FAQ

 

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• What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?

• What is a Registered Dietitian (RD) versus a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

• Are you a personal trainer?

• Can I use an app such as MyNetDiary or MyFitnessPal instead of a Registered Dietitian?

• Isn’t it all about the macros?

• Do you recommend intermittent fasting or a keto diet?

• Do you recommend dietary supplements?

• Can you help me lose weight by [insert date or event]?

• Why don’t you accept insurance?

• How does this process work?

 

 

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What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?

 

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RDN credential:

 

• Completed a minimum bachelor’s degree accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
   

• Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation. Typically, a practice program will run 6 to 12 months in length.
   

• Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
   

• Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

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What is a Registered Dietitian (RD) versus a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?

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Nothing. They are the same and the credentials can be used interchangeably.

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Remember: Every Registered Dietitian is a nutritionist, but not every nutritionist is a Registered Dietitian.

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Are you a personal trainer?

 

No. A personal trainer is someone who has earned a certification for creating exercise programs for individuals and groups with medical clearance to exercise. Personal trainers often work in gym settings. Some RDs are also certified as personal trainers, but I am not.

 

It is always best to seek guidance from a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) as they have higher standards for certification compared to a personal trainer and are athlete-specific for improving performance and preventing injury.

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Can I use an app such as MyNetDiary or MyFitnessPal instead of a Registered Dietitian?

 

Apps can be great tools for providing general nutrition guidance and self-monitoring.

 

There are many health considerations that affect nutrition recommendations such as medication use and preexisting health conditions. In these cases, general nutrition recommendations are not as effective and can be harmful. It is best to seek guidance for individualized recommendations based on your current health status and personal goals.

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Calorie and macronutrient recommendations on apps are often inaccurate, especially for the active individual or athlete. Apps focus on calorie balance rather than emphasizing the importance of meal patterning throughout the day.

 

Self-monitoring and food intake awareness are important for long-term success, but food logging is not required. Sometimes temporary calorie counting and macronutrient tracking can be helpful to drive specific dietary pattern changes.

 

You have the option to track food intake through your client portal allowing me to give you direct feedback and suggestions related to your food intake.

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Isn’t it all about the macros?

 

A well designed meal plan considers calorie balance (or imbalance, depending on goal), macronutrient distribution, meal patterning, and micronutrient needs. Macronutrient needs vary widely and should be assessed for each individual.

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Do you recommend intermittent fasting or a keto diet?

 

As a registered dietitian, I do not recommend “diets”. The best diet is a meal pattern and lifestyle you can maintain. We will discuss current and past eating patterns, consider your stated nutrition goals, and design a plan to best support your goals and personal preferences.

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Do you recommend supplements?

 

Supplements can be helpful if we determine there is a need after assessing your dietary intake and nutrition needs. Supplement safety is the first consideration before choosing any sport or dietary supplement. Always look for trusted 3rd party testing and purchase from a trusted source. Athletes should always choose NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport supplements to minimize the contamination risk of steroids or banned substances in the supplements they use to avoid positive drug testing. USP Verified and Consumer Lab are other trusted 3rd party testing to ensure consumer safety.

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I offer personalized supplement recommendations through Fullscript, a professional-grade dispensary. Fullscript validates supplements for their potency in addition to 3rd party testing and follows Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) to ensure product quality all the way to your front door.

 

Always report vitamin, mineral, or herbal supplement use to your primary healthcare provider especially if your health status has changed.

 

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Can you help me lose weight by [insert date or event]?

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We have all been there—Spring Break is on the horizon, a cousin’s wedding is coming up with family we haven’t seen in years, or we are about to go on a cruise (right after the Christmas holiday feast…or the COVID-19 pandemic)!

 

Leveraging events for motivation to make changes is a positive effect, but I do not offer quick weight loss solutions or muscle gain overnight. I want to work with motivated individuals who are looking for long-term sustainable strategies to improve their overall health and physical performance at all levels.

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Why don’t you accept insurance?

 

I want to provide clients with the most comprehensive assessment and planning that is needed for each individual and do not want to be limited to who I can see based on diagnosis code and how much time is allowed as determined by the insurance company. This allows for a more comprehensive experience for you as well as for me as your practitioner.

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How does this process work?

 

If you are unsure where to begin, I recommend scheduling a free phone consultation so we can get to know each other and discuss your goals. We will determine which package or service would best suit your needs and you can book an appointment online or over the phone.

 

Electronic forms and waivers will be sent for you to review, sign and complete. One of the documents you will receive is a detailed intake questionnaire. The more information you provide, the better I can serve you but it is a tool I use to get a "snapshot" or high level look of your eating pattern and current food preferences.

 

An individual nutrition plan will be created from information provided in your intake form and any additional communication via phone or email.

 

We will meet in person or virtually to discuss your plan, answer any additional questions, and make any modifications needed to accommodate your preferences. I have found that is best to schedule a follow-up within two to three weeks after our initial session to address obstacles and barriers to implementing your plan.