CLINICAL

  nutrition

You Are Your Habits

Do what you say, or you’ll hurt yourself and risk losing patients.

KIMBERLY K. REED, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Recently, as I scanned my gym ID card to attend a noon spin class, I noticed no one was at the reception desk. It turns out the staff and a couple of trainers were sharing a lunch of nachos, tacos and other items not typically found in a health club. It was pretty incongruous, to say the least.

To live a long, flourishing life while preventing a similar disconnect with patients, which can result in you losing them to other practitioners, we, as optometrists, should set a healthy example for our patients and staff.

The following is the same advice you’d give your own patients, so you should follow it.

1 If you smoke, get help and stop.

Your hands, hair and clothing retain cigarette odor, making it challenging for you to convince your dry eye disease patient or one who’s at risk for AMD to quit.

2 Celebrate with healthy foods.

Our society has a knee-jerk expectation of sugary cakes and cookies and fat-laden dishes for just about every occasion. While an occasional, reasonable treat is probably good for the soul, splurging on a regular basis can become a habit fairly quickly.

For the next office birthday and potluck, instead of cheese casseroles and brownies, challenge staff members to bring the healthiest dish. Also, consider starting an online healthy recipe index to share the tastiest recipes, and invite your patients to participate. For morning staff meetings, provide yogurt and fruit instead of doughnuts and pastries.

Involving your staff in nutrition awareness creates a healthy work environment that ultimately translates to your patients.

3 Veto vending.

If you have the choice, eliminate vended “junk” foods and soft drinks from your office environment. Imagine the mixed message your overweight patient receives when they notice a vending machine full of corn chips and cookies or a bowl of chocolate candies at the reception desk after a meaningful discussion with you about the benefits of reducing body fat and following a healthy eating plan?

Consider implementing a policy to disallow all foods and drinks devoid of nutritional benefit from any area accessible or visible to patients. Also, invite staff input for other ideas to create a healthy working environment. Doing so invests them in the process as well.

4 Provide water.

An investment in a water cooler or a mini-fridge that contains bottled or filtered water is a great way to make sure you, your patients and staff meet water-drinking goals. Remember: Even mild dehydration can result in mental and physical sluggishness and a false hunger sensation. Also, the availability of water promotes its importance in overall health.

5 Stock up for success.

There are days when you may have to “squeeze” a patient into your lunch hour, making a fast food drive-through an appealing option. To avoid this scenario, bring a supply of boiled eggs, cheese sticks, yogurt, oatmeal, salad essentials, fruits and vegetables for snacking and for smoothies, grilled meats, raw nuts, sandwich options or pre-packaged meals.

In addition, setting the right tone in the office kitchenette benefits everyone. OM

DR. REED IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OCULAR NUTRITION CLINIC AT NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY’S THE EYE CARE INSTITUTE IN FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. E-MAIL HER AT KIMREED@NOVA.EDU, OR SEND COMMENTS TO OPTOMETRICMANAGEMENT@GMAIL.COM.