Good nutrition is an essential part of healthy living, and a nutritionist or registered dietitian is a food and nutrition professional who helps people develop healthy eating habits, cook nutritious meals and manage their weight. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, registered dietitians work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and nursing homes, doctor's offices, outpatient clinics and private practice. Registered dietitians and nutritionists often specialize in nutrition for specific populations, such as children or the elderly.
Step 1
Get recommendations from your physician. Your doctor or nurse practitioner may refer you to local nutritionists or registered dietitians with whom she has a working relationship. If you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor can direct you to registered dietitians who specialize in your nutritional concern or chronic disease.
Step 2
Search the American Dietetic Association's website. The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, and more than half of its members hold advanced degrees in nutrition science. Click on the "Find a Dietitian" button. Enter your zip code or state, and select whether you'd like individual or group consultation or workshops. The "Find a Dietitian" feature also allows you to search by dietetic specialty, including celiac disease, diabetes, food allergies, sports nutrition, vegetarian nutrition, weight control or eating disorders.
Step 3
Call your insurance provider. If your primary care physician recommends you see a registered dietitian or nutritionist, your health insurance provider may cover some or all of the costs of your visits. Ask your provider whether you need a referral from your primary care physician for your insurance to cover the cost of the visit.
Step 4
Contact national organizations. Find a registered dietitian or nutritionist who specializes in your chronic condition or health concern by contacting a national or local chapter of organizations to which you are affiliated. For example, if you have diabetes and need a dietitian to help you control your blood sugar levels with a healthy diet, contact the American Diabetes Association for referrals. If your child has cystic fibrosis and you need ideas from a nutritionist to boost calorie and fat intake, contact a local chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for recommendations.
Tips and Warnings
- Before someone can work as a dietitian, she must complete a four-year or graduate degree in nutrition, participate in a dietetics internship and pass an American Dietetic Association registration test. Nutritionists are dietians with master's degrees in nutrition, but sometimes practitioners without formal nutrition training or licenses adopt the title. Selecting a nutritionist or dietitian affiliated with the American Dietetic Association means you'll be choosing someone with professional nutrition credentials.
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