“What are some important questions to ask a Nutritionist?”

If you are reading this, you’ve likely booked a consultation with a nutrition consultant (or you’re thinking about it) and this question may be floating around your mind.

Firstly, well done for taking the steps to start your nutrition wellness journey!

In this article, we’ll go through some specific questions to ask nutrition professionals but first, let’s quickly discuss what a nutritionist can and can’t do for you.

Nutritionist vs Dietician

Nutritionists can provide you with evidence-based information on food choices and healthy eating habits but cannot assist with the treatment of any medical conditions. A “Nutritionist” isn’t a protected title but, in the UK, only registrants with the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists can call themselves a “Registered Nutritionist” (like me, woo!).

It’s so important to work with a Registered Nutritionist.

You can see if they are registered here if you are in the UK, if not, do a quick Google search to see if there is another regulatory body for Nutritionists in your area.

As anyone can call themselves a “Nutritionist”, you are at risk of working with someone severely underqualified to provide dietary advice, make sure you check the register before you start working with them. Registered Nutritionists have met strict standards to achieve this title. For example, I have a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition and spent many hours in lectures, seminars and writing my 16,000-word dissertation!

A “Registered Dietician” or “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist” can diagnose and treat a medical issue associated with dietary or nutritional problems (1).

They are the only nutrition professionals to be governed by law to ensure they meet rigorous standards. Unlike Nutritionists, their title is protected – they need to have a university degree in Dietetics, where they will go on long, gruelling placements, to call themselves Dieticians.

They tend to work in hospitals or private clinics to provide ongoing support to improve health, assess nutritional needs, evaluate medical history, and treat diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (these are called Renal Dieticians). They have the ability to prescribe some medicines, such as insulin, to assist in the management or treatment of diseases – they can also design a meal plan to assist with this (something a Nutritionist shouldn’t be doing).

Preparing for Your Meeting

The best way to get the most out of your meeting with Registered Nutritionists, or healthcare professionals in general, is to be prepared beforehand.

Here are some things to do before your consultation:

1. Complete any paperwork

You may be asked to complete some forms that will ask about yourself, your medical history, dietary requirements and goals. You might also be asked to complete a food diary prior to your first appointment – your Nutritionist will analyse this, often using a nutrition and dietary analysis software, to identify a number of things such as your average daily calorie intake, your macronutrient and micronutrient intake and your general eating habits.

2. Be clear on your goals

Write down what you want to get out of working with a Nutritionist, and be specific about your goals:

Do you have weight loss goals? If so, do you have a short-term weight loss goal? What about the long term?

Are you looking to put on weight? If so, what are your weight gain goals? Ask them about healthy ways to go about this.

Are you looking to improve your lifestyle choices? In what way? Are you trying to create a more balanced diet, improve overall health or just looking for a few nutrition tips?

This additional information and goal specificity will give your Nutritionist the resources to provide you with much more helpful and in-depth advice, tailored to you.

3. Be honest 

Before your meeting, make a deal with yourself that you will be open and honest about the issues you are experiencing. We have a tendency as human beings to avoid vulnerability and, rightly so, many people can be anxious about their weight or issues surrounding their dietary habits. Just know, you are not alone – your nutritionist will have seen and heard it all before (and maybe even felt this way themself). They do this job to help people and, to allow them to help you, it’s important to be honest about your struggles and tackle them head-on with the guidance of a nutrition expert.

Right, let’s jump into some questions to ask a Nutritionist!

Questions to Ask a Nutritionist About Weight Loss

1. How much weight do I need to lose to be a “healthy weight” and what is a realistic time frame for me to achieve this?
2. Can I still eat the foods I enjoy? (the answer should be yes!).
3. I have tried (insert things you have tried here) but it doesn’t seem to help me lose weight, what do you recommend?
4. What are some practical strategies for adopting and maintaining healthy eating habits throughout a weight loss journey?
5. What are some healthy foods that can help me feel fuller for longer?
6. How are we going to track my weight loss?

Questions to Ask a Nutritionist About Weight Gain

1. How much weight do I need to gain to be a “healthy weight” and what is a realistic time frame for me to achieve this?
2. Should I be aiming to increase my weight by adding muscle? If so, how can I do this? (they may point you toward a local trainer if needed).
3. How does my activity level impact weight gain, and what are some recommended dietary strategies to support muscle growth and overall weight gain?
4. How can I make healthier food choices to support my weight gain goals without compromising overall health?
5. Can you provide me with a list of foods that I can incorporate into my diet to help me with my weight gain goals?
6. How are we going to track my weight gain?

Questions to Ask a Nutritionist About Adopting a Healthier Lifestyle

1. Can you provide recommendations for healthier eating habits that I can adopt to support my overall well-being?
2. Can you provide suggestions for incorporating more whole foods into daily meals and snacks to support a healthier lifestyle?
3. What are the key components of a healthier lifestyle, particularly in terms of nutrition and physical activity?
4. Can you provide tips for incorporating whole grains into my meals?
5. How much water should I be drinking a day?
6. How can I increase my fruit and vegetable intake if I don’t enjoy them that much?

Questions to Ask a Nutritionist About Specific Diets

1. How do different types of diets, such as low-carb or Mediterranean, affect weight loss and overall health outcomes?
2. Can you explain the benefits and potential downsides of a plant-based diet compared to other dietary approaches?
3. Can you explain the concept of intermittent fasting and its effects on weight loss and metabolic health?
4. Can you provide insights into the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and its impact on blood pressure? (your Nutritionist should only help with this if you have been told by your doctor to follow this diet to help with high blood pressure).
5. Can you warn me about the latest FAD diets so I can avoid them and tell me about the issues with these diets?
6. What are some easy tips to help me adopt a healthy diet? Your Nutritionist should work with you to identify some “easy wins” to make your diet healthier – they should be looking at your eating habits, food swaps, food availability, occupation, family life and much more to identify some areas where your diet can be improved.

Questions to Ask a Nutritionist About Nutritional Needs and Supplements

1. Should I be considering any dietary supplements to support my goals? (Registered Nutritionists in the UK can recommend NHS-approved supplements).
2. What are some good sources of lean protein? (protein is great for keeping us fuller for longer, helps us recover from workouts and assists in building muscle mass! Check out my article on BCAAs vs whey protein).
3. How can I ensure I’m getting an adequate amount of essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and fibre, through my diet?

A Final Word

So, there we have it, a list of questions you can print and take to your meeting or simply pick out the most relevant questions for you.

Please remember though, a Nutritionist is much more than a question-answering machine. They are there to support you throughout your journey and, any good Nutritionist, will also work through some behaviour change strategies, keep you accountable and support you through a “whole person” approach, that is – mental, physical, emotional and environmental – we are complicated beings, we can tell someone how to lose weight or how to eat healthier but will they always do it? Absolutely not. We can’t just tell them to do something, we have to help them in all aspects of their life to have the best chance of success.