What Is a Dietitian? Understanding the Role and Benefits of a Dietitian

Do you have a friend or family member who you’ve known for years – maybe your whole life – yet you truly are unsure of what they do from 9-5, Monday through Friday? You may know they are an environmental engineer, or a data scientist, or a business analyst, but you have absolutely no clue what their job entails. 

This likely describes my family members and friends who have wondered to themselves “What is a dietitian?” “What exactly does a dietitian do?” and “What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?” These are all good questions and we’re about to dive in, because once you learn what a dietitian does, you may learn that they could play a role in helping you achieve your health goals.

What is a Dietitian?

So, what is a dietitian? In short, a dietitian is a food and nutrition expert. A podiatrist is a foot and ankle expert. An endodontist is a root canal expert. A dietitian, much like professionals in other specialized fields, receives specific education and training in nutrition to help individuals navigate the maze of nutrition misinformation.

What is the Difference between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?

What is a nutritionist? A nutritionist is someone who provides guidance related to diet and nutrition. Technically, anyone can call themself a nutritionist regardless of their level of education or training. A dietitian, on the other hand, completes several requirements before earning that title, including: 

1. 1. Received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in dietetics from an accredited program
   2. Completed a 1000-hour supervised practice internship
   3. Passed a national credentialing exam
   4. Continues professional development throughout their career

Additionally, a dietitian adheres to a strict code of ethics which ensures they provide accurate and science-based nutrition information. In other words, a dietitian is someone you can trust. 

What is the Role of a Dietitian?

Ultimately, the role of a dietitian is to promote health and wellness through providing medical nutrition therapy. However, dietitians work in a variety of settings, including: 

• • Hospitals and healthcare facilities

• • Community health organizations

• • Schools and universities

• • Private practice

• • Sports nutrition

• • Research facilities

• • Eating disorder treatment centers

• • Food industry

Do Dietitians Actually Help?

Now that you’ve learned what a dietitian is and where they work, you may be wondering whether working with a dietitian would be beneficial for you. Now that we’ve answered a few questions you may be asking, let’s turn around and ask a few to you: 

Do you want to improve your eating habits but you don’t know where to start? 

Do you have a medical condition that would benefit from tailored dietary recommendations? 

Are you an athlete looking to optimize your performance through nutrition? 

Do you have food allergies or intolerances and need help creating a balanced diet? 

Are you interested in learning how to prepare nutritious meals with limited time or money?

Do you feel overwhelmed by the conflicting nutrition advice you read online? 

A dietitian is the only qualified nutrition expert prepared to provide personalized nutrition guidance and recommendations related to the above questions. 

What Does Meeting with a Dietitian Look Like?

So you’ve signed up for a 1:1 nutrition counseling session with a registered dietitian nutritionist. What can you expect from meeting with a dietitian? Meeting with a dietitian entails: 

• • A holistic assessment of your diet and medical history, health goals, and lifestyle factors 

• • Individualized care and guidance that simplifies nutrition complexities 

• • Collaborative development of a tailored, sustainable nutrition plan based on your needs and priorities 

• • Ongoing support, accountability and motivation to help you reach your goals 

Follow-up sessions will include a review of progress and discussion of challenges or successes since the previous appointment. You and the dietitian will work together to adjust the nutrition plan as needed. Patients experience the greatest success in reaching nutrition goals with several follow-up visits as they offer an opportunity for ongoing support, guidance and refinement of goals. 

How Do I Meet with a Dietitian?

If you have a goal to feel more empowered in your health journey and to overcome the barriers that stand in your way, schedule a 1:1 nutrition counseling session with a dietitian here. If you’re not quite ready to commit, schedule a free 15-minute discovery call to determine whether nutrition counseling is a good fit for you.