On The Cutting Edge

Volume 31 Number 2
Spring 2010

Interviewing Low-Income Clients

Gail Brandt, EdD, MPH, RD
Washington State Department of Health
Olympia, WA

Introduction

Low-income patients often face additional challenges that may not be obvious to the registered dietitian counseling them. These patients may live in neighborhoods without supermarkets. They may have long commutes to work leaving them without enough time to prepare meals. They may lack budgeting, shopping and food preparation skills. In addition, they may deplete their food supply before it is time for more resources to be available. If these patients have insufficient knowledge of community resources and how to access them, then the end of the month can be quite challenging.

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