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Would you hire a plant based health coach?
Started
by freebird
on February 22, 2013
Hi everyone I need your opinion!
I'm studying to be a holistic health coach and want to get certified in plant based nutrition. I am tying to figure out my ideal client and market myself. If you are interested in plant based diets would you want to hire someone to help you? I think targeting to vegans or even using the word vegan may be too limiting or steer some people away. Do you think it would be better to just incorporate plant based diets instead of outwardly saying so? What would you think if you were wanting a coach? What would you want to get out of working with one? Opinions of me or not yet vegans would be great. Thanks
Hi Freebird, I am a Certified Holistic Health Coach that happens to be a plant based eater. There has been much discussion about this among my coaching friends and in the end you have to do what works (resonates) with you. I openly share my diet when asked, and do have a veg only package for those that need the help and support. I also do not ever provide meat recipes, so when providing recipes to clients they are all veg and meat can be added in their family outside of my visit. My approach is very individual and contains way more than diet (as I'm sure you will do also), but I likely won't be putting the word "Vegan" on my business card any time soon. The reason is that my target market isn't just vegans or those looking for vegan diets but is for all people that need help finding their way back to wellness. Best wishes on your journey. Not sure I helped any but wanted to share my experience as a coach.
Thank you for responding! I agree that what I will be doing is also much more than just food and I definitely don't want to use the word "vegan" anywhere, as it carries too much of a stigma, unfortunately. I want to take the Cornell certification in plant based nutrition so I would like to at least say "certified plant based nutritionist" or something like that. I want to be able to show off that I have earned that! Maybe having that listed with my credentials on my business card, but then on my website explain that I work with people wherever they are. I definitely won't be telling people straight up to eat meat or dairy. I will offer alternatives and explain the reasons why and tell them what I believe to be true, whether or not they take that advice is up to them. I will offer plant based recipes and help them try new foods. I think the approach to take is focusing on the wonders of plant based foods, instead of bashing animal foods. That way it's not pushy and I'm not forcing an agenda, just showing them what I think are healthy and delicious options. There's a part of me that says not to hide the fact that I'm vegan and to stand up for what I believe in regarding health, but at the same time I understand people are coming from all sorts of different places and I have to remember that I didn't start to eat this way overnight.
May I ask how your business is going? Did you also go to IIN? I am at the halfway point and just starting to get the business side rolling..
Thank you so much for your reply!
Yup, I'm a recent IIN grad. My business is going well and evolving each week. You can find me here if you'd like to chat more or have questions: www.facebook.com/fallinginhappy. Hope you are liking your IIN journey.
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