Medical Nutrition Therapy

Medical Nutrition Therapy, or MNT, is an individualized nutrition assessment and intervention plan provided by a Registered Dietitian. This technique utilizes medical knowledge and nutrition expertise alongside counseling and education to support individuals in managing their health and relationship with food and body. This type of therapy is ideal for those struggling with eating disorders (including those that experience aversions to eating related to neurodivergence or trauma), those struggling with gastrointestinal disorders and diseases, those needing assistance managing chronic illnesses (such as autoimmune conditions, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, etc.), those interested in developing a more balanced relationship with nourishment and body image, among many other areas.

MNT sessions start with an intake session that lasts about an hour to go over details of your medical history and current areas of concern. Follow up sessions typically last an hour as well. Sessions are covered by many insurance companies and our Registered Dietitian also offers sliding scale private pay rates for those who do not have MNT services covered under their insurance plan.

What is a Registered Dietician?

A Registered Dietitian is someone who has earned a Master’s of Science in Dietetics, has completed a minimum of 1500 hours in supervised practice out in the field, has passed a board examination to ensure competencies in their medical, nutritional, and public health knowledge, maintains their registration and licensure through proof of continuing education in their areas of expertise, and can bill insurance for Medical Nutrition Therapy services. Registered Dietitians are different from other titles you may be familiar with such as “nutritionist”, “holistic nutritionist”, “health coach”, “nutrition coach”, “nutrition consult”, among others. While other nutrition professionals may have some education and experience in their areas of practice, only Registered Dietitians are required to meet and maintain accreditation standards in order to provide and ensure safe, thorough, and effective management of nutrition related conditions and diseases. Due to their clinical training, Registered Dietitians also have the expertise to recommend and assess lab work for monitoring and managing interventions, review medications and supplements and their effectiveness in treatment, and consult with and make referrals to other healthcare providers, primary care physicians, and specialists to provide a holistic approach to improving your health status.

Our Registered Dietitian has specialized training and focus areas in eating disorders and public health, you can read more about them here.

Health at Every Size (HAES) approach

The HAES modality of care operates from the understanding that body size and shape do not determine body health and that ALL bodies are deserving of equitable care and respect, especially within a health care setting. Research done on the effectiveness of the HAES approach shows that it significantly improves disordered eating behaviors, improves distress tolerance, decreases stress and anxiety surrounding health and receiving health care, improves provider-patient trust, improves self-esteem, decreases social isolation, and decreases metabolic dysregulation (such as inflammation, cardiac dysfunction, glucose/insulin dysfunction, adrenal/cortisol dysfunction). More information about the HAES approach, standards, and resources can be found here: https://asdah.org/haes/ 

Body and Food Neutrality approach

Many of us grew up receiving information about “good foods” and “bad foods”, as well as language around “good bodies” and “bad bodies”. This line of thinking and language around good vs bad, healthy vs unhealthy, etc. can lead us to feeling ashamed of our food choices and ashamed of the bodies we exist in. A food neutrality approach aims to move away from good/bad thinking and instead learn to recognize that all foods provide us with nourishment, that choosing foods based on comfort can lead to reduced stress levels and improved health outcomes, and that eating “healthy” looks different for every person as each of us have our own specialized needs. A body neutrality approach takes principles from the HAES care model and aims to move away from assessing someone’s health status based on body weight and size alone and instead learning about the unique needs of our bodies and growing acceptance and compassion for our body as it is.

Intuitive Eating approach

Many of us also grew up without education on how to recognize body cues like hunger and fullness. Intuitive Eating approaches guide you through learning what these cues feel like for your body and mind, how to build a trusting relationship with our bodies, and how to increase ease in honoring our body cues as they arise. This particular approach can be challenging for neurodivergent folks, those who have experienced trauma, and those who experience frequent dissociation. Our Registered Dietitian has specialized experience navigating how to feel safe while checking in with our body’s needs, especially with folks who may be checking in with their bodies in this way for the first time; they work from a trauma-informed, compassionate, and client-centered lens. 

Approaches used during an MNT session