What to expect from a nutritionist consultation

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Edited by: Joanna Broder
a woman speaking to a male nutritionist

Nutritionists are dietary professionals who can develop recipes, suggest meal plans and provide information about healthy eating. If you’re looking to improve your diet, working closely with a nutritionist can reveal more effective ways to reach your weight loss goals, eat less sugar, eat more vegetables or achieve another food-related goal on your path to wellness and better health.

During a nutrition consultation, your nutritionist will likely ask you about what you eat, review any special dietary restrictions you have and make recommendations that are designed to fit your lifestyle, preferences and culture. Your nutritionist may ask about your health and medical history, show you how to read food labels and explain how you can mindfully plan your food intake every day.


Key insights

Nutritionists use interviews, assessments and food diaries to understand your current diet and relationship with food, including any history of eating disorders or chronic diseases.

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Being prepared for your first appointment by bringing medical information, a food diary and a list of goals will help you get the most out of your consultation.

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Nutritionists provide expert guidance, support and personalized advice to help you achieve your goals and improve your overall relationship with food.

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Nutritional assessment

The first time you meet with a nutritionist, they’ll ask you questions about what, when and how you eat. Their goal is to understand what you’re eating now so they can develop an accurate picture of what your diet is like today and what your relationship is with your food. To gather your dietary information, nutritionists often use interviewing techniques, diet assessments and food diaries.

They’ll probably want to know if you have an eating disorder in your health history — this information can help them create a dietary plan that doesn’t make a past eating disorder resurface or worsen. You may also expect them to ask about any chronic disease or family history of chronic conditions, such as diabetes.

From there, they can assess your diet, create recommendations and build an eating plan that fits your needs.

Below are some examples of questions that your nutritionist may ask.

Health and diet

  • Meals and snacks: How many daily meals do you eat? Do you eat snacks between meals?
  • Food planning: How do you decide what to eat?
  • Dieting: Have you ever dieted in the past? Did you ever start a diet and stop, losing your progress?
  • Restriction: Do you restrict calories when you eat?
  • Allergies and intolerance: Do you have food allergies or intolerances? Common food sensitivities to mention include lactose, gluten, egg and wheat intolerance, but be sure to tell your nutritionist about any history of discomfort from eating because of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or celiac disease.
  • Other dietary restrictions and preferences: Do you avoid certain foods? If so, why? If you have personal preferences, cultural or religious restrictions or something else your nutritionist should know about your diet, be sure to tell them.
  • Specialty-specific questions: If you sought the help of a dietitian or nutritionist specializing in a specific area (for example, cardiovascular health or gastrointestinal issues), why are you seeking nutrition guidance from a specialist? Do you have new, worsening or changing symptoms that prompted you to schedule a specialist appointment?

Lifestyle

  • Exercise: How often do you exercise every week? What types of exercise do you do?
  • Sleep: How many hours of quality sleep do you get every night? Do you routinely have trouble falling asleep when it’s time? What is your sleep schedule like?
  • Work and life balance: Does your daily work and life schedule feel balanced or out of balance? Do you generally feel like you have the time you need every day to meet your obligations?
  • Stress: How often do you feel stress in your life and work? How do you manage your stress?

Mental and emotional relationship with food

  • Psychological history: Do you have a history of depression, anxiety or another mental health condition or symptom that could impact your eating?
  • Eating patterns and triggers: Do you have food triggers or eating patterns that influence your diet? For example, you may feel hungrier when you're tired and stressed, or you may notice that it’s easier to binge eat at certain times of the day. If this is true about you, be sure to tell your nutritionist.
  • Body image: How do you feel about your body and how you look? Do you make any dietary decisions and choices based on how you look or want to look? Are you hoping to change your appearance through your diet? For instance, are you trying to change your weight?

Your nutritionist will need honest, thorough information from you to evaluate your eating and create a personalized food plan. If you don’t remember or you aren’t sure what you ate that day, tell them. They can help you create a food diary describing what you typically eat, including portion sizes, food groups, timing of meals, snacks and other important information.

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How to prepare for your first consultation

For your first appointment, you should prepare for your nutritionist’s intake process — bring the information they ask for, such as a list of all your medications and supplements. If you’re taking multivitamins or over-the-counter medications, these count too. Take your recent lab results or share your medical charts with your nutritionist so they can understand your current health needs and medical history.

Anything you’d bring with you to a new medical (primary care or specialist) appointment could be helpful here too. Some people like to bring a patient advocate, friend or family member with them for support and to help with taking notes and asking questions.

1. Start a food diary

Your nutritionist may ask you to track your food intake for a few days or a week before coming to your first appointment. Even if they don’t ask you to, writing down or adding to an app what you eat for a day or two could make your consultation even more useful and informative.

