Should I Hire a Dietitian?
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Do I really need a dietitian when I already know what I should EAt?
Most people generally know what foods support health, and which foods are less supportive of health. Dietitians (ideally) do not just come to the session and tell you what to do. When you meet with a dietitian (especially here at Path Nutrition and Wellness) that person will listen to your needs, interests, and health goals, and work with you to determine which changes to your current diet will support those goals. Often knowing what to do is the easy part, and doing it is the hard part. All dietitian receive some training in behavior change, though some are more comfortable with those conversations than others. Conversations on how to then implement the changes and how to stay consistent are generally a significant portion of the visit with a dietitian.
What is the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist?
Nutrition is something we all have some familiarity with. Most schools have some level of nutrition education in health class, some people have had success with building muscle or losing weight by changing their nutrition, and of course we all eat food. So what is the difference between all of these nutrition professionals?
Nutritionist is not a regulated term at this time. Anyone with an interest in nutrition who does research on the topic on their own can call themselves a nutritionist. Some of these individuals are very knowledgeable and some are unfortunately misinformed. Nutrition coaches likely went through some sort of coach training program in addition to education on nutrition basics, and may be helpful especially in the behavior change side. Dietitians go through the most rigorous training - now it requires a masters degree to become a dietitian in the US.
For states that require a license (over 90% of states do), dietitians are the only one of these nutrition professionals that can actually assess what you’re eating and provide specific recommendations. Dietitians are the best fit if you want individualized recommendations based on your current intake, or if you are trying to treat or improve a medical condition with dietary changes.
Nutritionists and nutrition coaches can tell you general recommendations and practices of healthy eating, but it is not legally in their scope of practice to assess your food intake and tell you what to change to better meet your needs. They can discuss food groups, nutrients, food sources of nutrients and general recommendations for amounts of nutrients needed daily. But this information cannot legally be individualized to you unless you are working with a dietitian in most states.
How do I find a dietitian or nutritionist?
You have so many options! Schedule a free 15 minute consultation here to schedule with Path Nutrition and Wellness where you can receive dietitian services depending on your state of residence, or nutrition coaching (provided by a dietitian but the conversation will focus on behavior change and general recommendations), if you are in a state where our dietitians are not licensed.
If you’d like to find another option look up dietitians through your insurance provider, ask your doctor for a referral, or try googling “dietitian (or nutritionist) near me".