RD’s: What we Do and Why you Should Use One
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts that have completed multiple layers of education and training established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
All RDs must:
Get a four-year degree that includes a specially designed, accredited nutrition curriculum.
Complete an extensive supervised program of practice at a health care facility, foodservice organization or community agency.
Pass a rigorous registration exam.
Maintain continuing education credits throughout their career.
What's more, roughly half of all RDs hold graduate degrees and many have certifications in specialized fields in areas of gerontological nutrition (CSG), sports dietetics (CSSD), pediatric nutrition (CSP), renal nutrition (CSR) and oncology nutrition (CSO).
RDNs work in a variety of settings:
Hospitals, HMOs or other health care facilities, educating patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health care team.
Private practice, working under contract with health care or food companies, or in their own business, such as Advice for Eating!!
Community and public health settings teaching, monitoring and advising the public, and helping to improve their quality of life through healthy eating habits.
Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, educating clients about the connection between food, fitness and health.
Food and nutrition-related businesses and industries, working in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing or product development.
Universities and medical centers, teaching physicians, nurses, dietetics students and others the sophisticated science of foods and nutrition.
Research areas in food and pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals, directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.
Dietitians vs. Nutritionists: What’s the difference?
A credential is a professional qualification — like MD for doctors or physicians — that lets the public know that the practitioner is a trained expert. In nutrition and dietetics, the RD credential is a legally protected title, and usually when someone says “dietitian,” they mean an RD.
However, there is no specific, standardized meaning for “nutritionist.” Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, and unfortunately, unqualified health care recommendations can cause people harm, especially when social media platforms such as TikTok can spread misinformation regarding nutrition. So whether someone calls themselves “dietitian” or “nutritionist,” check for credentials to ensure they are qualified nutrition experts.
Why should you see us?
Between what you see on social media, watch on TV, read in the news or even hear from friends and family, eating healthy can seem like a real challenge at times - but this does not have to be the case. A registered dietitian (RD) can help develop a realistic eating plan that will keep you on track for the long haul. To best guide and motivate you, an RD will use creative and out-of-the-box strategies to help with meal planning, grocery shopping and mindful eating. By providing you with the knowledge and tools to succeed, RDs can be of significant help on your health journey!
Do you want to lose or gain weight? Are you pregnant and want to know what to eat to keep you and the baby healthy and happy - or did you just have a child and are looking to get back into shape? How about looking for a way to maintain your health throughout the aging process? Do you need guidance on eating to help control a chronic disease, such as diabetes? Or are you an athlete looking to improve performance through nutrition?
These are just a few of the reasons people seek the expert, science-based advice of an RDN.
10 Common Reasons to Consult with a RD
You Want Help Managing Diabetes, High Blood Pressure or Other Chronic Diseases
An RD can help you understand your condition and how the foods you choose might affect it. We can work with you to create an eating plan that has the nutrients needed to manage your condition.
You Have Digestive Problems
Working closely with you and your doctor, we can provide guidance to help fine-tune your diet. Together, you’ll find choices that do not aggravate your condition.
For example, limiting fried foods, or caffeinated and carbonated drinks.
You Have a Food Allergy, Intolerance, or Sensitivity
Unsure what you can eat because of celiac disease, food allergies, lactose intolerance, or another condition? It's easy to be overwhelmed by what you think you can't eat. And, that can lead to a boring diet that doesn’t give your body the nutrition it needs. An RD can teach you strategies about identifying foods to avoid and help you find substitutions to keep your diet balanced and tasty.
You Are Thinking of Having or Have Had Gastric Bypass Surgery
Since your stomach can only manage small servings after surgery, it’s tricky to get the nutrients that your body needs. As a part of your health care team, an RD can help you make changes to your eating plan to meet these needs and still feel satisfied.
You're Pregnant, Trying to Get Pregnant, or a New Parent
You can meet with an RD to make sure you get the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy. And, after the baby comes, we can help make sure you and your little one are getting the nutrients you need to support good health.
We can also help you lose the baby weight in a healthy and attainable way.
You Want Practical Lifestyle Advice
Need help sorting through the facts and fiction of nutrition headlines? Learn how to read labels at the supermarket, discover how healthy cooking can be inexpensive, learn how to dine out healthfully and how to manage temptations. When you see an RD, the last thing you'll get is one-size-fits-all diet advice. After learning about your health history, favorite foods, eating and exercise habits, an RD will help you set goals and prioritize. Follow-up visits will focus on maintenance and monitoring your progress.
You Want to Improve Your Performance in Sports
A RD can help you set goals to achieve results — whether you're running a marathon, skiing or jogging with your dog.
You Realize the Need to Feed Your Family Healthier Foods but You Do Not Cook
A RD can teach you how to plan and prepare meals in a simple, healthful and convenient way. We can also provide helpful tips and tricks and advice on new products to try to make the kitchen less daunting!
You or Your Child Is Experiencing Disordered Eating
As part of the treatment team, RDs counsel individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.
You're Caring for an Aging Parent
An RD can help with food or drug interactions, proper hydration, special diets for hypertension and changing taste buds as you age.
RDs are credentialed health professionals who understand the subtle differences in how foods are digested and the benefits that nourishing foods have for the body. Instead of listening to what you hear on TikTok or Facebook, come and see an RD to answer all of your questions and guidance for safe and effective healthy eating and management.
Here at Advice for Eating we are happy to help answer any nutrition, health, or fitness related questions. We provide our clients with a wide array of health and wellness services that are unique to their lifestyles. Whether you need a customized meal plan, grocery shopping guidance, your metabolism tested, a refrigerator clean out, or a way to make your workplace a healthy environment, we are here to help!