Sustainable Foods

Whole foods are historically known to underpin human well-being and longevity in cultures around the world. Yet today, American families are plagued by endless ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and chemicals, such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), found in nearly every step of today’s food distribution chains (Karr). Despite research linking negative health outcomes to synthetic food products, little systemic or policy change has been enacted to preserve the health of American families – arguably due to the capital profit derived from their consumption. Given this political climate, it is a health professional’s duty to disseminate nutritional advice to encourage individuals to make informed, health decisions. Education on sustainable agriculture, processing, and sourcing impacts client dietary choices by improving their self-efficacy, health literacy, and responsibility in their dietary decision-making.

Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations and is a crucial step towards behavior change (Paterick et al., 2017). Nutritional interventions are well-studied lifestyle medicine tools known to increase self-efficacy in adolescent and adult patients experiencing diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and rheumatoid arthritis (Gould et al., 2009). Through empowering patients with knowledge on sustainable food processing and sourcing, health providers instill them with confidence to navigate food overproduction and select the most attainable options for themselves and their families.

Health Literacy

The National Institutes of Health defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others” (National Institutes of Health, 2025). Despite being a controversial measure of patient’s health comprehension, it is widely used as a public health tool in today’s medical field. Spending the time to teach patients about nutritional labels, how to identify quality packaging, and to avoid fast food options builds their ability to internalize and share health-producing behaviors (Kirby et al., 2024).

Responsibility in Dietary Decision-Making

Nutrition education inspires a greater sense of responsibility to act on the advice provided and become the determinant of their health experience. The modern medical experience is largely known to lack support of the patient-provider relationship, through shortened visits and a reductionist approach to understanding one’s health and disease. Nutritional counseling affirms the alliance present in this relationship (Paterick, 2017). When providers thoroughly assist patients in identifying their barriers to nutritional choices and offer personalized solutions, patients are given the opportunity to become invested in their own well-being.

References:

Gould, M., Jasik, C., Lustig, R., & Garber, A. (2009). A Clinic-Based Nutrition Intervention Improves Self-Efficacy To Change Behavior In Obese Adolescents And Parents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 44(2), S39–S40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.10.109

Karr, T. (n.d.). Color Principle - Introduction to Macronutrients– Food Safety [Review of Color Principle - Introduction to Macronutrients– Food Safety]. Pacific College of Health and Science.

Kirby, A. N., DeBellis, J., Wolter, K., Mount, G., Wang, C., Bishop, J., Barkhouse, J., Wirth, K., Nguyen, N., Cacciatore, C., & Kraus, K. (2024). Assessing nutrition literacy and nutrition counseling proficiency following an interdisciplinary culinary medicine elective. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1515/jom-2023-0094 

National Institutes of Health. (2025, February 6). Health Literacy. National Institutes of Health (NIH). https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/health-literacy 

Paterick, T. E., Patel, N., Tajik, A. J., & Chandrasekaran, K. (2017). Improving health outcomes through patient education and partnerships with patients. Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings, 30(1), 112–113. National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2017.11929552