How to choose the ideal nutritionist

Every day summer is closer and closer and many of us become aware of how food affects our health and emotional well-being. That is why it is important to find the perfect nutritionist, who suits our lifestyle. What qualities should you look for and how to find the right one for you? We will give you tips to choose the ideal nutritionist. Know your goals Nutrition, as a science, is so broad that when we are interested in making a diet, we want to know as best as possible how it will work in our body and what changes we will achieve. But we must remember that not all of us seek the same results. For example, there are people who seek to lose a few kilos, others, on the contrary, seek to increase their muscle mass, lower cholesterol, control diabetes, etc. Once our objective is defined, we will know what type of nutritionist or health coach we are looking for. Do you already know what you want? Perfect, here I list some considerations: Credentials and Experience Nowadays, anyone can call themselves a “health coach” or “nutrition trainer” but it is important to trust our instincts, and of course, investigate a little more about the subject. Here are some examples: Registered Dietitian (RD): A registered dietitian has four years of college, a one-year medical residency internship, and must pass a rigorous national licensing exam. RDs are extensively trained in medical nutrition therapy, nutritional support for disease management in a variety of hospital and outpatient settings. Some may also have specializations, such as sports dietitians with the Certified Sports Specialist. is Dietetics (CSSD), as well as Diabetes Educators (CDE). Medical doctor (doctor, osteopath, naturopath, chiropractor): Historically, doctors have had limited training in nutrition. Fortunately, times are changing and many new doctors are becoming more fluent in diet and health science and the application of therapy to chronic disease management and preventative care. Other Nutritionists (PN, NTP, CISSN, CNS, CCN, ACBN*) and researchers (MS, PhD): Being a good trainer is not just about the credential or certificate. Not only do people have the option of a variety of independent certifications, but they can also choose to pursue advanced degrees in nutrition. Unfortunately, none of them are completely indicative of a person’s ability to provide quality nutrition services to people in a safe and effective manner. Training Style The choice of your nutritionist will have to do with the lifestyle you have and how much you want to modify it. Some nutritionists use methods such as: Counting calories, keeping a food diary, measuring portion sizes, reading nutrition labels. Some give very detailed instructions and seek specific goals, there are also those that adapt to your lifestyle and the whole approach is a little more generalized. Counseling Skills The best nutrition coaches are also excellent counselors. Food can be a complicated topic. It is often very personal, and can be connected to other issues such as self-image, depression, eating disorders, and addiction. Having a nutrition coach with skills in this area is immensely helpful. Philosophy It is important to determine Understand the coach’s philosophy and whether or not it matches yours. Are you open-minded when it comes to nutrition? Do you stay up to date with current trends and research? Good nutritional coaches should have an evidence-based approach, continually pushing themselves to learn and advance their own knowledge. At the same time, they should not be prone to dismiss any new approach out of hand, but rather be able to judge objectively on experience and support for research. These are good criteria to keep in mind when researching your coach. Rapport In the end, success or failure in finding your perfect nutritionist comes down to whether you feel there is a good relationship. For example, personally, before finding my Cambridge Consultant (Who I love!) I felt a lot of stress thinking that nutritionists would judge me for my eating habits and my way of life. But when I got to my consultant she reassured me by saying, “I’m not here to judge what you eat. In fact, I’m probably the most liberal dietitian you’ll ever meet. I’m more concerned with getting from point A to point B, and seeing how we can fit your diet and lifestyle to support you on that journey. Having the ability to connect with a nutritional coach is very important to the success of the whole process. Don’t hesitate to change if you don’t feel comfortable. Reputation These days, with the prevalence of blogs and social networks, it is not too difficult to get an idea of the reputation of a nutrition coach. Don’t hesitate to ask about other clients they have had. What are the typical results? Have they written any testimonials? questions to keep in mind when doing your research. Our CWP Consultants are health professionals, who have been trained to carry out the Cambridge Weight Plan method, and are constantly updated. If you still can’t find your CWP Consultant, call us toll-free at 01 800 467 3098.