The 25 Most Important Questions To Ask Your Dietitian
By Kayley George, RDN, LD
Whether it’s to lose weight or to get help with a digestive problem, there are so many reasons to see a dietitian. Dietitians are credentialed health professionals that tailor eating advice to your specific needs and lifestyle.
With all of the overwhelming nutrition information out there, knowing what’s right for you can be challenging. This is why it’s important to prepare a list of questions for your dietitian ahead of time.
That way, you can make the absolute most out of your appointment. In this post we are review the most important questions to ask your dietitian, so let’s get started!
Why Is It Important To Ask Your Dietitian Questions?
Registered dietitians have gone through rigorous education and training established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. They have completed and passed an undergraduate degree in nutrition (requiring many advanced level science courses), a competitive internship, and a registration exam. Additionally, many dietitians also have a master’s degree.
With everyone on TikTok thinking that they’re suddenly a “nutrition expert”, there is so much information out there that might benefit some people, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to benefit everyone. Nutrition isn’t “one size fits all”. This is why it’s so important to ask your dietitian questions and get education and information that is specifically tailored to you.
What Types of Things Should I Talk to My Dietitian About?
When thinking about the types of things you should talk to your dietitian about, think about your day to day lifestyle and reflect on some areas that you would like to improve upon or get some advice on when it comes to your eating habits. Your dietitian will take into consideration your health history, but it’s important to mention information about your specific stage of life.
You may be trying to get pregnant and want to know how you can support your fertility through nutrition. Maybe you are training for a half-marathon and want to know how you should alter your caloric intake. Or, if you are experiencing uncomfortable symptoms when you eat certain foods, these are all examples of things that you should talk to your RD about - depending on your specific situation.
General Questions To Ask Your Dietitian
The questions that you should ask your dietitian will all depend on your individual goals and needs. Take some time to reflect on those things before your appointment so that you can walk in already knowing what you want to get out of it.
Some general questions that you may want to ask about are:
How much should I be eating if I want to lose/gain/maintain weight?
How do I know what foods I am intolerant to?
How can I avoid foods that cause me to have uncomfortable symptoms?
Can you help me create a meal plan that will help me achieve my nutrition goals?
How do I balance eating out and still achieving my goals?
This is not a comprehensive list but just a general idea of some of the questions you may want to ask.
What Questions Should I Ask My Dietitian About Weight Loss?
Weight loss can be a very challenging and frustrating journey, especially when you are trying to do it alone. To better understand how you can set yourself up for your success, make sure to ask your dietitian some of these questions.
First and foremost, you might want to ask how much weight would be a healthy amount for you to lose, depending on your medical history. If you’ve been trying to lose weight for a long time, you could ask:
It feels like I have tried just about everything to lose weight, but nothing is working; what is the best approach for me?
Or maybe you’d like to ask about breakfast, snack, lunch or dinner ideas that can help support your weight loss. Other questions include:
What can I do to keep the weight off?
Does exercise play a role in my weight loss?
How can my family and friends support me throughout my weight loss journey?
Can I still enjoy the foods that I love and lose weight?
Keeping these questions in mind will surely help you make the most out of your appointment and quick start your weight loss journey.
What Questions Should I Ask My Dietitian About Weight Gain?
Whether you are trying to gain more weight, or are wondering how to stop gaining weight, you may want to consider asking your dietitian these questions. For people who are wanting to increase their weight gain for various reasons, try asking:
What are some ways that I can increase the caloric content of my typical meals and snacks?
Can you provide me with smoothie/shake recipes that help with weight gain?
How many times a day should I eat?
If you are trying to put your weight gain to a halt, you can ask:
Should I be on a calorie deficit?
What should my portion sizes look like?
What kind of diet is the best one for me?
When I Lose Weight, Why Do I Gain It Back?
A common problem that can happen when you lose weight in an unsustainable way, is that it can all come back. When you restrict yourself for a period of time or try to suppress your appetite, you are bound to eventually go back to your previous lifestyle and eating habits.
Try asking your dietitian these questions when you are able to lose weight, but gain it back:
How can I lose weight in a sustainable way where I don’t suppress my appetite?
How can I nourish my body and eat foods that I enjoy but still keep off the weight?
How can I create lasting, healthy habits in my day to day routine?
Are any of my current habits unsupportive of weight loss?
Are there ways that I can boost my metabolism?
Do you recommend any supplements that support weight loss?
These are not all of the questions you can ask, but they should give you a starting point for what to ask your dietitian.
Questions To Ask a Dietitian About Eating Disorders
If you suspect that you or someone close to you may have an eating disorder, you may want to consider asking your dietitian some of these questions. Eating disorders cause people to become obsessed with their weight and what they eat, therefore it's important to look out for some signs of this and to seek help.
Common types of eating disorders include anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. First, you can ask what some of the beginning signs are in people with eating disorders and what kinds of thoughts they have.
You can also ask what some ways are to combat unhealthy thoughts and when to seek professional help from a mental health therapist. If you do feel that you need to seek more support for an eating disorder, you can also ask your dietitian for more resources and treatment options.
Asking your dietitian good questions is beneficial and will make sure you get the most bang for your buck.
Preparing ahead of time before your appointment with your dietitian can be beneficial so that you can get the most out of it. When coming up with a list of questions to ask, you should first and foremost think about your goals and what you want to accomplish during your sessions.
Whether your goal is to just gain general nutrition tips, gain weight, lose weight, keep weight off after losing it, or to get more information about eating disorders, your dietitian can help. Lastly, if you are still looking for help from a registered dietitian, book a discovery call with me (Kayley) today!
Published on Aug 12, 2021 at 9:49 am