We’re celebrating National Registered Dietitian day today – a day when we can marvel at all the things our RD buddies do for us. And to be fair, it’s a lot. Registered dietitians are incredibly well qualified and have a hand in all of the science around weight loss – whether that’s advising on calorie-controlled ready meals, or working with clients to help them lose weight. They can provide personalised nutrition counselling, education, and support to help individuals make lifestyle changes that promote healthy weight loss.
One of the main things you’d do if you went to see an RD is to get an assessment of your nutritional needs. This often takes the form of keeping a very detailed record of what you eat and drink – as well as giving information about your sleep, bowel movements, hydration and exercise. Although it might seem like a painstaking amount of detail to give, it’s important that an RD builds up a picture of a their client.
The other main thing that dietitians will do is to understand the sort of challenges that you have with your health. This might be as simple as finding out about your weight loss goals, but in most cases there will be other factors that need to be accounted for. This might range from allergies to disabilities, a registered dietitian will take all of these factors into account and then start their work.
The final product will be a meal plan and nutritional guide that shows someone exactly what they should be eating and in what quantities. If the person is an athlete hoping to reach peak fitness, then the plan will show them that. If it’s simply someone trying to avoid foods that are making them ill then the meal plan will factor that in too. Although many people think that this is the end point of the RDs work, it’s not. Following up with clients is incredibly important to allow them to see that the plan is working as they hope and that it is producing the desired results. This will include providing ongoing support and motivation to help you achieve your goals.
If you’re interested in finding a Registered Dietitians then it’s best to stick with the Association of UK Dietitians as they maintain a member database of only qualified experts and will be able to help you find someone who can work with you to help you achieve your goals.
