Reasons to see a Dietitian

Written by Nechama Flomin on 08/29/2023

Thinking about your health lately, and considering a dietitian? There's a few things you need to consider before scheduling your first consult, and even before you decide on which dietitian is for you!

Let's take a look at what makes a dietitian first:

• We have a 4 year degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
• We've completed 1200 practice hours divided amongst multiple nutrition related sub-specialties
• We've passed a rigorous registration exam
• We continue their education by completing credit requirements throughout our careers

With all of these requirements checked off and verified, you now know you're dealing with a legitimate professional. In practice, this background allows us to:

• Use evidence-based guidelines and up-to-date research to ensure you receive the best possible recommendations for your needs.
• Conduct a nutrition assessment to get a good look at who and where you are nutritionally to date and get the whole picture. For example, if a patient has a history of anemia we'll exclude certain strategies from our list of possible resolutions such as intermittent fasting or keto diets.
• Meet your where you find yourself currently, and help you resolve the discrepancy between what you're doing and where you want to be
• Help you through the stages of change by using evidence based practices, such as motivational interviewing
• Work with you to develop SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, timeoubound) goals
• Help you build practical skills to enable a healthy lifestyle, including label reading, choosing products, recipes, and grocery lists