Is a nutrition coach worth it?

Understanding the role of a nutrition coach

Nutrition coaches offer education, advice and accountability regarding healthy eating and the impacts it can have on your health and well-being. A nutrition coach might help identify goals, develop strategies to meet those goals and educate you on nutrition and its impacts. They can also offer support and hold you accountable.

That said, there are some things a nutrition coach can’t do. They typically can’t diagnose health conditions, prescribe specific meal plans or treat medical conditions (such as diabetes). These tasks are usually handled by registered dietitians (RDs), who have additional training and licensing to provide these medical services.

If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions, a nutrition coach could be right for you:

• Are you looking for help with general healthy eating habits? A nutrition coach can help improve overall wellness, meal structure and lifestyle habits.
• Do you struggle with staying accountable? A coach might be a good fit for individuals who need external motivation and structured guidance.
• Are you managing specific dietary goals but not complex medical issues? A nutrition coach can help with weight management, athletic performance or navigating dietary preferences (such as maintaining a ketogenic or gluten-free diet). However, they’re less suitable for those needing specialized medical nutrition therapy.
• Is your relationship with food influenced by emotions or stress? Nutrition coaches are often skilled at addressing emotional eating or mental roadblocks around food.

Finally, nutrition coaches and dietitians should not be confused with personal trainers, who typically focus on physical fitness. While some personal trainers may offer some very basic advice on caloric intake and related topics, their area of expertise is in exercise and physical performance — for example, you might hire a personal trainer to help you put on muscle or develop a well-rounded exercise program.

How much does a nutrition coach cost?

Most nutrition coaches charge somewhere between $50 and $150 per hour. Some nutrition coaches may also offer packages or monthly recurring fees, either in addition to their hourly rates or in place of them.

Factors that can affect how much a nutrition coach charges include the following:

• Experience: More experienced coaches are likely to charge more than less experienced ones. This doesn’t automatically mean that an affordable coach is bad and an expensive one is good, but it’s something to keep in mind.
• Services offered: The specific services offered by the coach may impact the price. For example, a coach that offers between-session texting or other extras may charge more than one who only interacts with you during sessions.
• In-person vs. online or hybrid sessions: The coach’s method of communication can have an impact on price. Coaches who need to hold a physical office space may need to charge a bit more to cover that cost, for example.
• Location: As with many things, where you live can have an impact on nutrition coaching costs. High-cost-of-living areas may have generally higher prices. Of course, if you seek online coaching, the cost of living in the area may not matter.
• Service packages: The way a nutrition coach structures their offerings can impact costs. For example, some coaches may do monthly subscription packages at a slightly discounted rate (versus paying on a per-session basis).

Benefits of hiring a nutrition coach

One of the biggest benefits of working with a nutrition coach is having someone join you on your health and wellness journey. They can help you stick with your plan and provide tips and tricks to make things easier.

Another major benefit of nutrition coaching is helping you clarify your goals. Many people have a vague sense that they want to be healthier or lose some weight. However, it’s hard to develop a specific plan without specific goals — imagine trying to navigate to a new destination when you only know the town it’s in but not the specific address.

Ultimately, the improved health that comes with proper nutrition can improve your overall energy, health, performance and quality of life.

Having an experienced coach guide your way can really help maximize the far-reaching impacts of nutrition.

The ROI of nutrition coaching

It’s hard to put a concrete value on nutrition coaching. However, while it does have the potential to be expensive, we think it’s probably well worth the money for people who struggle to stick to a nutritious diet or to meet their health goals.

The value of successfully losing weight or potentially improving health and longevity is different for everyone. That said, in a 2018 review of 11 randomized controlled trials, researchers found that 82% of trials showed at least one improvement in outcome when participants utilized health and wellness coaching. Outcomes included weight, blood pressure and the intake of fruits, vegetables and fats.

This is in addition to the well-documented benefits of healthy eating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthy eating can help provide the following:

• Healthier skin, teeth and eyes
• Stronger bones and muscles
• Enhanced immune function
• Reduced risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers
• Improved digestive function

Choosing the right nutrition coach

Choosing a nutrition coach is much like choosing any other professional. There are a number of factors you’ll want to consider (in no particular order):

• Certifications and credentials: While not required to be a nutrition coach, credentials can be a good indicator of expertise and dedication to the field.
• Experience: Broadly, the longer someone has been coaching, the more experience they’ll have, which could help yield better results.
• Client testimonials: Real testimonials from real people who’ve worked with a coach can be the best source of information when choosing one for yourself.
• Cost: Cost will be a factor for most people, but we’d caution against looking for the cheapest coach you can find — there may be a reason they’re not charging more.
• Personality match: Your coach will be helping you through potentially challenging parts of your health journey. It’s important to look for a coach who you can see yourself working with easily — but also one who’ll hold you accountable when necessary.
• Methods and approach: Similarly, you’ll want to look for a coach whose methods align with your goals and personality. Testimonials can be a good way to get insight into a coach’s approach to nutrition.

Bottom line

Whether you’re looking to lose weight, improve your mental well-being and energy levels or just live a healthier life, a nutrition coach can be a valuable asset. A qualified nutrition coach can help you clarify your goals, develop a plan and provide support and accountability along the way. Most importantly, they can personalize your coaching to your specific needs and situation, something a generic diet plan simply can’t do.

Although it can be a bit pricey, nutrition coaching can be a worthwhile investment, especially for people who've struggled with meeting their goals in the past.