FAQ
1. What will you, as a Registered Dietitian (RD), do for me?
I will be working with you to help rid your brain of the chatter that tells you what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat. All the diets you have been on and all the well meaning people in your life who are giving you advise on what you “should do” have left you without the internal knowledge about what your body wants to eat. I will also, help you slowly get rid of the good food/bad food list that is continually growing.
2. Will I need to follow a meal plan?
Most of my clients do not use meal plans. I follow a principle called Intuitive Eating. It is an act of listening to your body to tell you when you are hungry and full. Now, if your hunger/fullness signals are not working we will work together to re-learn how to be aware of them.
3. Can I meet with you even I don’t have an eating disorder (ED)?
My clients range from those who have anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating as well as those who are trying to get rid of the diet mentality and learn a new way of eating. I also meet with people are interested in controlling their blood sugar and have a diagnosis of diabetes.
4. Will I gain/lose weight?
Depending on your ED and your weight history your weight might not know where to plateau. I will be working with you to get your body back to a point where IT wants to be, not where you think it should be.
5. Will I need to see another professional?
Yes, if you are diagnosed with an ED I will expect you to have a therapist or psychiatrist as well.
6. I am a vegetarian/vegan will you honor my food beliefs?
Yes, to a point. I do understand the moral and ethics behind choosing to not eat animal products. And at the same time animal products are a great source of protein. We will explore the reasons why you chose to live a meat free lifestyle.
7. How often will we meet?
This depends on your specific situation. I will meet with you weekly for a while then spread the appointments to every 2 -3 weeks. Eventually we will meet monthly then bi-monthly. The timeline for this varies for each person.
8. What is the difference between a Registered Dietitian and a nutritionist?
The "RD" credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association.
Some RDs may call themselves "nutritionists," but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The definition and requirements for the term "nutritionist" vary. Some states have licensure laws that define the range of practice for someone using the designation "nutritionist," but in other states, virtually anyone can call him- or herself a "nutritionist" regardless of education or training.
Individuals with the RD credential have fulfilled specific requirements, including having earned at least a bachelor's degree (about half of RDs hold advanced degrees), completed a supervised practice program and passed a registration examination — in addition to maintaining continuing education requirements for recertification. (www.Eatright.org)
