In a world saturated with ever-changing food fads, from low-carb to low-cal and juice cleanses to carnivore diets, it can be challenging to navigate the landscape of nutrition. It seems everyone, from family members to acquaintances, has diet advice to offer, often leading to confusion and misinformation. Registered dietitians (RDs) are experts in food and nutrition, and they can help you sift through it all and point you to the science.
What is a Dietitian?
To earn the title of registered dietitian (RD), individuals must complete a minimum of a four-year college degree, followed by a hands-on internship and a national exam to earn their license. This extensive training equips them to address a wide range of food-related challenges and provide personalized guidance. The median annual wage for dietitians and nutritionists was $73,850 in May 2024.
Benefits of Consulting a Real Food Dietitian
Weight Loss
If you're aiming to lose weight and maintain it, fad diets are not the sustainable solution. Dietitians can assist you in developing healthy, lifelong habits that don't leave you feeling deprived. They focus on creating a balanced eating plan that aligns with your individual needs and preferences, promoting long-term success.
Weight Gain
Some individuals struggle with unwanted weight loss or have difficulty consuming enough nutrients to maintain a healthy body mass. Dietitians are knowledgeable in both weight gain and weight loss strategies. However, for individuals with an active eating disorder, specialized treatment is recommended, with dietitians playing a crucial role as part of the treatment team.
Managing Chronic Diseases
Conditions like diabetes and heart disease are closely linked to dietary choices. Making healthy dietary changes can help manage these diseases or even prevent their progression. For example, adopting healthier diet and exercise habits can prevent prediabetes from developing into diabetes. While diet may not always cure diseases, it can significantly reduce symptoms and improve overall health. Dietitians can provide guidance on how to eat to manage specific diseases and maintain well-being. Good nutrition is also essential for people with cancer. But cancer treatments often destroy your appetite or make it painful to eat and swallow. Most cancer centers have dietitians on staff to help with these kinds of issues.
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Addressing Allergies and Food Sensitivities
Managing conditions like celiac disease or food allergies requires eliminating certain foods from the diet. This can be overwhelming, but dietitians can help you identify suitable alternatives and create a balanced diet that you enjoy. They can also assist in identifying food triggers for digestive disorders and help you get your digestion back on track.
Optimizing Athletic Performance
Athletes understand the importance of food as fuel. Dietitians can ensure that an athlete's diet is optimized for peak performance, providing the necessary nutrients and energy for training and competition.
Guidance for Vegetarians and Vegans
Vegetarians and vegans need to be mindful of obtaining a well-rounded diet in the absence of animal products. Dietitians can provide guidance on how to meet nutritional needs and ensure a balanced intake of essential vitamins and minerals.
Navigating Picky Eating in Children
Dealing with picky eaters can be a challenge for parents. Dietitians can offer strategies to balance children's preferences with the nutritional needs of the entire family, as well as encourage children to be more open to trying new foods.
Promoting Overall Healthy Eating
Even with a basic understanding of nutrition, it can be difficult to maintain healthy eating habits consistently. Dietitians can provide fresh ideas, accountability, and help you sift through misinformation, guiding you toward a healthier lifestyle.
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What to Expect From a Registered Dietitian
Dietitians offer a personalized approach, tailoring their advice to your specific goals and needs. They can provide basic nutrition education, meal planning advice, and regular check-ins for accountability. Some individuals may only need a one-time visit, while others may benefit from ongoing support.
Dispelling Misconceptions About Dietitians
It's a common misconception that dietitians are the "food police" who will take away all your favorite foods. In reality, they work with you to create a sustainable and enjoyable eating plan that incorporates your preferences while promoting health.
The Role of Real Food
Real food focuses on ingredients that nourish the body, are minimally processed, and maintain their natural integrity and quality. Real food dietitians consider individual needs for weight loss or weight maintenance, taking into account factors like activity level, age, lifestyle, genetics, gender, and calorie needs. They categorize recipes by diet type (High Protein, Grain Free, Whole30, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian) and allergens (Gluten, Dairy, Eggs, Nuts).
The Real Food Dietitians: A Team of Experts
The Real Food Dietitians was co-founded by Dietitians Jessica and Stacie in 2015, with Dietitian Jessie joining the team in 2021. Their goal is to uplift the physical, mental, and holistic benefits of prioritizing whole and minimally processed foods in a nondogmatic way and with grace and positivity. They believe that no single diet works for everyone and that all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle. Their recipes are a reflection of their philosophy: approachable, short ingredient lists, easy-to-find foods, using basic techniques, and perfect for meal prepping and busy weeknight meals.
Addressing Dietary Restrictions
The Real Food Dietitians recognize that not everyone needs to eat gluten-free and that it is a choice for some. Many of their recipes are naturally gluten-free, but if gluten is not a concern, you can substitute gluten-containing ingredients as desired and still achieve great results.
Read also: Nourishing Your Family with Real Food
Education and Training
To become a registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist, individuals must meet specific educational and training requirements. These include:
- A bachelor's or master's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, or a related field. A graduate degree is required for some credentials.
- Supervised training, usually in the form of an internship following graduation from college.
- Passing a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
- Maintaining continuing education requirements to stay up-to-date with the latest research and best practices.
Licensure and Certification
Many states require dietitians and nutritionists to be licensed in order to practice. Other states require only state registration or certification to use certain titles, and a few states have no regulations for this occupation. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a professional credential, such as the Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) designation. The RD/RDN designation requires completion of a minimum of a master’s degree and a Dietetic Internship (DI), which includes supervised experience. Students may complete both criteria at once through a coordinated program, or they may finish their degree before applying for an internship. Many states accept the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential or exam for licensure purposes. To qualify for the credential, applicants must have a master’s or doctoral degree, complete supervised experience, and pass an exam.
Key Skills and Qualities
Successful dietitians and nutritionists possess a range of essential skills and qualities, including:
- Analytical skills: The ability to keep up with food and nutrition research.
- Compassion: Empathy and understanding for clients' challenges and concerns.
- Listening skills: The ability to listen carefully to understand clients’ goals and concerns.
- Organizational skills: The ability to prepare and maintain many types of records for multiple clients.
- Problem-solving skills: The ability to identify and address clients' individual needs and challenges.
- Speaking skills: The ability to explain complicated topics in a way that people can understand.
Employment Outlook
The job outlook for dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow in the coming years. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. The importance of diet in preventing and controlling certain illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease, is well established.
Finding a Dietitian
If you're ready to start your search for a real food dietitian, consider these tips:
- Consider your goals: Determine what you want to achieve through nutrition counseling, such as weight loss, disease management, or improved athletic performance.
- Check their credentials: Ensure that the dietitian is a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) to guarantee a comprehensive background in nutrition.
- Set up a consultation: Many dietitians offer low-cost or free consultations to help you decide if their services are right for you.
- Seek out cultural competence: Consider finding a dietitian who understands how your culture will affect your care.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Find a Nutrition Expert tool can help you search for dietitians near you.