Dietitians / Nutritionists in Vancouver

If you’re looking for ways to improve your health, you’ve probably heard of dietitians but may not be exactly sure what they do. To know whether you want to see one, it’s a good idea to understand the full meaning of a dietitian’s role. A dietitian is a professional who is qualified to give advice about food and eating.

Traditionally, we think of dietitians guiding people on how to lose weight. While that is certainly a common reason for seeing a dietitian, they can help with a host of other reasons related to eating. For example, someone who needs help gaining weight or altering their diet after surgery can also benefit from a dietitian.

Beyond just providing food plans, a dietician in your community can help you unlock food patterns and challenges. After getting a full picture, they can offer solutions and tailored suggestions. This can come in the form of:

• Advice
• Meal Plans
• Recipes
• Grocery lists
• Behavioral and habit tools
• More

You can book a dietician appointment with a dietitian near you or they may be a part of your healthcare team. Dietitians can work in:

• A private practice or clinic
• A hospital
• Doctor’s offices
• Long term care homes

If you are looking to book a dietitian appointment, regardless if it is in person at a clinic or via phone or video, you can expect a similar process. Firstly, your dietitian will get to know you and your reason for booking the appointment. If you’re suffering from a condition, they’ll likely ask you more questions about it to assess your needs. After learning your goals, the dietitian will also ask questions about your preferences and lifestyle. For example:

• What do you like to eat?
• What and when do you currently eat?
• What's your food budget?
• How often do you get physical activity?

Your answers will help your dietician learn about unhealthy habits and ways you can overcome those challenges. They’ll also be able to provide tailored advice, such as foods you can afford and prepare.

What you gain from your first appointment depends on your situation. You may be educated about nutrition and given sample meal plans and recipes. Alternatively, you may take home coping skills, like dealing with emotional eating. During follow-up appointments, your dietitian will ask about what worked and what didn’t. From there, you can evaluate your plan or adjust your habits.

During your initial appointment at a diet clinic, ask your dietitian how many appointments you may need. Since it’s tailored to each client, it’s impossible to say how many appointments are required before discussing your goals. Since change is a long-term process, you’ll likely have at least a few appointments.

To figure out who can help you meet your health goals, you may want to know the difference between a dietitian vs a nutritionist in Canada. Nutritionist definition: An expert in nutrition. Nutritionists can give you advice on nutrition while dieticians can help treat health conditions. Whereas registered dietitians are regulated in all provinces, the “nutritionist” title is only protected in three provinces:

• Alberta
• Quebec

• Nova Scotia

  In each province, nutritionists have varying education, so it’s a good idea to ask for qualifications if you’re considering one. All dietitians are educated on nutrition. Some dietitians have additional training, also making them a nutritionist.

Using medimap.ca you can easily find the best dietitian nearby. You can check their booking availability, and book a consultation using the medimap.ca website. The clinic may or may not do a follow up call prior to the consultation for things such as pre-screening tests, etc.