Nutrition Counseling is service in which a registered dietitian will work with an individual on a one-to-one basis to assess his/her usual dietary intake and identify areas where change is needed. The nutrition counselor provides information, educational materials, support, and follow-up to help each individual make and maintain the needed dietary changes.

Assessing dietary habits

Nutrition counseling usually begins with an interview in which the counselor asks questions about a person's typical food intake. Nutrition counselors use different methods to assess typical food intake such as food frequency questionnaire, daily food records, and the three-day food records kept over two weekdays and one weekend day are often used. The nutrition counselor can then use the food records to analyze actual energy and nutrient intake.

Assessing body weight

Nutrition counselors may assess an individual's body weight by comparing his or her weight to various weight-for-height tables. However, this guide does not take into account a person's frame size. Body mass index, or BMI, is another indicator used to assess body weight. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. A BMI of 20 to 25 is considered normal weight, a BMI of less than 20 is considered underweight, and a BMI of greater than 25 is considered overweight. This method does not take into account for weight attributed by lean muscle mass.

Identifying changes needed

The initial dietary assessment and interview provide the basis for identifying behaviors that need to be changed. Sometimes a person already has a good idea of what dietary changes are needed, but may require help making the changes. Other times the nutrition counselor can help educate a person on the health effects of different dietary choices. The nutrition counselor and client work together to identify areas where change is needed prioritize changes, and problem-solve as to how to make the changes.

Setting goals

The nutrition counselor and client set behavior-oriented goals together. Goals should focus on the behaviors needed to achieve the desired dietary change, not on an absolute value, such as achieving a certain body weight. Once the goals have been identified, the client and nutrition counselor think through potential problems that may arise. For example, changing eating behaviors may mean involving others, purchasing different foods, planning ahead for social events, or bringing special foods to work. Such changes would help prevent weight gain while placing the emphasis on needed behaviors rather than on actual weight.