Running a PT business is hard. It can be difficult to think of all the things and ideas and where to spend your time because there are always a lot of things to do. Sometimes it is hard to keep clients motivated however successful PT’s know that adding value to your clients is a sure fire way to keep them coming back and get recommendations.
One of the things that you can offer is meal planning. Instead of just giving a list of what you should eat and not eat. Meal planning will help your client know what they need to do. That way, they can start doing it right away and not only reach their goals quicker but also help them maintain it
To make a great meal plan for your clients, think about these six things.
1. Conduct a Meal Planning Assessment
You will need to do a meal planning assessment for your client before you can create their plan. If you don’t understand your client’s lifestyle, food preferences and goals, then the plan may not be right for them. .
Here are some general questions you might want to ask:
Do you have any allergies?
Which foods do you like? Which foods do you dislike?
How much time do you have to cook?
Do you prefer to prepare food in advance, or at meal time?
What’s your typical grocery budget?
Do you have any cultural food preferences?
What are your health goals?
Once you have your meal planning assessment done, you will have the information you need to create an awesome meal plan for your client.
2. Create a Meal Plan that is Realistic
Choose how long your clients meal plan will be. We recommend a 7-day meal plan. It is easier to follow and not too hard, but you can always make it longer the next time we meet.
Consider breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
Once you have the length and format decided, you can create a meal planner template. We like to lay it out like a calendar with the meal types on the left-hand axis, and the days of the week along the top. Here is an example:
Now that you have a meal planner template, start filling in the meals! You can refer to your food preferences and goals.
Try to choose meals that are:
Simple with minimal time and ingredients
Can be packed up and taken with your client when they are on-the-go
Create leftovers
3. Add a Grocery List
Once you have your meal plan, make a grocery list. It will save your clients time and money, and they can start cooking right away!
Organize the ingredients on your grocery list under headings. Ensure these headings are listed in order, according to how a standard grocery store is laid out. For example: list “Fruits” first, followed by “Vegetables”, followed by “Meat, Cheese & Fish”. By formatting the list this way, your client can easily work through the store in order and save time from backtracking.
Tip: Be sure include quantities on your grocery list, to prevent your client from buying more of the ingredient than they actually need.
4. Develop a Prep Guide
A prep guide is something that can help your client follow the meal plan. It can show them what they can prepare in advance and will keep them organized and on track.
5. Bundle it Together
Once you have your prep guide finished, you can bundle all the components together! You can combine the meal plan, recipes, grocery list and prep guide in a PDF or document.
One of Hapori’s features includes ready-made professional contents, which includes workouts, ebooks, and YES recipes! All of which you can rebrand and use to grow your business.
6. Follow-up and Make Adjustments
Congratulations! You’ve now completed a thorough meal planning assessment, built an incredible meal plan with recipes and a grocery list, outlined how to prep and sent it off to your client. Great job!
Once your client has worked through the plan, take some time to follow-up with them. Ask them what went well and what did not go well. Remember that changing eating habits can be hard because it is a deeply personal experience. They might have hit some roadblocks while following the plan. Remind them that this is normal and celebrate
