Clear communication is central to competent professional practice. As a food and nutrition professional you will need to develop knowledge and skills in communication, counseling, and education. This text will help you learn how to deliver effective messages in areas such as health promotion, disease prevention, intervention, treatment, team management, or training. A common goal of many nutrition interventions is a change to more healthful behaviors and lifestyles to reduce preventable diseases or their complications. An example is the increasing epidemic of obesity in adults and children as a major threat to health. Achieving changes in eating practices and lifestyles is a challenge.