Whole nutrition: finding a nutrition pro who sees more than food involves doing your homework, asking the right questions—and then checking your gut reaction

Better Nutrition, Oct, 2005 by Jordana Brown

How often do you drink milk? Do you drink whole, 2% or skim? Are you getting enough calcium or too much? Are you getting too much fat in that milk, or is the calcium worth the tradeoff? Are you getting the right type of calcium? We don't blame you if you're confused about what to eat and when. The truth is, there is no truth. Nor is there one wholesome, healthful diet. "Nutrition is an area where there isn't one totally dominant professional association. This may be because there are so many different approaches to nutrition," says Suzan Walter, president of the American Holistic Health Association.

Fortunately, there are many trained individuals who can help you develop a healthful, personalized eating plan. The question is: How do you find someone who's right for you when there isn't even a single definition of "nutritionist" to guide you? And what's the difference between a registered dietitian and the varied group of professionals known as holistic nutritionists?

what does "holistic nutritionist" mean? In an attempt to narrow the definition, Boyd Landry, executive director of the Coalition for Natural Health, describes a holistic nutritionist as "one who focuses on the individual, attempts to assess his or her needs, suggests lifestyle modifications, educates the person on why those modifications are beneficial and helps the individual understand how everything works." Currently, holistically trained nutritionists obtain their titles from the educational program and/or from the certifying association requirements they complete. These titles include registered dietitian, certified clinical nutritionist, certified nutritionist, certified nutrition consultant, certified nutrition educator and certified nutritional specialist. (See "What is a ..." for an introduction to each title.)

address your nutritional needs The lack of a nationwide licensing system means that you have to be vigilant when choosing a nutrition advisor. Both Walter and Landry suggest figuring out what you need before asking around. Do you want help managing your weight? Fighting fatigue? Dealing with a disease? Simply eating smarter? "When you're looking for any new health professional, put down on paper what you need from him or her. Then keep that in front of you so when you get leads and speak with people in their office you can ask questions to determine whether their training, experience and expertise match your priorities," Walter adds.

get a referral When finding practitioners, you have a few options. Walter and Landry both emphasize the importance of a personal referral, but they point out that referrals are only useful if the people offering them have the same goals that you do. For instance, if you've been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a referral to a nutritionist who specializes in anorexia just isn't going to be that useful. Other options include checking the bulletin board at your local health food store or, better, browsing the extensive list of practitioners on the American Holistic Health Association's website (ahha.org) or the National Association of Nutrition Professionals' website (nanp.org).

interview candidates

Once you have a handful of candidates, Landry and Walter again both say: Spend some time with each of them. Before you commit to becoming a client, arrange an initial brief meeting. Focus more on personal chemistry than why you're there. Walter says, "This is about meeting the person and reacting to the person." While you're sizing up the candidate, ask detailed questions about his or her education, and listen for classes in biochemistry, physiology, anatomy and food preparation in addition to nutrition courses. Find out if the professional you are interested in is credentialed and/or licensed and by whom. Walter and Landry offer other questions: "Why or how did you end up in this field? What experiences led you to become a nutritionist?"

"You can have the most knowledgeable person in the world, but if you don't trust them, it's a waste of everybody's time," says Walter. Giving yourself the freedom to walk away from someone whom you don't mesh with will just put you one step closer to your optimal nutrition partner.

what is a ... your guide to the alphabet soup of nutrition degrees

Registered Dietitian (RD)

Someone who holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition from a school accredited by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), has completed an ADA-approved dietetic internship and has passed a comprehensive written test covering all aspects of nutrition and food-service management.

Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)

Someone who has an advanced degree such as a master's or a doctorate in nutrition or similar subject and has passed the American College of Nutrition's written examination covering nutrition science. He or she must have completed 1,000 hours of supervised professional experience in nutrition or have worked 4,000 hours independently as a professional nutritionist.

Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN)

Someone who has a bachelor's degree in science or nutrition, bachelor's degree in another field and has taken 30 hours of core academic classes in science and nutrition, or has an advanced professional degree in a health science field. He or she will have completed roughly 900 hours (state requirements may vary) of a nutrition internship and have also passed a written examination given by the Clinical Nutritional Certification Board, the educational arm of the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists.