First of all, if you are starting the journey to find the right Dietitian for you, congratulations on starting your journey!
When it comes to finding the right Dietitian, how do you know where to start? Do you ask friends for referrals or look online? And once you find someone, what should you look for in a good dietitian-client relationship? Read on for tips on how to find the right Registered Dietitians for your needs and goals.
Finding the right Dietitian can be overwhelming. You may not even know where to start! But don’t worry – we’re here to help. In this post, we’ll give you some tips on how to find a Nutritionist online who is a good fit for you and your needs. Keep reading for more information.
Steps to Find a Nutritionist Online and What to Look For in a Dietitian
1. What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist? Know the difference!
All Dietitians in Canada must complete an approved university degree, and an internship program, pass the national registration exam, and become registered in at least 1 province to work as a Registered Dietitian. All Dietitians in Canada would have extremely similar educations (at least to start their careers).
In Alberta, Dietitians and Nutritionists are both protected designations and only Dietitians can call themselves Nutritionists. However, it’s not the same case in every province! At Edge Nutrition, our Dietitians are registered in both Alberta and British Columbia so you may see Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist on our website but it is because we are Registered in Alberta we also call ourselves Nutritionists.
If you want to work with a Registered Dietitian and you are speaking with a Nutritionist, make sure you clarify whether they are a Dietitian or not.
2. Are they specialized in the area(s) you are hoping to improve?
For example, I have a special interest in women’s health such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, building healthy relationships with food, and sustainable weight loss.
You may not know this but Dietitians practice in numerous areas of nutrition such as:
- Sports Nutrition
- Eating Disorder
- Women’s Health such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Prenatal Nutrition
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gut Health
- Child & Family Nutrition
- Intuitive Eating
- Emotional Eating
- Mental Health
- Geriatrics & Long-term care
- Other Health Issues, such as oncology
- Clinical Nutrition (in the hospital)
- Healthy Recipes
- Meal Planning and meal plans
- Personalized Nutrition Plan
- Weight Loss
If you don’t have a specific nutrition goal in mind, you might not need to worry about finding someone who specializes in a particular area!
3. What type of appointments do you prefer?
Do you prefer in-person appointments?
- You might need to see someone within driving distance which can help narrow your search!
- For example, our Dietitians can only conduct in-person appointments in Grande Prairie so our B.C. clients can only see a Dietitian in Vancouver if they like virtual Dietitian appointments.
Do you prefer phone or video conferencing?
- If so, you can see almost any Dietitian without leaving your house!
- For example, if you wanted to see a Dietitian in Calgary but you hate driving across the city then you could see a Dietitian in Calgary or an Alberta Dietitian or Nutritionist anywhere in Canada as long as they are a Registered Dietitian in Alberta!
Do you prefer private and personalized nutrition?
- A 1 on 1 nutrition coaching may be the right fit for you as you will get the most support for your individual needs and health goals.
Are you more motivated when working with others?
- A group nutrition coaching program may be the right fit for you as you will also learn from others while working on your eating habits and lifestyle habits.
4. Take a look at their blogs & social media!
You can get a good idea of whether you’ll like them by looking at their blogs and social media accounts. You may be able to tell if you will vibe with them just from watching the videos online, so take advantage!
Just as an FYI – Dietitians in Canada cannot post testimonials from clients so that is not something you can find online!
5. Schedule a free consultation
This is my favourite suggestion to find the right Dietitian Nutritionist for you! Before you purchase a package or an initial consultation, sign up for a free consult call! During this call, listen for the following:
- Are you able to talk with them easily?
- Do they make you feel comfortable?
- Do you trust them?
- Do you feel like your concerns are cared for? Or are they just rushing through the conversation?
- Do you feel like they fully understand your goals & what you are struggling with right now?
- Do they focus on food and lifestyle habits in addition to healthy eating or meal plans?
- Did the atmosphere feel right to you (trust your gut)?
Ask the questions that are important to you such as:
- Do they direct bill to health insurance companies?
- Which province are they registered as a Dietitian in?
- Do they subscribe to a particular diet themselves (such as paleo or vegetarian) and might it impact how they work with you?
- What is their nutrition counselling style?
- Will they take your food preferences, current dietary habits, and medical history into account?
- How often will you see them and how do they support you through your struggles?
- How often will they follow up after the first consultation?
- How long will it take to reach your goals?
- What results could you expect from working with them?
- Such as more energy, feel great or weight loss?
- What is the cost of investing in your health?
If you have questions or you’re looking to find out more ways you can better manage your nutrition, our first consultation call is always free. You can find out what to expect even before you make that call by checking out my summary of the process.
