Care and Treatment

What is a Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN)?

A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a healthcare professional with expertise in food and nutrition who has met academic and professional requirements approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). An RD can help your child and your family prioritize healthy lifestyle goals, or how to optimize the growth of your child in the setting of a chronic disease. Most specialty clinics have an RD available as part of the health care team, and are available to speak with if you'd like to talk about health concerns that require changes to your child’s diet.

What is a Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR)?

A nutrition and dietetic technician, registered (NDTR) is educated and trained at the technical level of nutrition and dietetics practice for the delivery of safe, culturally competent, quality food and nutrition services. NDTRs are an integral part of healthcare and food service management teams. NDTRs work under the supervision of a registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) when in direct patient/client nutrition care in practice areas.

For more information regarding the academic requirements and supervised practice for NDTRs and RD/RDNs, refer to ACEND's website.

What happens during a visit with an RD?

During the medical visit, an RD will often ask questions about typical eating behaviors or usual nutritional products used at home. This helps to provide individual goal setting to best meet your child’s nutritional needs. The RD will also take into consideration the medical condition, age of the child, and cultural influences when forming a nutrition education plan. Some visits with the RD may be a single visit, while other children and their families/caregivers may be seen on a regular basis for ongoing nutrition education and/or adjustment of treatment plans.

The goal of nutrition assessment, education, and counseling

Nutritional assessment is a method used to determine a child’s overall nutritional health and how it may impact current or long term health conditions. Nutrition education and counseling focuses on coaching families on how to select foods or eating patterns to manage a chronic health condition and/or to select specialized nutrition products. Our goal is to help foster a foundation for a child and family's health and wellness that can last a lifetime.