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What Can I Expect from Nutrition Counseling? A Registered Dietitian Answers Your Questions

Writer's picture: Brooke HoffmanBrooke Hoffman


What you will get when you work with a Registered Dietitian


I get this question a lot, “What will we talk about during our sessions?” I always say that it just depends. It depends on your goals. It depends on your needs. There is never going to be the same two sessions from client to client because we are all different and have different food preferences, different goals, different needs, and different bodies. I also get asked, “Are you going to tell me what to eat and make me a meal plan?” My answer to this is, “What is a meal plan anyways? What do you think of when you hear the word meal plan?” Yes, we will be able to go over your current eating habits and we will be able to find ways to incorporate more nutrient dense foods, more vitamin and mineral rich foods into your life while also keeping the foods you love. We will be able to tweak some of your favorite meals and still keep them in your weekly rotation. What you will not get from me is a pre-made list of meals that I give you without even considering your likes, dislikes, food preferences and non-negotiable foods. We will take the time to go over your current eating habits and find ways to make them more balanced, more nutritious, more beneficial to help you reach your goals.


It is all about You!


This is where the individualized component of working with a Registered Dietitian comes into play. You will get someone who focuses on your unique lifestyle and make individualized recommendations that fit your life. You won't be put on a fad diet or told to take a bunch of supplements. Dietitians know that in the real world fad diets, low carb diets, and high fat diets, are not sustainable. I have seen the same cycle over and over again. People lose weight then gain it back once they are done with the fad diet. Fad diets are short term plans with short term results. I want to help you know how to live in a world where food is not your enemy, but is something you enjoy and look forward to. I want you to enjoy food at home and enjoy it with friends and family. I want to help you live in a world where you are able to enjoy the food you love while also incorporating foods that will make you feel full and satisfied.



Nutrition Education


Working with a Registered Dietitian will also include nutrition education. This is where it is really important to work with a Registered Dietitian when trying to change your food habits. Unlike many diet influencers online, I will be able to explain the science behind why I am telling you to eat a balanced meal that has protein, fat and carbs in that same meal. I will be able to explain why certain foods may not make you feel the greatest after consuming them and why some foods give you energy and satisfaction. My goal is to empower you and help you understand how you can still eat the food you love while also factoring in the importance of nutrition.



It is all about Balance


Food is supposed to help you feel full, satisfied, nourished, not hungry, fearful, or scared.

I know you have probably heard the word “balance” when it comes to food and nutrition. I will use this word frequently, because it really is all about balance. This balance is going to look different for each person and won't be the same for everybody. We all have our non-negotiables when it comes to food. A non-negotiable is a food that you cannot live without. This might be pizza, it might be chips, it might be celery, whatever it might be this is something we will discuss. Mine is cheese. I love cheese and will continue to eat cheese. I have found a way to still be able to eat cheese each day and still feel great about eating the cheese and not feeling guilty. This includes not depriving myself of cheese and actually eating it and enjoying it instead of thinking that it's bad for me and that I shouldn't eat it. Each person probably has a different non-negotiable and again this is why these sessions are personalized and individualized, because I will consider your lifestyle.



Let's Break Free of the All or Nothing Mindset



I also want to talk about this new phenomena that I have been seeing lately, and that is the “all or nothing mindset” when it comes to food. This mindset is what is hurting our thoughts around food. This is the mindset of, you have to eat low carb forever or high fat forever. Why can't we have the carbs and the fat and learn how each nutrient serves an important part to your overall health and well being. You don't have to be in this all or nothing mindset. I know that this sometimes scares my clients when I tell them that they can eat the rice and the sweet potatoes because they have been in fear of carbohydrates for so long. This is what we will work on. We work on breaking down some fear barriers as well and help you work through this. I understand that society has put a lot of pressure on people to eat a certain way to be considered healthy, but we can help you work through all the media claims, work through all the false claims that we are burdened with each day. Most people are so confused and frustrated on what is even considered healthy anymore. I understand how confusing it is, because it seems that everyday there is something new in the media. I will help you pick through the false claims and the false statements and really work to help you understand that it doesn't have to be that difficult.


We are in this together. Let's work towards your goals together. Lets make eating food fun again!


Don't hesitate to reach out for any questions or concerns that you might have regarding Nutrition Counseling!


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