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A registered dietitian can help you find the eating plan that’s right for you

Want to feel better through eating better? Talk to a pro. That means a registered dietitian (RD), sometimes called a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Sure, the multitude of popular diet programs—from keto to vegan to intermittent fasting—have plenty to offer. But what they can’t provide is a nutrition plan that works for you because it was designed specifically for you.

Understanding credentials

Be sure to look for the initials RD or RDN: They indicate a nutritionist who has undergone rigorous education and training. That includes a bachelor’s degree, a post-college internship program that’s typically six- to 12-months long, a passing score on a national exam, and regular continuing education courses.

Registered dietitians work in a variety of settings: hospitals and nursing homes, school cafeterias, nutrition-related industries, community public health settings, research labs, and more. Those who work with individuals may be on the staff of a healthcare center or in private practice.

How do you find an RD to work with? You may get a referral, but you can also visit www.EatRight.org, the website of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which has a Find an Expert tool.

How the process works

To find out how registered dietitians work to create a nutritional plan for their clients, we checked in with Ruth Clark, RD, MPH, who has a private practice in Peterborough, NH (https://RuthClarkRD.com), and is author of Cool the Fire: Curb Inflammation and Balance Hormones.

Question: Who should seek out a registered dietitian?

Ruth Clark: Anybody who wants to change their habits around food. Registered dietitians are incredibly well trained to help people from the standpoint of customizing and individualizing a plan for them. There’s a lot of confusion today in the marketplace around nutrition. Everybody wants you to follow their program. That can lead people to push themselves into a diet that will eventually fail. Better to work with somebody who encourages you to go within and figure out the path that works best for you.

Question: What should people expect from their initial appointment?

RC: A first meeting will start with a nutritional assessment and lifestyle evaluation. Some people have never tried to improve their diets and other people are trying really hard but not seeing the results they want. I take a holistic approach, so I’m not just looking at what are they eating. I want to know, How are they sleeping? How much stress are they under? What kind of exercise are they doing? Are their hormones in balance? It’s all connected.

Question: What’s the first step in designing a plan?

RC: I work with a lot of midlife and older women so I like to start with a two-week cleanse or elimination diet. That involves looking at their eating style, their hormone balance, any symptoms related to inflammation. That can help me pinpoint foods that they may be sensitive to and remove them from their diet. It can make a profound improvement in the way they feel and give them energy to implement changes, like having a plan for meals and for regular shopping. If you don’t do that, you’re going to end up having pizza and Chinese food for dinner.

Many of my clients are struggling to lose weight, so another step is an exercise program. That can start with a small amount of walking with a goal of walking for 30 to 45 minutes five days a week.

Question: How long and how frequently do you work with someone?

RC: The usual is six months, but sometimes it can be as long as a year. We decide the frequency as we go along; it depends on what works best for the client.

Question: What’s gratifying to you about your work?

RC: A huge part of my conversation with people is, let’s talk about what really nourishes and nurtures you. It’s not food. It’s a matter of getting them in touch with the things they do that they love, so the next time they crave food they could do those other things instead. In a way they have to become different people, not just change what they’re eating. It’s like a big puzzle to figure out. What’s really going to work for this person? It’s different for everybody. ●

SELECTED SOURCES “Every registered dietitian is a nutritionist, but not

every nutritionist is a registered dietitian”; “Find a registered dietitian

nutritionist”; “What is a registered dietitian nutritionist?” www.EatRight. org • Personal communication: Ruth Clark, 2020

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