Evidence and practice

Providing patient education on portion control and healthy eating

Lorraine Elizabeth Hicking-Woodison Assistant practitioner, Hawkinge and Elham Valley Practice, Folkestone, England; healthcare support worker and training lead, Invicta Health Learning, Canterbury, England

Why you should read this article

• To enhance your understanding of the link between a healthy diet and overall health and well-being
• To ensure your knowledge of the latest dietary recommendations and guidance remains up to date
• To consider various methods you could use in your practice to support patients to eat healthily

Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is essential to support optimal health and well-being. However, rates of overweight and obesity in the UK and internationally have risen significantly, alongside increases in food portion sizes. While it can be challenging to work in partnership with patients towards achieving a healthy weight, it is crucial that nurses are able to offer patients advice and support to assist them in following dietary guidelines. This article explores the development and practical application of recommended dietary guidelines such as the Eatwell Guide. It also discusses practical interventions that nurses can use to advise patients on healthy eating, such as using the hands as a guide to portion size.

Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2021.e11670

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@LollyHickingW

Correspondence

lhicking-woodison@nhs.net

Conflict of interest

None declared

Hicking-Woodison LE (2021) Providing patient education on portion control and healthy eating. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2021.e11670

Published online: 25 March 2021

Keywords :

appetite - calories - chocolate - clinical - diet - health promotion - healthy eating - junk food - malnutrition - meals - nutrition - obesity - overnutrition - public health - salt