Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)?
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RDN credential:
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Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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Completed an ACEND-accredited 1200 hr supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
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Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org.
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Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
-From the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at eatright.org.
Is a nutritionist, personal trainer or health coach the same thing as a RDN?
No. These individuals may have completed some sort of nutrition schooling or training, but they are not recognized as experts in the field. They have no registration, licensure, or certification to legally practice in the same manner as a RDN. If you work with one of these individuals, you cannot be sure the information you are given is credible or backed by science.
Where is your office?
We typically meet with morning clients in the living room (826 Tullahoma Drive) and afternoon clients in the office (1716 Catherine Court). I meet many clients virtually too. Scroll down to see a couple pictures of the living room "office".
What are your hours?
We generally meet clients Monday - Friday 7 AM - 6 PM (except Wednesdays which are just 7-9 AM) and 8 - 11 AM on some Saturdays. Use the schedule button to see our current openings. If you can't find anything that works, send a message.
What is a session like?
Every session involves introducing one or two new nutrition-related topics, discussing, and setting about 3 specific goals. For follow up sessions, we also spend time going over how well you did with implementing the previous goals.
I don’t live nearby. Can I be a Zoom client?
Due to state laws that regulate dietitians, it depends on where you live. Alabama and Georgia residents are fine because we're licensed here. If you live in the following states, we can also work together: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. We'll use a HIPAA-compliant site to talk.
How many visits will I need?
There is no set amount of visits. Some folks just need a solid hour with me to learn some basic things about nutrition and get a good starting point and then maybe a follow up to check how those things have been set in motion. Others want to go deeper, have accountability, build a healthy relationship with food, work through small goals slowly, and explore setbacks. Some clients keep seeing us regularly for ongoing coaching, support, and accountability. The number of follow ups depends on you, your goals, and your progress.
Why should I see you versus another dietitian?
While the quality of services from another RDN would be similar, we have built a signature process based on the work we've done with hundreds of clients. We offer 24/7 availability for communication, and between-visit sharing and questions are an expectation! We also use a habit-based counseling approach that doesn't focus on counting calories or measuring food, so your journey will be more sustainable and pleasant.
