A dietitian is an expert in food and nutrition; they use this expertise to promote health and manage disease by assessing, diagnosing, and treating dietary and nutritional problems. Dietitians have an undergraduate degree in food and nutrition, complete a post-graduate hospital-based internship in clinical nutrition and while not mandatory, most have Master’s degrees as well.
Once a candidate passes the Registered Dietitian licensing exam, they receive their dietitian designation and become a member of the College of Dietitians.
Dietitians translate the science of food, nutrition and medicine into practical solutions advising people on what to eat, along with the safe supplements use when needed, in order to lead a healthier life, treat and manage disease and achieve health-specific goals.
A visit with a dietitian has one objective; to gain a full picture of the client’s health status. This involves a review of the client’s goals, a thorough medical history including medication and supplement use, blood work, dietary intake [review of a food diary], a review of any psychological, social and physical variables that influence the client’s ability to eat well.
Together with the client, the dietitian will work to develop a nutritional plan of action including goal setting, healthy eating and lifestyle advice, and supplement use which will then be monitored during follow-up visits to assess progress and refine the client’s goals as needed.
