Dietitians: You know your stuff, you just need to say it the right way

We’re keeping it brief (and late) this week, but I didn’t want you to miss out on new media opportunities, so we’re cutting straight to the good stuff.

One quick tip: when you respond to an interview request, remember that concise (but useful) is the goal. Don’t write the story for me, but don’t use one-thought sentences either.

Here’s an example:

Question: "What is one reason prunes are good for digestion?"

Not usable (too choppy and not interesting): Prunes are rich in fiber. Fiber helps with digestion and keeps you regular.

Not usable (too long-winded and I can’t pull any quotes out): So this is actually something I get asked about constantly, and I always tell people that prunes are kind of an unsung hero in the digestion world, because when you really dig into what's happening, there are a couple of mechanisms at play — first there's the fiber, both soluble and insoluble, which most people already know about and which adds bulk and supports overall gut motility, but then there's also sorbitol, which is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that draws water into the intestines, and when you combine those two things together you get this gentle but effective one-two punch that can really help keep everything moving the way it should, which is why I so often recommend them to clients who are dealing with occasional constipation.

USABLE: Prunes are a great source of fiber, including soluble and insoluble fiber, which support digestion in multiple ways. The fiber in prunes adds bulk to stool and softens it as it passes through the colon, promoting easier bowel movements and reducing constipation. (including research to back up what I’m saying: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261561418300037)

*I gave CLAUDE directions for how to make quotes I couldn’t use, then make a quote I could use.. and I still wouldn’t use the one it gave me as the good one! It gave me “Prunes are a digestion double threat: they’re rich in fiber to add bulk, plus a natural sugar alcohol called sorbitol that draws water into the gut to keep things moving.”

This isn’t usable because it’s pulling two separate ideas into one sentence. If I were writing an article and I asked for separate reasons, I would write the reasons under different headings, so grouping two reasons together would make it unusable.

EatingWell: Bananas and Oranges for Heart Health

• Who: Dietitians

• Due: Tuesday 6/30

• Fill out this form

EatingWell: Nutritious Egg Breakfasts

• Who: Dietitians

• Due: Wednesday 7/1

• Fill out this form

EatingWell: Fiber-rich Snacks: Pumpkin Seeds and Sunflower Seeds

• Who: Dietitians

• Due: Wednesday 7/1

• Fill out this form

EatingWell: Yogurt (Why it’s so awesome)

• Who: Dietitians

• Due: Thursday 7/2

• Fill out this form

If you are a journalist who would like the opportunity to submit your interview requests to a group of highly engaged nutrition pros each week, sign up here! And if you know of any other journalists who might appreciate the link, please share!

Thanks for your help on some of these recently published pieces!

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