How To Write SMART Goals… 

Crafting goals with the SMART formula can help you gain clarity and significantly boosts your chances of success. SMART goal setting can be a game changer that propels you and your patients/clients toward an effective plan for goal achievement.  

What Are SMART Goals? 

Smart goals are…

• Specific – it’s important to get as specific as possible, so that it’s clear whether a goal has been achieved or not. Provide yourself/your client with instructions for how you plan to achieve your goal.
• Measurable – add criteria to the goal that you can keep track of. Keeping track of progress on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can help with accountability. 
• Achievable – choose goals that are realistic for the situation. Setting small, achievable goals frequently can help with progress towards bigger, more challenging goals. 
• Relevant – goals should be meaningful and inspiring to the individual. 
• Timely – goals should have an identified timeline for completion. 

SMART Goal Example: 

I will add at least one serving of whole grains to my breakfast each day for the next 7 days.

What makes this a SMART goal for nutrition?

• Specific – the goal is very specific and clear, adding one serving of whole grains to breakfast each day. 
• Measurable – the goal can be measured; either the whole grains are consumed or not. 
• Achievable – depending on the individual, this goal may be appropriate (or perhaps the goal would need to be pared down based on readiness to change). 
• Relevant – if the long-term goal is to accomplish something like increasing fiber intake, this would be a relevant goal. 
• Timely – there is an identified timeline (each day, for the next 7 days). 

Examples of SMART Goals for Nutrition Clients

Often, a client will come to a dietitian with a lofty long-term goal, like “to feel more energized”, “improve relationship with food” or “reduce A1C”. It’s important for practitioners to help guide them in breaking down those big, lofty goals into short-term actions and habits they can work on week to week.

In the DSC Nutrition Counseling & Coaching Certificate, we provide you with an extensive resource, filled with a variety of SMART goal examples that can be utilized based on your client’s long-term health goal and readiness for change. Learn more about the course here. 

Here are some examples of short-term SMART actions that can help your clients achieve their long-term goals: 

• Increase Fiber Intake: “I will add at least one serving of whole grains to my breakfast each day for the next ___ days.”

• Regular Physical Activity: “For the next ___ days, I will take a 30-minute walk every second day after dinner.”

• Balanced Meal Planning: “For the next ___ days, I will include a source of lean protein in each of my meals to help keep my blood sugar levels steady.”

• Reduce Processed Foods: “In the next ___ days, I will replace fruit juice with a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts at least 3 times a week.”

• Hydrate More: “For the next ___ days, I will aim to drink at least 8 cups of water each day.”

• Stress Management: “Starting this week, I will engage in 15 minutes of mindfulness meditation before bed every second night to help manage stress.”

• Improve Sleep: “Starting tomorrow, I will aim for at least 7 hours of sleep each night by creating a relaxing bedtime routine and going to bed at the same time.”

• Portion Control: “I will use handy portion sizes for my evening snack over the next month to build awareness of portion sizes.”

• Consistent Meal Times: “I will aim to eat my meals/snacks at roughly the same times each day for the next ___ days to maintain consistent blood sugar levels.”

• Regular Monitoring: “Over the next month, I will check my blood sugar levels every morning and night, and record the readings in my journal to better understand my body’s sugar management.”

Examples of Personal & Performance Goals for Dietitians 

As a dietitian, you may be required to set performance goals each year by your regulatory body. Or, you might just be interested in setting goals to enhance your own career and personal life. Here are some examples of Professional, Personal, Wellness & Financial goals that you can utilize. 

Professional

Examples of SMART Goals for Dietitians: 

• Complete one lesson per week of DSC’s ___ course, and complete the course by ___
• Sign up for ___ professional conference by ___
• Complete 1 hour per week of continuing education for a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education in ____ topic by the end of the year

• Read ____ books per week on ____ topic
• Enroll in an advanced nutrition course to enhance expertise in ____ by _____

• Set up quarterly meetings with my boss to discuss my development by _____

• Start volunteering ____ times per (week/month) at ____ 
• Join a professional dietetics association committee by _____ in order to enhance skills in advocacy
• Develop personalized nutrition plans for 50 clients within the next ____ months
• Implement a new dietary assessment tool to enhance client evaluations by ____
• Raise awareness of nutrition-related issues through social media campaigns by posting on Instagram _____ times

