Frequently Asked Questions

A registered dietitian is a regulated health professional whose scope of practice is medical nutrition therapy. Dietitians translate complex nutrition science into practical, useful information and plans you can put in place to improve your health and nutritional status.

Across Canada, the title dietitian is protected, like nurse, doctor, or pharmacist, as only those who have undergone approved training and have registered with their regulatory body can use the title. Regulated health professionals are required to obtain high levels of education and adhere to high ethical standards to maintain their license to practice. Regulatory bodies are in place to protect the public, as people can contact the registrar with complaints and concerns regarding malpractice.

ISN’T A NUTRITIONIST THE SAME AS A DIETITIAN?

Sometimes, a nutritionist is the same as a registered dietitian, but it varies by province. Nutritionist is a protected title in Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Only dietitians may call themselves nutritionists in these provinces. The remaining provinces and territories in Canada do not protect the term nutritionist. As it is not a regulated title, anyone can use this designation.

Other names like Registered Holistic Nutritionist or Certified Nutritional Practitioner are not the same as Registered Dietitian and do not indicate the person is a regulated health professional.

Refer to this article to learn more about what terms are protected in your province.

Yes! If you enroll in The Nourished Menopause Program, we can work together. In this capacity, I am a group educator and health coach. However, I am not your registered dietitian and cannot provide individual medical nutrition therapy in the group program.

Currently, I can only work one-on-one with residents of British Columbia, where I am registered to practice dietetics.

Possibly.

My main focus with clients is on building lasting and sustainable health habits. Your weight might change as an outcome of this, and if appropriate, weight loss strategies may be a part of your plan. The Nourished Menopause Program is not designed to make weight loss the primary outcome.

For more about weight and menopause, see this article.

The Menopause Society (formerly North American Menopause Society) offers this credential only to regulated health professionals who have demonstrated expertise in menopause. To earn the certification, a person must pass an exam that assesses their expertise. Maintaining the credential requires retaking the exam or earning 45 hours of continuing education credits every three years.

You can learn more about the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) credential on the Menopause Society website.

Occasionally, I do. However, meal plans are not part of my standard offerings.

In my experience, there are limited cases where meal plans help make long-lasting changes. It is more valuable to teach you meal-planning skills so that you can plan meals that work best for your unique situation. I often provide recipes and meal ideas to help facilitate this. There are some instances where meal plans are helpful and can be provided for an additional fee.

If your extended health benefits or health insurance covers a registered dietitian licensed in British Columbia, you can submit your receipt for individual sessions to your insurer for reimbursement. Reimbursement varies and is based on your plan.

Your workplace may also have a health spending account that covers dietitian services, and some providers also cover group programs, so check with them directly. I also offer direct billing for some insurance providers.