How do I prepare for my first appointment?

  1. Call your insurance plan in order to verify your coverage and benefits for nutrition therapy / counseling.

  2. Sign into the client portal and complete your intake forms within 2 business days after scheduling your initial session.

  3. Many clients find it helpful to have a notebook for taking notes, along with a list of questions.

  4. Upload any additional paperwork that you feel might be helpful (e.g.food/symptom journal).

What can I expect during our initial session?

Nutrition therapy sessions are a time for us to talk about your needs and nutrition goals. During your initial session we discuss your health, history, and personal situation in terms of food and nutrition. My approach is conversational, which means that session topics are flexible and adaptable to your needs. Nutrition-related topics that we might discuss include:

  • Health Goals

  • Medical History

  • Food Tastes & Preferences

  • Personal Experience with Food

  • Nutrition Education

  • Tips for Cooking at Home / Dining Out

  • Meal Planning Ideas

  • Supplements

  • Nutrition Science / Popular Media

Will health insurance pay for nutrition services?

Nutrition therapy is covered by most insurance plans. Coverage varies by insurance plan, often with different rules about referrals, reason for visit, and network/out-of-network providers. Before we meet, it is your responsibility to verify your own benefits and understand your financial responsibilities (co-payment, co-insurance, deductibles).

How often will we meet?

Initially, meeting weekly provides the best results in terms of lifestyle changes. This may differ based on reintroduction plans for digestive health issues. Exceptions are made based on financial constraints due to out-of-network insurance, limited network coverage, etc.

Will we talk between sessions?

Feel free to message me using the complimentary client portal at any time between sessions. If your question or request takes more than 5 minutes to answer, I will suggest that we discuss during our next session.

Will you plan my meals?

Working together, we determine the best meal planning approach, based on your personal situation. These options might include grocery list of basic staples, routine meal combination ideas, and restaurant menu suggestions. We work together to slowly build these sustainable meal planning skills over the course of numerous sessions. I do not provide personalized lists, plans, or recipes outside of our session time. Client involvement is critical for this type of planning to be effective.

Do I need to count calories or track macros?

No, I discourage this type of restrictive tracking. Instead, I want you to focus on understanding how food affects you and meets your personal needs — hunger, fullness, and satisfaction. During your first nutrition counseling session, we talk about your usual day in terms of food, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks. I analyze this information relative to your estimated nutritional needs. If nutritional deficiency is possible, then I will communicate suggested foods and/or supplements to add.

If you elect to journal between sessions using the client portal, then you receive feedback on those entries as often as you feel comfortable. Journal review during a session is complimentary.