Best Online Nutrition Coaching

Online nutrition coaching can be a useful way to improve your health, but what exactly does it entail? Maybe you want to start eating better but don’t know where to start, or maybe you want someone to help you develop a personalized meal plan to manage a chronic health condition. Whatever your goals, this service is best for those who want the guidance of a nutrition coach and would prefer to meet by phone or video.

We spoke with experts who explained what online nutrition coaching is, how to find the right provider for you and how much you can expect to pay.

Online nutrition coaching provides specialized support and advice to help you achieve your health goals. Whether your intention is to lose weight or manage a health condition (e.g., diabetes or heart disease), a nutrition coach can develop an achievable meal plan for you.

Online coaching is very similar to an in-person appointment except that you and the nutrition coach are in different locations, Vanessa King, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told us. Typically, King said, the provider will send you a link to join a video session or will call you at the appointment time.

Coaching qualifications can vary by state, according to Carol Espel, an exercise physiologist and nutritionist with Inside-Out Wellbeing in New York. She told us coaches should be licensed, have a degree in nutrition or a health-related field, and be certified as a registered dietitian (RD) or hold an advanced degree in nutrition. Coaches with these qualifications follow medical and evidence-based research.

A 2019 study of those with severe kidney disease found online nutrition coaching was convenient for participants and a way to feel supported in helping make dietary changes. Nutrition coaching offers several advantages, including:

• Flexibility: With online coaching, you get more flexible scheduling than traditional coaching can offer.
• Convenience: You can have coaching sessions from the comfort of your couch. There’s no need to travel to appointments or rearrange your schedule to attend.
• Goal-specific coaching: Online practices allow providers to differentiate themselves based on specialized offerings — e.g., coaching related to weight loss, menopause or health issues like metabolic conditions and prediabetes.
• Accessibility: With improvements in technology, it’s easier to access nutritional lectures, workshops, coaching and classes. You can often track your progress through apps and achieve many of the same goals as those attending in-person coaching.
• Affordability: With many coaches working remotely, there are no overhead costs for office space, and these cost savings can be passed on to you.

Look for a coach who specializes in your particular needs, whether you’re interested in weight management, prenatal nutrition or managing your diabetes diagnosis, Dalia Beydoun, a registered dietitian and founder of DSB Nutrition, suggested. “Choose someone who not only has expertise in that area but also has a track record of success with clients who have similar goals,” Beydoun said.

First, research potential coaches. A tip from Beydoun: “Look into their qualifications, areas of expertise and what type of clients they've worked with. Reading reviews and testimonials can also give you a good sense of their approach and success with clients.”

Nutrition coaching can be a broad term. When choosing a nutrition coach, you may come across registered dietitians, nutritionists and general nutrition coaches:

• Registered dietitian: A registered dietitian has a degree and training in medical nutrition therapy, which is nutrition education that’s geared toward medical conditions. According to Beydoun, “anyone can call themselves a nutritionist because it's an unregulated title, unlike the RD credential.”

  There’s a high standard of training for RDs, who need a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice and have to take a national exam. An RD is considered the “nutrition expert,” King explained. “As such, we’re able to get licenses and accept insurance for nutrition coaching services because medical nutrition therapy is what insurance companies, including Medicare, reimburse providers for.”

• Nutritionist: A nutritionist could have a certification from a gym or a weekend training or hold a Ph.D. in nutrition sciences, King told us. Some registered dietitians will also call themselves nutritionists. In some states, a nutritionist who holds an advanced degree and certification might be able to offer medical nutrition therapy and therefore may accept insurance.
• Nutrition coach: A “nutrition coach” can have as little as 16 hours of training at a gym but may also have a relevant college degree, according to King. “They likely don’t have medical nutrition therapy training to treat medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, bariatric surgery and eating disorders,” King said. Nutrition coaches can’t accept insurance because they can’t provide medical nutrition therapy.

Another aspect to consider is the coaching style. According to Beydoun, these include:

• Motivational interviewing, which helps you explore your own motivations for change
• Client-centered approaches, which focus on personalizing your plan based on your own circumstances and needs
• Accountability coaching, a popular style where your provider regularly checks in and helps measure your progress to keep you on track and committed to your goals

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started with an online nutrition coach:

• Research your options: If you’re not sure where to begin in the search for an online nutrition coach, start by looking at reputable organizations such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Nutrition Association to find experts who offer online coaching.

  We also recommend looking for a provider on popular online nutrition coaching platforms that vet their coaches.

• Schedule a consultation: The initial consultation — usually free of cost — is an important opportunity for you and the coach to get to know each other and see if you’re a good fit once you’ve discussed your goals. Initial consultations typically last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of your health status and goals.

  Once you’ve both agreed to move forward, you’ll likely purchase coaching sessions upfront to show a commitment from both parties. “The nutritionist then moves forward with an initial assessment and provides simple forms online for clients to complete for preliminary overall health evaluation and potential risks,” Espel explained.

• Start regular coaching sessions: Most people schedule coaching sessions one to three times a week, according to Espel. Appointments typically range from 30 to 45 minutes.

Online nutrition coaching costs from a few hundred dollars a session to upwards of several thousand dollars for multiple sessions. Fees for online nutrition coaching vary widely based on your geographic location, the provider's levels of expertise, how in demand they are and the services they provide.

Coaches typically charge by 15-minute or one-hour blocks of time. These fees take into account possible office space, liability insurance and electronic medical record software that offers secure video and phone lines.

Depending on the type of coach you work with and what kind of services they offer, you might spend a few hundred to several thousand dollars on nutrition coaching sessions.

“Generally, you're paying for personalized coaching, accountability and a customized nutrition plan. Some coaches may also offer additional services like meal planning, regular check-ins, or access to educational resources,” Beydoun explained.

Most insurances cover online, or telehealth, appointments, and you may just have to pay a copay, King told us. Remember, though, whether or not a coach can work with insurance depends on the qualification and certification of your provider.

To use this benefit, you need to work with a nutrition coach that’s also in-network with your insurance. If you have out-of-network benefits, you can pay out of pocket and then submit the bill to your insurance. Some coaches do offer sliding-scale fees.

Most nutrition coaching requires out-of-pocket payment, with exceptions for registered dietitians. Some registered dietitians choose not to accept insurance, however, in which case you would need to pay out of pocket.

With so much technology available at your fingertips, the personalization and flexibility of a nutrition coach can be easy to find.

Just make sure to do your research before committing yourself to a nutrition coach. Ensure they have the experience and qualifications to fit your needs. Since many insurance companies cover the cost of nutrition coaching, it’s worth looking into your benefits and working with a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

“Regardless of age, gender or socio-economic status, so many people need qualified expertise and support,” Espel said. “Whether looking to improve diet, increase physical activity, manage stress or address other health concerns, seeking guidance from qualified professionals can be game-changing when choosing a healthier lifestyle.”

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team used a research-backed, data-driven approach informed by our expert editors to choose the best online nutrition coaching companies.

We looked at the following factors to make our picks:

• Monthly cost: Platforms with lower prices generally got a higher rating, but we also considered what you’re getting for the price.
• Monthly video sessions: Regular video check-ins with your coach make it easier to stick to your plan and make adjustments as needed. The more often you can meet with your coach, the better.
• Unlimited messaging: Beyond these check-ins, most platforms offer unlimited messaging with your nutrition coach.
• Insurance acceptance: Many telehealth options for nutrition coaching don’t work with insurance companies. Those that do get bonus points, as they can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
• Free trial: Signing up for a long-term nutrition coaching program is a big commitment. We prioritized companies that let you sample their services with a free trial.