What to expect at your first RD appointment?

As a dietitian, I often met patients without any experience with dietitian consultant before. Therefore, when I finally founded Nourimax and started private practice, I would like to “write” some “user’s guide” for all my patients to help them to create a more effective consultation with me.

What to expect at your first dietitian appointment? Here is a checklist what you can expect to make this experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. If there is one thing beyond all other stuffs I would expect you to bring in with your first session, is an open mind with the willingness to trust your dietitian that I will never judge any of your decision but only to carry a judgement-free conversation to provide you with different proposal that you are willing to try, to guide you and being supportive with your journal.

Consider bringing:

• A food journal, if you can, write down what you eat (your routine instead of a “last min” meal plan you decided to show me) for a few days prior to your first meeting, it is just a snapshot of your usual meals.

• Medical History and Medication list: I always expect to review patient’s medical condition and even family history, which will help us to tailor recommendations (or potential meal plan) to your needs.

• Your primary goals and challenges: Think about (or better, write down) what you hope to achieve. For example, you may want to improve your energy level and to reduce your A1c level d/t a recent dx pre-diabetes. You may have multiple goals to motivate you to walk into my office, as your personal dietitian, I will help you to clear your mind and list short-term and long-term goals, to hold your accountable to meet these goals.

Now, you know what to bring with the first session, what do you expect from the first session working with me? First of all, all the dietitian uses different philosophy, there is no right or wrong, but you need to find the one you can trust and with the personality/style you like, because dietary change would be alike behavior changes, it takes time, and we want to focus on progress but not perfections.

1. I expect getting to know you, might ask about:

1. Your typical meals and snacks

2. Any food preferences, allergies, or dislikes

3. Your energy levels, sleep, and activity habits

4. Your relationship with food—do you love to cook, eat out often, or struggle with cravings?

   
   

2. Instead of giving you a long list of “do’s and don’ts,” your dietitian will focus on small, meaningful changes. I would give you a plan - for example, DASH diet if a patient walked in with a concern about hypertension.

3. Setting Realistic Goals (this includes long-term goal, and short-term goal)

Rather than aiming for overnight transformation, I will help you set practical goals. For example, if you always skip breakfast, a small step might be adding a protein-rich snack in the morning. These little changes add up over time!

4. Your Questions Are Always Welcome

This is your time to ask anything! Whether it’s about sugar cravings, label reading, or meal ideas for a picky eater at home, your dietitian is there to help.

After Your Appointment: The Journey Begins

Once you leave, you’ll likely have a few simple action steps to try- I like to send a list of “Short-term goals” to my patient in written and expect you to do til our first follow-up session. I may also suggest follow-ups to check in on your progress and tweak your plan as needed. Remember, nutrition is about progress, not perfection—every step counts.

Final Thoughts: You Got This!

Walking into your first dietitian appointment is a step toward feeling better, eating well, and taking care of yourself. It’s not about rules or restrictions, but about learning how to nourish your body in a way that works for you. So, take a deep breath, relax, and know that you’re in good hands!