinner party and someone asks what you do for a living...lie. Let on that you’re a nutritionist, and you’ll be hearing about their diet woes (from carbs to gas pockets) for the rest of the evening! interview continues overleaf... © Dietitian Connection 11 Infuse | December 2018