Why You Need A Nutritionist In Your Life

Mar 13

Good nutrition is easier said than done. If you’ve read a million books, started a hundred diets, or downloaded a ton of apps to try and get on track, but failed, maybe it’s time to look into something different.

Have you ever used a personal trainer to help design a workout plan and keep you accountable? Let’s take that same concept and apply it to nutrition! Water House Wellness can provide you with a “personal nutritionist” to help you reach your goals.

The Benefits of Using a Professional

Admit it- you don’t always eat the best. And even if you are on point with fueling your body, you may still sometimes question your choices. Am I getting enough protein? Is this a good carb? Should I be eating any form of sugar?

With messages about what is good and bad for us coming from every direction, it gets confusing! You need something that will work for you. And not just for your food choices, but something that you can live with. We’ve all quit inconvenient diets or ones that leave us hungry or craving less than ideal food.

Dietitians and nutritionists help people maintain healthy habits and manage health conditions.

Is there a difference between a nutritionist and a dietician? In short, yes- a dietician is a nutritionist, but a nutritionist isn’t necessarily a dietician.

The term “dietitian” usually refers to a registered dietician, or RD. RDs have specialized education, licensing, and credentials. Different states regulate differently, but for the most part, someone who is just a “nutritionist” may not have the formal education. In fact, by law, a nutritionist can’t refer to themself as a dietician. Not that it’s bad, but some organizations that recommend certain diets or eating plans may designate someone as a nutritionist without formal training. Again, that isn’t necessarily bad, but it may not encompass the wide world of nutrition with a clear understanding of how certain foods can affect certain individuals.

Both nutritionists and dieticians can create diet plans, teach you about eating and help you address unhealthy eating behaviors. They specialize in helping you find foods you and your body love.

So what can they help with?

Managing weight
Athletic performance
Managing diabetes
Help with metabolic conditions
Treat digestion problems such as IBS or allergies
Optimal nutrition during pregnancy
Reducing inflammation

Introducing Laurie

Water House Wellness is proud to introduce Laurie, our Registered Dietician. She is here to give sound advice on eating well and helping you find something that works for you. She chose a career as an RD because she understands that food has the power to connect us and bring people together. That power can sometimes cause worry and stress. Laurie’s aim is to empower clients to make balanced choices. She does this by helping them focus on what they can add to their diet instead of what they should cut or restrict. She doesn’t see nutrition as a quick fix, but rather something that is sustainable and part of a lifelong commitment to health.

Laurie has been a Registered Dietitian since 2019. She has a Bachelor's Degree from Simmons University in Nutrition & Dietetics. She has worked with a diverse range of people, from helping long term care patients with nutrition therapy, to advising members of the military on fueling their bodies to stay in peak condition.

Laurie has been working hard to develop a nutrition program for members and clients at Water House Wellness. Each person’s program will be customized to best suit their individual health journeys and goals. Laurie also wants to help people form better relationships with food, reduce the risk of disease, and improve their overall health and well being.

Nutrition Services

We will offer a full menu of services to help you achieve your goals. The following are just a few examples of what Laurie can help you with.

Personalized Nutrition Counseling

Our RD will work with you to learn about your health history and your relationship with food. You’ll talk about your preferences, what challenges you’ve had, and set goals. Laurie takes a holistic approach to tailor a sustainable nutrition plan that’s realistic for you and your lifestyle.

Nutritional Assessment & Support

If you’re looking for someone to evaluate where you can make improvements, Laurie can do an evaluation of your current dietary habits, lifestyle factors, and health history. She will work with you to find ways to make positive changes that fit into your busy life. You’ll have the option to work one-on-one or in a group environment for some extra accountability. You’ll have discussions about strategies and changes you can make to get closer to your ultimate goal. Whether it’s just you and Laurie, or a group, you’ll walk away from each meeting motivated!

Meal Planning Guidance

What’s for dinner? With meal planning, you’ll know in advance. Working with your personalized plan, Laurie will help you with realistic meal plans that you can live with. If you have a family, she’ll help you find ideas that everyone will enjoy. You’ll get advice on grocery shopping as well so you can make nutritious choices that nourish your body and support your overall well-being.

Follow-Up and Support

Once you get started, you will have ongoing support! Laurie will continue to provide ongoing counseling and follow-up to ensure that you stay on track towards your goals and maintain your success over the long term.

Three Steps to Optimal Nutrition

So how do you get the ball rolling? We’ve broken it up into three easy steps so you know what to expect along the way.

Free Consultation

Getting started won’t cost you a dime. It’s a great way to dip your toe in and figure out if using a nutritionist is a good fit for you. During this free 20 minute meeting (usually over the phone), you’ll discuss your health goals, address challenges, and lay the groundwork for a wellness plan tailored to your needs.

This can be intimidating to some people because there are individuals who are embarrassed about their poor diet. But Laurie will listen without judging. This first step will put you at ease so that you can confidently move forward. This is your time to ask questions about your personal situation, packages, pricing, and complimentary services.

Initial Visit

After your consultation, you’ll work with Laurie to start to build a plan. In this meeting you’ll talk about your health history, review your labs, discuss your nutrition history, personal challenges, and will start to set some realistic goals. Whether you’re wanting to manage health conditions, lose weight, enhance athletic performance, or just improve your well-being our RD can guide you.

Together, you’ll work to design a personalized, sustainable way to fuel your body. This meeting is what establishes your relationship with Laurie. Between the first visit and your follow-up, you’ll be able to check in to address any issues, get motivation and support, or ask questions.

Follow-up Visit

Changes that last a lifetime take effort and time! In follow-up sessions you’ll work with your RD on continuing to change habits, address challenges, and make tweaks to any part of the plan that may not work for you. We’ll be evaluating your progress and will celebrate milestones. If you had a rough go of it, we’ll make some tweaks that can reset you so that you are successful going forward.

Each session will provide enhanced nutrition insights, serve as a checkpoint, and will help keep you motivated. How often will you follow up with Laurie? That’s up to you! It may be weekly, every other week, or even longer depending on your needs.

Your “Personal Nutritionist”

People hire personal trainers all the time to help them with success in the gym or with athletic pursuits, so why not take things a step further and use a personal nutritionist. She can provide the same support and accountability and if you use a trainer, can compliment those services.

Get started with a plan today! Schedule your free consultation online or by calling 339-707-0476.