Your diary doesn’t have to be elaborate. Just jot down notes about what you eat, portion sizes and how you feel or how hungry you are for however long your nutritionist asks.

2. Set goals

Before your meeting, think about your goals. What do you want to accomplish with your nutrition? Think about the changes you want to make, nutritional challenges you face and your medical and health needs. If you have specific goals you set with another health provider — like if you told your doctor you’d like to reduce your sodium intake to protect your heart — then these health goals should be added to the goals you set with your nutritionist.

3. Take charge of your nutrition

To make the most of your consultation, be proactive about asking for healthy eating tips. Clear up any questions — for example, do you really have to give up all sugar or avoid fat, or are these just myths? Write down a list of things to ask, and have your nutritionist walk you through the meal planning process and how to get the nutrients you need.

For many people, learning how to make good nutrition choices while grocery shopping, dining out or attending a special event is another important part of watching what you eat. Ask for advice that’s relevant for your situation and needs.

Follow-up sessions and progress tracking

After your first session, following up with your nutritionist is usually an important part of your success. You may have more sessions with your nutrition counselor to check on your progress, make adjustments to your meal plan, review your goals and adjust as needed. You’ll likely keep a food diary and report what you’re eating to your nutritionist for review.

The nutritionist may mention challenges or questions you discussed together during your first appointment. Make sure to share what you’re learning and let them know how your diet is going. If your health changes or you aren’t getting the right amount of a nutrient or food group, your nutritionist can identify the right adjustments to make. Don’t be afraid to share your challenges and mistakes. Your nutritionist can encourage you and recognize your progress.

It’s important to attend any follow-up visits your nutritionist recommends. Following up will help you stay on track and reach your goals more effectively. Your nutrition counselor can share ideas and adjust your plan if changes are needed.

Common concerns about consulting a nutritionist

Insurance coverage for nutritionist appointments may vary, but many insurance plans cover nutrition consultations if your health provider makes a referral. Out-of-pocket costs may apply if you have a co-payment or are going to an appointment without using insurance. Nutritionist consultations can cost as much as $100 to $200, depending on the specialist’s credentials and the going rates in your area.

Appointments with nutritionists are usually available in person or online via telehealth. In-person visits may be less convenient but can also make communication with your nutritionist easier.

If you have food allergies or intolerances, nutritionists can work with you to design a personalized food plan. You can meet your diet goals by making adjustments and substitutions — your nutritionist can show you how.

Benefits of seeing a nutritionist

Working with a nutritionist has many benefits, including:

  • Guidance from a pro: Nutritionists know the science- and evidence-based strategies behind healthy eating and improving your diet. They can show you strategies that are proven to work.
  • Support and accountability: With ongoing check-ins, your nutritionist can help you stay accountable and encourage you along the way.
  • Food ideas and feedback: Your nutritionist can show you creative substitutes that make recipes healthier to help you eat the way you want while also changing your diet.
  • Achieving your food goals: Get personalized advice for meeting your goals, taking into account your health status, your medications and conditions, your past experiences with food and other factors. Instead of getting generic food information, you learn about how to understand food recommendations in a context individualized to you.
  • Addressing symptoms and disease: A nutritionist can tailor your diet for disease management and prevention, working with your clinical team if necessary to help you achieve bigger goals for your health. (Note that generally, only registered dieticians can work with a clinical team on disease management and prevention. Registered dieticians have stringent educational and internship requirements and must pass an exam to become certified. They also must be licensed.)

FAQ

What services do nutritionists offer?

Nutritionists review your diet and recommend ways to eat healthier, plan your meals better and achieve your nutritional goals. You may go to one or multiple appointments with a nutritionist to set goals, develop a meal plan and stay on track in improving your relationship with food.

How do you prepare for a nutrition consultation?

Before your nutrition consultation, you should gather your questions about nutrition, your food diary if you have one, medical records, lab results and a list of medications and supplements you take. Think about your goals for the consultation and what you hope to accomplish by working with a nutritionist.

Are nutritionist consultations covered by insurance?

Insurance may cover a nutritionist consultation or may ask you for a co-payment. Those with chronic conditions or eating disorders may be referred by a health care provider for a specific number of visits or a specific treatment plan.

Most insurances will cover a registered dietician (RD) but may not cover a nutritionist. RDs must meet more stringent educational requirements and must pass a standardized exam in order to become certified and obtain licensure. To find out your plan’s specific nutrition coverage, contact your insurance provider.

Can I get a nutritionist consultation online?

Telehealth and online nutritionist consultations are increasingly popular and accessible for many people. Your health provider may refer you to a nutritionist, or you can find one online that fits your needs.

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