Are you considering a nutritionist’s help?
Food is the fuel that gets us through life. As children, we had very little say in what we ate, but as adults, we have full control over how we choose to energize our bodies. Many of us spent years of our lives on autopilot, eating just to sustain ourselves or satisfy our hunger without understanding how that food was interacting with our bodies.
If you’ve decided to take back control of your health, chances are you’ve considered consulting with a nutritionist to help you achieve your health goals. Choosing healthcare partners can be a daunting process and you may even be wondering, “how do I find the best nutritionist near me?” Today we’ll talk about what you should look for in a nutritionist and where you can find the best nutritionist for you in Boston.
What are the things I need to consider before getting nutritionist?
Identify Your Nutritional Needs
Before you begin your search, you’ll want to identify your nutritional needs and goals. Do you need to manage a chronic health condition? Do you want to lose weight? Do you have certain food sensitivities that you’d like to address? Do you want to improve your gut health? Understanding your goals will help you narrow down your search by focusing only on nutritionists who are experts in addressing your individual needs and interests.
Verify Nutritionist’s Credentials
If you wouldn’t call an electrician to install your new kitchen sink, then you probably wouldn’t hire a social media influencer with no credentials to help you tackle your health goals! Anyone can claim to be a nutrition expert today, so it’s up to you to verify their credentials and confirm that they have the training and certifications to set you up for success.
Uncover Their Motivations for Helping You
Unfortunately, the health and wellness industry is fraught with influencers, celebrities, multi-level marketing companies, and other people who are willing to take advantage of vulnerable people to sell their products or services. The wellness industry is a booming business today, and everywhere you turn there seems to be a new influencer trying to sell protein shakes, meal replacement bars, essential oils, teas, and other products that are usually not only ineffective but could potentially be harmful.
A reputable nutritionist will focus primarily on helping you adopt a whole-food diet, create healthy meal plans, suggest targeted supplements for your specific needs, address nutritional deficiencies, appetite issues, and help you troubleshoot to come up with the safest, most cost-effective solutions. If a nutritionist tries to push too many shakes, bars, or other supplements, that should be a huge red flag!
Ask About The Nutritionist’s Experience
A trustworthy and reputable nutritionist will be forthcoming about their skills and experience. It may be helpful to visit their website or LinkedIn page to find details about their services, and maybe even a biography or some testimonials from past clients. A successful nutritionist will be happy to share stories about where they went to school, the credentials they’ve earned, and the types of clients they’ve worked with in the past.
If you are speaking with a nutritionist who is not willing to share information about their schooling or experience, you may want to pass and move on to another candidate.
Choosing the Right Nutritionist For You
With so many options out there, finding the best nutritionist for you can feel like an overwhelming task. At Five Journeys, we are proud to offer nutritional counseling services with the help of our wonderful dietitian nutritionist. Julia is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist and a licensed Dietitian in the state of Massachusetts. Her mission is to teach our patients more about how fun, delicious, and nourishing fresh, whole foods can be. She is passionate about getting to the root cause of her clients’ health issues, and teaching them about how they can harness the power of food to manage (or even reverse!) the symptoms that have been holding them back.
To learn more about how Julia and the team at Five Journeys can help you improve your health and get back to living life on your own terms, schedule a consultation today!