Hey there! Did your doctor tell you that you should see a dietitian? Are you confused about how to nourish your body properly for your specific needs? Are you ready to finally get the help you need from a dietitian?
If you’re looking to work with a dietitian in Manitoba, I highly recommend you keep reading to find out more about what a dietitian is, the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist, what it’s like to work with a dietitian and how to find one that suits your needs!
What is a Dietitian?
Registered Dietitians are a regulated health professional. In order to be a dietitian in Manitoba you have to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, majoring in human nutritional sciences, in addition to completion of either a rigorous internship program, or an integrated graduate degree program.
Following this, successful completion of the Canadian Dietetics Registration Examination is required. Then, to legally practice as a dietitian in Manitoba, you have to be registered with a regulatory body. In Manitoba, the regulatory body is the College of Dietitians of Manitoba (CDM).
Dietitians in Manitoba work in numerous settings including private practice, clinical nutrition, community and public health, the food industry and more.
What's the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist in Manitoba?
In Manitoba, as well as the other provinces and territories across Canada, and throughout many other countries, the term “nutritionist” is not a protected title. Meaning, that anyone can refer to themselves as a nutritionist, regardless of their level of education or knowledge.
This is quite concerning, as it results in a lot of nutrition mis and dis-information being spread as we live in an era in which everyone seems to be a “nutrition expert.”
Dietitian and “Registered Dietitian”, on the other hand, are protected titles. Meaning, in order to use the title, you need to meet the requirements as mentioned above.
As a dietitian in Manitoba, you are upheld to a set of standards. Nutrition is an ever-evolving science, and therefore, every year dietitians need to obtain a certain degree of continuing education and submit proof to the CDM.
What is it like to work with a Dietitian in Manitoba?
Working with a dietitian in Manitoba can vary from person to person and dietitian to dietitian. Ultimately, it depends on what setting you are seeing a dietitian in, and what your main concerns are.
Typically, if you are seeking to work with a dietitian in a one to one setting, you likely have concerns about your overall health and dietary intake and you may seek out a private practice dietitian.
Whether you have a health condition that requires dietary changes, or you just want to improve your general health, a dietitian can help. Dietitians are trained in medical nutrition therapy, and are equipped to address a wide range of health conditions and disease states, as well as general concerns about food and nutrition.
Here’s what you can likely expect in an initial consultation with a dietitian. Typically, you would start by filling out a detailed intake form for your dietitian. This may include medical history, medication and supplement use, any recent blood work or medical tests, allergies or food intolerance, symptoms, current struggles, goals and more.
From here, your dietitian will review your responses with you, obtain any further necessary details and come up with a step by step plan to reach your health and nutrition goals during your time together.
Dietitians recognize that health is more than just food and nutrition, and often practice from a holistic perspective. Your dietitian should meet you where you’re at, set realistic attainable goals that will last a lifetime and constantly check in to ensure you’re on the right track.
Different dietitians have different types of service options. Personally, I like to provide my 1:1 nutrition services in the form of a package which includes an initial nutrition assessment, multiple follow-up sessions, unlimited messaging support in between sessions, free access to The Formula for Food Freedom to guide your journey, and additional check-ins and accountability.
The clients that take advantage of everything my package has to offer tend to do the best. Honestly, there’s nothing better than receiving personalized food nutrition strategies to meet your goals and having the additional guidance and accountability every step of the way!
How can I find a Dietitian in Manitoba/Dietitian near me?
To work with a dietitian in Manitoba, you may consider checking to see if your community has a local dietitian. Otherwise, there are different directories online in which you have the capability to search through numerous dietitian profiles and see who may be the best fit for you.
You can start by checking out the Dietitian Directory and search for a dietitian near you. You can also check out the Dietitians of Canada Directory, Health Profs, or the College of Dietitians of Manitoba.
If you’re interested in working with me, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, head over to my services page, to learn more about me and the services I offer (note: I offer virtual nutrition services for adults across Manitoba).
Bonus: some dietitians offer free discovery calls! The purpose of this is to get to know the potential client better and see if it's a good fit! It also gives you a chance to get to know the dietitian better, find out more about their services and get any of your questions answered before committing to work together.
Personally, I love getting into a free discovery call before moving forward with potential clients! If you’re interested in a free call with me, please go ahead and fill out an application to work together to start!
What else can a Dietitian do to support my health?
A dietitian may play many roles in health improvement, whether you’re looking to improve your general health, a specific health condition (i.e. diabetes, heart disease, PCOS, irritable bowel syndrome/disease, high cholesterol, etc.) or you need help navigating through different life stages (pregnancy, post-partum, menopause, etc.).
As an intuitive eating dietitian in Manitoba, I may support individuals with all of the above, but I also focus on helping individuals break free from the toxicity of diet culture, stop dieting for good and mend their relationships with food and their bodies.
This may look like…putting an end to unnecessary food restriction and yo-yo dieting, decreasing the over-thinking, stress and shame around food, tuning in to one’s body cues to ensure appropriate nourishment, while preventing under- and over-eating, and applying sustainable behaviours that fits one's lifestyle in a way that adds to overall life satisfaction and quality of life, rather than takes away from it.
My services would be perfect for you if you’re:
Feeling stuck in a pattern of yo-yo dieting (either restricting or overeating)
Sick of trying to conform to society's "ideal body" size only to be left feeling like a failure
Tired of feeling guilty about eating your favourite foods
Committed to stop letting your diet interfere with you living your life
Confused about what or how to eat and want to learn how to fuel your body properly
Ready to put dieting behind you for good and start enjoying food again
Interested in individualized expert advice from a Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and weight-inclusive provider
To learn more about what this process looks like, you can check out my services here.
Have you been thinking about working with a Dietitian in Manitoba?
If you’ve been considering working with a Dietitian in Manitoba, I highly recommend you do your research to find a dietitian that best suits your needs. There’s a variety of dietitians specializing in different areas, so you’re bound to find one that suits you best.
Just remember, do your due diligence and please check for credentials. There are too many “nutrition experts” out there providing inaccurate information that may do more harm than good.
If you have any questions about me, my services or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact me, or go right ahead and fill out an application to work together!
Note: I practice virtually across Manitoba, so whether you live in Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, Russell, Dauphin, Swan River, The Pas, Flin Flon, Thompson, or anywhere in between, we can work together!
