Which of the following can provide valuable insight to a nutrition coach, when attempting to establish motivation?

• A. Yes/No questions
• B. Open-ended questions
• C. Leading questions
• D. Closed-ended questions

Answer: (B)

Open-ended questions invite clients to share their goals, reasons for change, and the barriers they face in their own words, which is essential for really understanding what motivates them. In nutrition coaching, motivation often runs beneath the surface—values, confidence, and readiness to change—and these questions draw that out, helping you tailor strategies that fit the individual. For example, asking what matters most about changing eating habits or what has made it hard to stick to a plan invites detailed responses you can build on, rather than a simple yes or no. Yes/No, leading, and closed-ended questions can shut down depth or bias answers, so they’re much less effective for uncovering genuine motivation.