Dietitian and nutritionist: What's the difference between the two?

Do you want to learn healthy eating habits to help your mind and body feel better, or maybe you want to lose a bit of weight? If you have no idea where to start and if you want to make sure you are doing things correctly you may want to consult a professional.

What’s the difference?

Even though both professions are there to help with your diet, the two don’t follow the same education. Indeed a nutritionist is a licensed medical professional and went to medical school whereas a dietitian has a higher technical diploma.

When should you see a nutritionist?

As the nutritionist is a licensed medical professional, they can help prevent, detect and treat illnesses or disorders. If you think you have a food allergy, intolerance, diabetes or an eating disorder, then you should definitely get in touch with a nutritionist. They have the tools and knowledge to help you. Health problems related to food can often be overlooked and deemed not important. However, it is important to have a healthy relationship with food, as food is the element that gives your body the energy it needs to work.

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When should you see a dietitian?

If you are looking to balance your diet and you don’t have any disordered eating habits or illnesses, then you should consult a dietitian. A dietitian is a professional designed to help you lose weight or to just help you learn how to eat well. Depending on your end goal, a dietitian will give you a set eating plan according to your needs and body. After you have a plan set in place, you will see your dietitian every couple of weeks then once a month. In your diet plan, you will find new recipes to try out.