• Organize my time by starting each day with 10 minutes of creating a to-do list, looking at my calendar and prioritizing my tasks 

• Decrease stress at work by taking ____ minutes off for lunch/coffee break each day 

• Find a mentor in ____ and organize a ____ minute meeting every (month/quarter) 

• Invite 1 new person who works in my desired field out for coffee every ____ months
• Organize and participate in a nutrition-focused community event within the next ____ months
• Mentor and train two nutrition interns over the next year
• Conduct quarterly workshops to educate healthcare providers on nutrition topics, starting in ____ 
• Implement a nutrition-focused training program for staff within the next ___ months
• Collaborate with nursing staff to enhance their understanding of nutrition care by hosting 2 lunch & learns in the next ___ months. 

Personal

Examples of Smart Goals for Dietitians:

• Read ____ non-fiction/fiction/business books by ____ 
• Read ___ pages of ____ book each day

• Write ____ words in my journal every ____

• Schedule ____ no-work vacations to take in the upcoming year by ___ 

• Organize ____ social events with my friends each ____

• Visit my ____, ____ times each (month/quarter/week) 

• Call my ____, ____ times each (month/quarter/week) 

• Organize my closet/office/basement by _____ 

• Spend ____ minutes each (day/week) on (insert any personal hobbies that you enjoy) 

• Spend ____ minutes practicing/learning (language) each day, starting tomorrow

Wellness 

Examples of Smart Goals for Dietitians:

• Do yoga ____ times per (day/week/month), starting next week

• Incorporate meditation into my daily routine for ____ minutes 
• Complete Couch to 5K training program ___ times per week 

• Complete a 5k/10k/half marathon, etc. by ____ 

• Drink ____ L of water each day 

• Incorporate half a plate of vegetables into lunch and dinner each day

• Reduce alcohol consumption to _____ each day/week/month 

• Go for a walk each day for ____ minutes 

• Record 3 items in my gratitude journal each morning 

• Meet with my therapist to work on my mental health _____ per (week/month) 

• Go to bed at __ time each night, set alarm for __ to achieve __ hours of sleep each night

• Take ____ time off of social media each (day/week)

Financial 

Examples of Smart Goals for Dietitians:

• Contribute $____ to my RRSP/TFSA/savings account each (month/quarter) 

• Save ____ per week towards a down payment on a house 

• Create a budget for my personal spending by ____

• Spend ____ on meals/takeout/groceries/restaurants each (week/month)

• Contribute ____ to pay off my debt each (week/month/quarter) 

• Save ____ for (anything you want – material or otherwise) by ____ 

• Meet with a financial advisor and set up a savings goal for the upcoming year by ___

• Organize my house and post extra items for sale on Facebook Marketplace once per week

• Save ____ towards a trip to ____ to take in (year) 

• Use $____ as ‘fun money’ to do something I love each (week/month/quarter)

Business 

Examples of Smart Goals for Dietitians:

• Get my first client by ____

• Finish my website by ______ 

• Setup my EMR platform by _____

• Reach out to _____ brands/freelance clients by ______ 

• Post on Instagram _____ times in _____

• Book ____ discovery calls each week 

• Achieve a ___% ‘close rate’ on discovery calls by _____

• Make $_____ in my business by _____

• Reduce my costs by ______ in (year)

• Launch my group program by _______

• Finish & launch my online course by ______

In essence, embracing SMART goal setting becomes your compass towards both professional success and personal fulfillment. It’s the practical tool that transforms aspirations into achievable realities, shaping a future grounded in accomplishments and well-being.

What goals are you going to set today?

If you’re looking to support your clients with their own goal setting, check out our blog article on Increasing Client Success with SMART Nutrition Goals and DSC members can access DSC’s Goal Setting Resources here. 

Disclaimer: The information provided in all video content is for educational purposes only and is in no way medical or professional advice. Dietitian Success Center Inc. is not responsible and cannot be held liable for any actions or inactions taken related to the information provided. It is the user’s responsibility to validate content with their country’s current standards for dietetic practice before implementing.