By Andrea Simonlehner | Natural EQ
Healthy living is about more than knowing what to eat or how much to exercise. It’s also about understanding our bodies, making informed choices and having the confidence and support to take an active role in our own wellbeing.
These principles are central to my work as a Clinical Nutritionist and Health Coach, and I recently had the opportunity to put them into practice through the Special Olympics New Zealand Fit 5 programme in Kāpiti.
As part of the programme, I developed and delivered nutrition education sessions, helping athletes explore how food, hydration and everyday habits influence their health and wellbeing.
But my focus went beyond simply teaching healthy habits. I wanted to encourage understanding, participation and, importantly, autonomy.
Understanding the ‘why’ behind healthy choices
We’re often told to eat more vegetables, drink more water or move our bodies regularly. But knowing what we should do doesn’t necessarily mean we understand why it matters or how to make it part of everyday life.
During Fit 5, we explored nutrition through practical activities, visual resources and group discussions. We talked about balanced meals, portion sizes, hydration and everyday food choices, encouraging athletes to share their experiences and ask questions.
Rather than focusing on strict rules or perfect diets, the aim was to make nutrition understandable, relevant and achievable.
Because when we understand why something matters, we’re better equipped to make choices that work for us.
Autonomy: The importance of having a choice
One of the principles I feel particularly strongly about is autonomy — the ability to have a say in decisions affecting our own lives and health.
For people with intellectual disabilities, opportunities to make everyday choices can sometimes be limited. Families, carers and support workers often make decisions with the very best intentions, but there is an important difference between making decisions for someone and supporting them to make decisions themselves.
This is especially relevant when it comes to food, physical activity and everyday routines.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to understand their options, express preferences and participate in decisions about their wellbeing.
Of course, autonomy doesn’t mean making every decision independently or always choosing the healthiest option. It means having meaningful choices, appropriate support and the freedom to develop confidence through experience.
Health education should empower people, not simply encourage compliance.
Making health education accessible
We all learn differently, and having an intellectual disability doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t have the opportunity to understand their own health.
It may mean presenting information differently, using visual tools, practical demonstrations, repetition or familiar everyday examples.
During Fit 5, I used a variety of approaches to make nutrition education interactive and accessible, while recognising that each athlete brought different abilities, experiences and preferences.
For me, accessibility isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about creating opportunities for people to learn in ways that work for them.
And this approach isn’t limited to people with intellectual disabilities. It is equally relevant to anyone trying to understand their health or make lasting lifestyle changes.
The importance of support and encouragement
Healthy habits rarely develop in isolation.
Our environment, routines and the people around us all influence the choices we make.
For people who rely on support, families, carers and support workers play an especially important role in creating opportunities to practise new skills and make healthy choices.
Support might mean involving someone in meal planning, offering different food options, encouraging participation in food preparation or making physical activity enjoyable and accessible.
The goal isn’t to take over, but to provide the encouragement and practical support that allows someone to become more involved in their own wellbeing.
Celebrating progress beyond physical health
One of the most rewarding aspects of being involved in Fit 5 was seeing the athletes participate, share ideas, encourage each other and take pride in their achievements.
Throughout the sessions, we explored new food ideas, discussed everyday habits and celebrated small steps forward.
It was encouraging to hear athletes talk about drinking more water, trying different snacks and making changes in their daily routines.
While physical fitness and nutrition are important, I believe progress should also be recognised through growing understanding, confidence, participation and independence.
These are valuable outcomes that aren’t always reflected in numbers or measurements.
Beyond Fit 5: A whole-person approach to wellbeing
My involvement in Fit 5 reflects the philosophy that guides my work at Natural EQ.
Good health is influenced by many interconnected factors — nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, relationships, our environment and the opportunities we have to make choices.
As a Clinical Nutritionist and Health Coach, I believe lasting change begins with understanding the individual, recognising their circumstances and working together to develop realistic, meaningful goals.
Whether supporting someone with a health condition, helping them improve everyday habits or making health education more accessible, my approach remains the same:
Understanding. Autonomy. Support.
Because healthy living isn’t about following someone else’s rules. It’s about having the knowledge, confidence and support to make informed choices that contribute to our own wellbeing.
I’m grateful to Special Olympics New Zealand and everyone involved in the Kāpiti Fit 5 programme for the opportunity to contribute to this initiative and work alongside such an enthusiastic group of athletes.
Read more about the Fit 5 programme and the athletes’ achievements in the Special Olympics New Zealand article. [Special olympics FIT5 article]