As a nutrition consultant, I have always queried clients to better understand why nutrition programs work for some and not others; why certain people find discipline so easy while others are so challenged. Recently I attended a workshop on enneagram personality testing that helped shed light on the nine different personality types as they pertain to adopting new eating habits.
With this article, I am eager to share these insights with you, but please keep in mind that this is a complex and elegant system which is influenced by your current level of health and awareness.
Type One: Reformers have strong beliefs about what is right and wrong and tend to be perfectionistic or have “all or nothing thinking.” With eating programs they are good at change and following the rules when they judge them as being righteous and correct. Reformers tend to have ease with meal planning, food prep and sticking to a plan and schedule.
Type Two: Helpers use food to connect to their loved ones through baking, cooking or sharing a meal. Food may act as emotional medicine and they eat to self- soothe. They are reluctant to integrate a new eating plan if it is not accepted or adopted by their loved ones.
Type Three: Motivators tend to be unemotional and practical about food; they are the “eat to live” types. When adopting new eating plans they look at the long-term gain and have an easier time avoiding temptations.
Type Four: Individualists are the creative type and choose foods based on how it makes them feel in the moment. When considering a new plan they may be inconsistent due to mood changes or current passions.
Type Five: Investigators tend to choose foods based on convenience, ease of preparation and clean-up because they are mentally absorbed in something else. When they set their mind to it, they will change their eating habits but want to be educated and require the new plan to be low maintenance and convenient.
Type Six: Loyalists tend to be the “meat and potatoes” people sticking to what they know. They are more likely to try multiple diets without allowing enough time to get results because they don’t trust that change will work.
Type Seven: Enthusiasts are the ones who view food as entertainment and adventure. They will only adopt new eating plans with a great deal of variety, as they are prone to feel deprived or bored.
Type Eight: Leaders know what they want and how to get it – fast. When adopting new eating plans, they require a degree of choice and freedom, as they cannot tolerate restriction, being controlled or boxed in by rules.
Type Nine: Peacemakers typically eat more unconsciously and eat whatever is put in front of them to maintain peace. They can easily adopt new eating plans if they are convenient and consistent with their friends and family but do have a tough time withstanding peer pressure.
If you are looking for a constructive approach to better understanding yourself and those around you, I encourage you to visit www.enneagraminstitute.com to get more information.
Deborah Schrameck is a wholistic kinesiologist, health coach, nutritional counselor and owner of Body Alive and can be reached at (760) 238.0625 or [email protected]. www.BodyAlive.us.
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