Why Choose Nutrition Counseling

Have you ever wondered if seeing a nutritionist or dietitian for nutrition counseling would be helpful? Has a doctor or other medical provider ever said, “Just change what you’re eating” when discussing a health issue you are dealing with but gave no further direction? Have you seen a nutritionist or dietitian in a clinic before and the experience seemed less than helpful? Are you confused by conflicting nutrition messages you are hearing about in the media?

You are not alone! Many Nutritional Weight & Wellness clients had these same concerns and decided to take the plunge and make an appointment with one of the nutritionists or dietitians. I’d like to demystify nutrition counseling and explain why and how it might benefit you.

Why I Chose To Be A Dietitian

Before I get into the details about what counseling is like, let me share a little bit about my background. I became a dietitian because I love the science of nutrition and how the food we eat effects our bodies. I have worked in several different nutrition capacities as a registered dietitian. I studied to become a dietitian in a hospital and my first job as a registered dietitian was in long-term care. I’ve even worked in a Bariatric Surgery and Medical Weight Management clinic. I have loved all the different areas of dietetics that I’ve worked in, but my favorite has been working for Nutritional Weight & Wellness because for the first time in my career I feel I am making real positive change in people’s lives.

From having conversations with my colleagues, their stories are very similar to mine. They have studied and worked in multiple different nutrition counseling settings and the one they find most grateful to be in is where the client is set up for success. All of the nutrition counseling appointments are done with highly passionate and trained licensed and registered dietitians and nutritionists. 

How Our Appointments Are Different

You may be wondering what makes working with a nutritionist or dietitian at Nutritional Weight & Wellness different. I can share my personal perspective as someone who was previously a dietitian in an outpatient clinical setting. Time and detail come to mind as two of the biggest differences when reflecting on my previous dietetic positions. When I worked in a clinic, I was only allowed 30 minutes with my patients. I learned over the years of working in that clinic that a 30-minute visit wasn’t enough time when so much can happen between appointments. I would often find myself rushing to get information in and not having time to get all the critical information needed to develop an effective action plan for my patients.

One day I was listening to Dishing Up Nutrition on the way to my clinic job (yes, I was a listener before I was an employee) and I heard the hosts discussing nutrition counseling appointments. They mentioned new clients get a 90 minute appointment and follow-up appointments were 60 minutes. I actually teared up a little because in my heart I knew Nutritional Weight & Wellness had their client’s best interest in mind.

Why Enough Time Matters

You may be wondering why appointment length matters. Having enough time to listen to and learn each person’s story is incredibly important to help them achieve their health goals. Have you ever seen a medical professional and it seemed like you were waiting out in the lobby longer than you spent face-to-face with the provider? Does that provider actually listen to you when you are in the room? The nutritionists and dietitians I work with all take pride in listening to each person’s story. We take in all the details and together, with the client, we develop the best plan to help them meet their needs.

Every person we see for nutrition counseling is an individual with their own unique needs and we pride ourselves in developing the best plan to meet each client’s specific needs. We take the time to educate and explain why it is important to eat real food and how it will improve their health. And I’ll emphasize this important part again: we collaborate with each person to come up with a plan. We don’t just tell our clients what to do, but rather we look at their lifestyle, likes and dislikes, what they’ve tried, what worked, what didn’t, what their goals are, and much more to figure out how to make sustainable and real change.

Why Schedule A Nutrition Counseling Appointment

We see clients for everything! There isn’t a health issue we won’t see because, when it comes to your health, an eating plan based on real balanced nutritious food optimizes all areas of the body and your health. Whether the client is a newborn baby or 99 years old, everyone deserves good health and wellness. Real food is an essential part of that health and wellness plan. That is where expert nutritionists and dietitians come in. We spend our appointments developing obtainable goals that will help the client experience positive results. Not one nutrition plan is the same from person to person.

My co-workers and I use nutrition counseling to help people improve cholesterol numbers, reduce blood pressure, improve moods, balance blood sugars, reduce medications, eliminate acid reflux, improve digestion, lose weight, age triumphantly, reduce pain, heal after concussions, and the list goes on.