A good dietitian – what should a dietary consultation be like?
A good dietitian – what should a dietary consultation be like?
Using dietitian services is seen as a reasonable practice these days. Health is too valuable to look for a perfect diet by wandering around the corners of the Internet.
Sadly, one can get lost at a dietitian office as well. How to make sure we’ve found the right professional?
Dietitians are visited both by those who have never been on a weight-loss diet and those who have already tried most of popular diets – usually with poor results. They see a dietitian to find the right one, one of a kind, one that would work.
A good dietitian should prepare a diet for them that would let them finally reach their perfect weight and body while also not putting their health at risk.
What is a dietary consultation like?
During the first visit, the dietitian determines the dietary goal and suggests the most optimal diet, with the patient’s eating habits and lifestyle taken into account.
While at the office, we will be approached in an individual manner, which is why the consultation will be filled with detailed questions that the dietitian has to ask in order to pick the right nutritional program.
The interview should focus on the patient’s existing menu, times of meals, their caloric content, favorite dishes and cooking methods. Equally important is determining potential intolerances or food allergies. A good dietitian cannot omit the health matters.
They need to ask about the medicines and supplements taken, illness history and related ailments. In case of any doubts, they will ask to run some tests, although the basic ones (like CBC) would be nice to run before arriving at the office. The basic parameters, such as BMI or body composition, are also determined during consultations.
Dietitians are people, too
On top of education and knowledge, a good dietitian should also have the right approach to people. Everyone has some story to tell about their diet struggles.
A dietitian needs to listen to it and show empathy. What also matters when working with a patient is flexibility. A professional doesn’t rule out a patient’s food-related habits, even if they’re far from healthiest, looking for the middle ground between them and a brand new diet instead.
They also take into account that there might be cheat days when on a diet, like during holidays, parties or social outings. Finally, a good dietitian will encourage to keep in touch and visit again – not just for the sake of financial profits.