What It's Like Working With a(n) [Anti-Diet] Dietitian

More often than not, the first question client’s ask is “sooo, how does this work?” I get it. Working with a dietitian is well, sort of a mystery to most people. And a dietitian that doesn’t prescribe diets? Well now you’re really confused, eh?

In an effort to clear up the confusion, I’m going to tell you what it’s really like working with a dietitian; and an anti-diet dietitian at that. More specifically, this is what it’s like to work with me and my team.

It’s NOT *JUST* ABOUT THE FOOD.

Yes, of course we talk about food (more details on that below), but I like to bring light to the fact that our relationship with food is enmeshed in so many different facets of our life. We honor this by talking about what your relationship with food was like growing up and how that shows up in your life today. We take into account that there are so many factors that affect our relationship with food including (but not limited to) chronic illness, body image, family dynamics, mental health, work, family, and stage of life. While I recommend everybody work closely with their doctor and if possible a therapist, no topic is off limits in my office.

We honor your lived experience.

As mentioned above, there are so many factors that affect our relationship to food. And nutrition science is only as effective as our ability to implement it into our daily life. If you’re not able to put Intuitive Eating or “Gentle Nutrition” into practice chances are it’s not because you are lazy or unmotivated. I like to honor your lived experience and where you are right now so we can find a way to move forward in a way that makes sense for you and doesn’t result in a never ending guilt and shame spiral.

Our relationship is a partnership.

Not a dictatorship. Most people assume I create meal plans and “just tell you what to eat.” However, even though I have a couple of fancy letters after my name, I am not the expert of you. I see our work more of a partnership, where we work together to help you live a life that is both aligned with your values and prioritizes your health.

we take a behavioral approach to health.

We believe that your are more than the number on the scale and the research suggests that weight is not an adequate indicator of health. So, we don’t use weight loss as a measure of success, and instead take a behavioral approach to health. We focus more on changing behavior in a way that feels manageable and sustainable for you.

We believe in [real] holistic health.

Health is so much more than our eating and exercise habits. I believe for food and movement to be used in a way that is truly health promoting, it can’t be at the expense of our mental wellbeing. Sleep, rest, creativity, meaningful relationships, and fun are all equally important pillars of health that are often de-prioritized over nutrition and exercise. It’s not uncommon that my clients and I spend time talking through making career moves, their relationships with their partner(s), or how to put their untapped creative potential to good use.

Yes, we do offer (consensual) nutrition advice.

I’m not going to lie, I often do more question-asking than I do advice-giving, but when I’m sensing that you might need some more structure or support I’ll often ask “can I offer you some advice?” Or “how can I support you?” Sometimes our time together is used for processing, and sometimes it’s used to take action. I do my best to “read the room” in order to meet you needs (even if you don’t know what those are!).

this is typically a long-term process.

Some clients work with me for 3 months, and others over 3 years. At the end of the day, the length of your treatment is really determined by you and your needs. That being said, this work is multi-faceted and if you haven’t gathered yet, is not quick fix. I typically recommend working together on a consistent basis (weekly or bi-weekly) if possible.

Have more questions about what it’s like to work with us? Send us an email or schedule your initial assessment!