“You need to eat more”, “You need to lose weight”, “You need more fruit”, “That’s bad for you”, “You need to cut carbs.” These are a few of the messages we hear ALL THE TIME from friends, family, social media, the internet, and even some of our doctors. How are we supposed to know what to do? I’m glad you asked.
What is a Registered Dietitian?
Requirements for a registered dietitian include a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, an internship of at least 1200 hours, passing of a grueling exam, and state licensure in the location of practice. So basically, RD’s are food experts.
Why Should I Work with One?
Standards of Practice
Say you’re diagnosed with diabetes and your Dr. tells you to cut out carbs. Doctors are very knowledgeable and wise, but most of them don’t have much training in nutrition. A study looking at 121 medical indicates that only 18% of schools in the study were required to have a nutrition class, deeming their nutrition training inadequate. Because they have so many other things to cover in their education, nutrition doesn’t make it to the top of the list. Registered dietitians, however, must have the qualifications listed above.
Realistic Goalsetting
If you come in and tell me you want to never eat desserts again, we might have a problem. For most people, this isn’t realistic. Are you really going to pass up cake on your child’s birthday, or not eat your favorite pie on Thanksgiving? Dietitians can work to help you set realistic, attainable goals.
Accountability
The American Society of Training and Development found that sharing your goal with someone to hold you accountable has a 65% success rate. However, continuing to meet with that person increases that rate to 95%. Dietitians are knowledgeable people who can help you make realistic goals and tweak the plan along the way.
These are just a few of the reasons working with a dietitian can be beneficial. If you have goals that involve food and need some help, reach out!
Note: Always make sure you’re working with a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). A nutritionist could be your next door neighbor who went to school for engineering. An RD has the qualifications discussed above.
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