Nutritionist, dietitian, nutrition coach … what’s in a name? Quite a bit, especially when it comes to these terms!
Let’s start with the name. Here in Ontario, the title “nutritionist” isn’t protected by law, which means anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. The title “dietitian,” however, is protected by law.
Dietitians can do things such as prescribe supplements, create specific meal plans, and make dietary recommendations to treat disease.
In Ontario, nutritionists/nutrition coaches (unless they are also registered dietitians) cannot do any of those things because they’re outside their scope of practice. But they can (hopefully with the appropriate educational background!), for example:
- Address detrimental dietary behaviours
- Assess and help you change or add nutritional habits
- Suggest dietary changes to improve overall health and well-being
- Assist you in implementing/following a plan prescribed by a dietitian or doctor
- Teach you about nutrients, supplements, and nutrition strategies
- Help you create your own meal plan (some coaches may create a meal plan for you. I find meal plans to be prescriptive, however, which is why I recommend you work with a dietitian if you want a meal plan mapped out for you).
So a nutrition coach in Ontario can technically call themselves a nutritionist, which is not the same thing as a dietitian.
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