Getting Advice From a Registered Dietitian
Many sourcesnews, books, the Internetoffer information about healthy living and nutrition. Still, it may be difficult to figure out what good nutrition really means. Or, eating healthy may not fit into your busy schedule as a caregiver.
To help you sort out nutrition concerns for yourself and the person you’re caring for, you may want to turn to a registered dietitian for advice.
About registered dietitians
A registered dietitian is a food and nutrition expert. He or she can help show you how the science of good nutrition applies to everyday life.
Registered dietitians are trained and educated in nutrition, special diets, public health, or a related field. They are experienced professionals who can help you make healthy lifestyle choices.
How can a registered dietitian help?
Registered dietitians (RDs) can help you:
Eat healthier. An RD can help you and the person in your care better understand what foods are good or bad, or whether a certain diet is just a fad or proven to be healthy. An RD also can help you understand the facts on food labels; show you how healthy cooking can be affordable; and share ways to stay with an eating plan, or how to resist food temptations.
Look out for personal nutrition needs. If your health care professional has asked you to improve or change your diet, an RD can help you understand your nutrition needs based on your medical and diet history and other personal health information.
An RD can help you set up short- and long-term nutrition goals, or design a personalized meal plan, with tips to help you stay with your plan.
Look after a family member with a health condition. If you are caring for someone with diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, you may already know that these conditions often involve making changes to eating habits. An RD can explain how to help the person you are caring for change his or her eating plan safelywithout losing taste or nutrition.
For example, an RD with training and experience in helping people with diabetes can teach someone how food affects blood sugar levels, how to balance food with medications and activity, and how to choose healthier food.
If you are caring for an aging parent, an RD can explain special diets for the elderly, how food and medicines may affect each other, the importance of drinking enough water, and how taste buds change as a person ages.
Where to find a registered dietitian
Your health care professional may be able to refer you to an RD who has helped other patients. Or there may be a nurse or staff member with similar experience and training who can help you.
You can find an RD in your community through EatRight.org, the Web site of the American Dietetic Association. Also, free nutrition education given by a registered dietitian may be available through local community groups, health centers, and hospitals.
An RD can be a helpful partner to guide you in a healthy direction. You can make good nutrition part of everyday lifefor yourself and the person in your care.
Are RD services covered by health insurance? It’s important to know that some health insurance plans may cover RD services such as dietetic counseling or medical nutrition therapy (MNT), so be sure to check the policy. You can ask these questions:
Is RD service covered?
If it is, how much (in dollars) is covered?
How much is the co-pay, if any?
How many RD visits a year are covered?
Is a prescription for an RD needed from the doctor?