Health is wealth. It’s a common saying that more people have started to apply to their daily lives by being more cognizant of their dietary choices. In fact, a survey conducted by the International Food Information Council shows that over the last ten years, “54% of all consumers, and 63% of those over the age of 50 care more about healthy food and beverage choices.”
However, like with various other aspects of life, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a curveball at this growing trend, and many of us have found ourselves mindlessly snacking on chips between our 3 and 5 o’clock meetings. Whether it’s with a goal to restore your pre-pandemic weight or simply to start making your health a top priority, seeking a professional that will help you fulfill your personal goals can be a great step in the right direction. Two common health experts that often come to mind are nutritionists and dietitians, but what distinguishes one from another may not be clear.
Editor’s note: the information provided below is specific to Ontario, as usage of both titles differs by province and country.
Dieticians
Qualifications
Similar to becoming a doctor or lawyer, the title held by a Registered Dietician (RD) is protected in Canada. The College of Dieticians of Ontario acts as the regulatory board for these professionals by ensuring that all registered members adhere to a set of guidelines that prioritize public welfare. Before registering with this organization, dietitians must successfully fulfill an extensive list of prerequisites, as indicated below:
- Obtain an undergraduate degree from a university program accredited by the Dieticians of Canada
- Participate in an accredited and supervised dietetic internship program to undergo practical training
- Pass the Canadian Dietetics Registration Exam.
What dietitians actually do:
Given their qualifications along with practical experience, dietitians are equipped to work in a variety of different settings. In particular, these professionals are in a position to treat chronically ill patients through nutritional therapy. They may also specialize in specific fields, such as oncology, pediatrics, or sports nutrition, to develop their acumen in a given domain. Beyond their contributions in hospitals, dietitians can share their expertise by establishing a private practice and building meal plans for individual clients. Dietitians often also pursue careers in food service management, academic research as well as community-wide education. Despite the multidisciplinary nature of this profession, all dietitians remain committed to the same fundamental principle: respect recent scientific research when making recommendations.
Explains Gail Kardish, Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor, “As dieticians, we must rely on science and up-to-date studies in our daily practice. As an example, we would only recommend digestive enzymes if something was wrong in the patient’s pancreas and this initial lack of enzymes was clearly shown in their blood work.”
Nutritionists
Qualifications
Similar to dietitians, the majority of nutritionists will have an educational background in food sciences. They may also hold one of the many regulated designations that exist within the profession, such as the ones detailed below:
- Certified Nutritional Practitioner (CNP): A title earned after completing a one-year diploma program at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition , a private career college based in Canada
- Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN): A title earned after completing the Natural Nutrition Program (consists of 18 courses over a year) at The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition
Both of these designations are affiliated with the Canadian Association of Natural Nutritional Practitioners (CANNP) , a recognized organization that unifies its nutritionists and gives them a collective voice.
Jenni Behari is a Weight Loss Counselor, Natural Nutrition-Clinical Practitioner (NNCP), and Culinary Nutrition Expert. She is the Clinic Manager at Caven Nutrition Group in Ottawa, Ontario. We asked Jenni to explain a bit about working as a nutritionist:
“My main goal as a nutritionist is helping my clients incorporate sustainable habits that they can see themselves doing for the rest of their lives, rather than simply putting them on a ‘diet’. The focus should not only be on what your ‘now’ looks like, but also what your ‘future’ looks like.”
In contrast to dietitians, there is no singular universal education or training standard for nutritionists, nor any one practicum that they must undergo before using this professional label. Technically, anyone who provides nutritional advice can legally give themselves this title, so it falls on the consumer to review a nutritionist’s credentials before working together.
The variety of educational backgrounds and disciplinary focuses amongst nutritionists can also be a positive, however. Many become known for their work in a particular common issue, such as menopause symptoms, gastrointestinal issues, and allergies.
Says Behari, “There are many foods that exist in the world that we are afraid to eat because we had them one time done poorly. Our palates are always evolving, and you may be pleasantly surprised when you give foods a second chance.”
What nutritionists actually do:
As with dietitians, nutritionists work in a variety of different industries and specialties, and are commonly known for creating highly customized nutritional plans. Though unable to provide medical advice in a hospital setting, nutritionists often work in commercial spaces, such as corporate wellness groups and gyms, to educate clients on how to meet their fitness goals. Their primary focus lies in treating food sensitivities and weight-related issues, whereas dietitians take on clients who require more intensive medical treatment and a “prescribed” diet for their condition.
Key differences between dietitians and nutritionists
To determine the best professional for you, let’s summarize the principal distinctions between dietitians and nutritionists:
Qualifications
To ensure you are receiving valuable insights on how to improve your health, it’s best to consult a professional with a nutrition-related background and experience. While this is possibly the case with both types of professionals, the title of a “dietitian” guarantees internship experience as well as successfully passing the Canadian Dietetics Registration Exam. These heightened educational standards may appeal to certain clients.
Cost
Because many dietitians work in hospitals and clinical teams, their services may be covered by OHIP and other benefit plans if you are accessing their services as part of a larger care plan, such as a rehabilitation program. But without benefits, you may find the cost of a dietitian to be prohibitive–particularly if you’ll require their services throughout a long recovery from illness. The average cost of a dietitian appointment is higher than the average nutritionist.
Nutritionists often create a range of commercially available services, so you may find their fees more manageable, especially if you’re open to programs designed for groups. Many nutritionist programs are time-limited, offered in 4-10 week chunks. As nutritionists tend to be a little less expensive, this may make it easier for some clients to engage in longer-term nutrition counselling.
Advice and Recommendations
Dietician recommendations must always comply with up-to-date scientifically vetted research and studies. Therefore, their advice and meal plans often align with government food guides and standard western medical perspectives. This can limit their ability to speak with you about new or non-traditional solutions.
On the other hand, nutritionists are not bound by the same restrictions, which can mean that nutritionists might talk with you about new and emerging supplements and nutritional trends, and may be more comfortable embracing multicultural concepts about health and diet. Thus, their nutritional plans may perhaps be more customized to the individual client.
Type of Clientele
Additionally, while dietitians and nutritionists may both offer advice to generally healthy individuals, dietitians often specialize in treating major medical disorders, such as diabetes, cancer, or pediatric nutritional issues. Explains Kardish: “The most common misconception about dieticians is that we are all about the food guide and we believe that the body has to be one size and shape to be considered ‘healthy’. In reality, most dieticians focus on health at every size and meet the client where they are at.”
Nutritionists more commonly advise clients on how to cope with those health challenges we all face, such as energy levels, weight gain, aging, and food sensitivities; they are a favored option for those pursuing a rigorous athletic program. Explains Behari: “A lot of my clientele consists of young women who want to know how to fuel their bodies, build confidence and manage stress. I want to empower my clients to carry forth habits by themselves. I am here to help them and simply guide them in the right direction.”
The similarities between dietitians and nutritionists
In many instances, nutritionists and dietitians offer a very similar range of services. For example, both professions may offer the following:
- Common services offered by dietitians include:
- Individualized nutrition counseling for nutrition therapy
- Individualized nutrition counseling for weight reduction
- Group education for weight reduction/lifestyle improvement
- Recipe modification and development
- Public Speaking and consumer nutrition education
- Health and wellness program development
- Menu and meal planning
- Body composition analysis
- Behavior modification techniques
- Food allergy and intolerance support
Whichever professional you engage to help you with your nutrition and relationship with food, you’re going to learn lots and discover a new way of eating. Both dietitians and nutritionists share some key professional goals: to help clients look past confusing fad diets, and reconnect us with the concept of food as medicine. After all, you are what you eat.