National Nutrition Month: What can a dietitian help me do?
The month of March is designated as National Nutrition Month. To me, a registered dietitian, every month is National Nutrition Month but in March we particularly want to educate people on what we can do for you. First it’s best to tell you what a registered dietitian is.
The term “registered dietitian” or “registered dietitian nutritionist,” is a credential, certifying the person who holds it has met certain criteria in their training and education, much the same as RN signifies a registered nurse or an MD signifies a medical doctor. Note that “nutritionist” alone is not a credential and while all registered dietitians are nutritionists and are certified to help you with your food/dietary/health needs, a nutritionist is not.
If you are interested in what an RD has to do to be credentialed, go to the link at the bottom of the page. A nutritionist may have completed an online course, may or may not have a pertinent degree, or has just lost weight and wants to share how she did it with you. Many times, these nutritionists also want to sell you supplements that have no evidence of helping but in many cases can harm you. Be safe – always see a registered dietitian.
So, what can a dietitian do to help you? Depends on what your needs are. Here are the top 10 reasons to consult with a registered dietitian:
- You have diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular problems or a high blood pressure
- You are thinking of having gastric bypass surgery
- You have digestive problems such as GERD/indigestion, food allergies or intolerances, or IBS
- You’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant and want to eat better
- You are breast-feeding and need guidance on diet for you and your baby
- You or your teenager has issues with food and eating healthy
- You need to gain or lose weight in a healthy way
- You’re caring for an aging parent and they have special diets or needs
- You want to eat smarter for better health and want guidance on how to do that in a way that doesn’t break your budget
- You want to improve your sports performance
Recipe:
Pizza is always a crowd-pleaser, but it can be a calories, salt and fat bomb. Here’s a much healthier recipe that you can make for yourself or with your kids. And at 147 calories each, you could have a couple and still feel good about it. Add a small side salad and you have a meal.
I hope you enjoy this recipe. Stay tuned for more recipes and videos. In the meantime, did you know that employees on UMR insurance can be seen in the Employee Nutrition clinic? UMR participants get a free visit annually with a dietitian. UMR may cover further visits for you and your family. Call 501-526-6477 or go to http://inside.uams.edu/employeenutrition/ for more information. Thank you! See you soon!