How does someone become a licensed dietitian?
To become a licensed dietitian, one must first obtain a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or nutritional sciences. They can then move on to apply for an accredited dietetic internship. During the internship, they are required to complete 1200 hours of supervised fieldwork, then pass a national board exam. Starting in 2024, to become a licensed dietitian you must also have a master’s degree.
What is the difference between a nutritionist and a licensed dietitian?
The term nutritionist is actually an unregulated title, meaning there are no formal requirements for someone to call themselves a nutritionist. There aren’t any regulatory bodies to hold nutritionists accountable to standards of practice, and it is typically not recommended that individuals with medical conditions (diabetes, celiac disease, gastrointestinal diseases, etc.) work with nutritionists. On the other hand, a licensed dietitian must go through all the educational and clinical requirements listed above, as well as maintain 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years to maintain their credentials. Licensed and registered dietitians are trained in their internship and classwork to provide medical nutrition therapy for all chronic diseases and nutritional support such as tube feeding and IV nutrition.
What are some concerns that dietitians can help with?
There are so many concerns that a dietitian can help with! To name a few: diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, mental health nutrition, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sports nutrition, eating disorders, PCOS, perimenopause and menopause, food allergies, picky eating and family nutrition, kidney disease, autoimmune disease, pre- or post-natal nutrition, cancer, thyroid disorders, and more!
What are some of your specialty areas as a dietitian?
Some of my specialty areas include eating disorders, disordered eating, general nutrition and wellness, pediatric and family nutrition, women’s health, and sports nutrition! I played lacrosse in college and am particularly passionate about working with athletes and anyone with athletic interests.
How can working with a dietitian complement your mental health treatment?
Working with a dietitian to ensure you are eating enough, as well as eating an appropriate balance of nutrient groups, can help improve your mood and sense of well-being. A dietitian can help make sure you’re eating regularly enough to stabilize your blood sugar levels, which can prevent you from feeling tired or moody. They can also help you modify your diet to include sufficient protein, whole-grain carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables to get a broad variety of the vitamins and minerals your brain and body need to thrive and feel well. Additionally, a dietitian can assist you in balancing your dietary fat intake, as your brain benefits from fats called omega-3s commonly found in nuts, seeds, fatty fish, avocados, and olive oil.
What can a client expect during sessions with a dietitian?
When working with a dietitian, a client can expect to start with an initial intake assessment, so the dietitian can gather information regarding medical and nutrition history, food preferences, current medications and supplements, assess recent lab work, and review a client’s current food intake and movement. From there, a dietitian will work with the client to identify their concerns/ goals and co-create realistic steps to achieve those goals in the short and long term. Some things that a dietitian can help with in sessions include grocery list planning and shopping, meal and snack ideas / meal planning, providing recipes, recommending supplements if appropriate, and providing education on various aspects of nutrition.