How to Tell If You Have a Good Dietitian (Especially in Eating Disorder Recovery)
1. They build safety and trust before talking about food
A good dietitian meets you where you are. They ask about your history, preferences, fears, and goals before offering advice. You should never feel rushed, judged, or forced to talk about food or weight before you're ready.
You feel emotionally safe in sessions—even when talking about hard things.
2. They are eating disorder-informed and aligned with your care team
A qualified dietitian will:
Have experience or specialty training in eating disorders
Collaborate with your doctor, therapist, and family if appropriate
Understand the difference between disordered eating and intentional dieting
Know how to support nutritional rehabilitation safely (e.g., refeeding, GI distress)
They treat the whole person—not just the meal plan.
3. They don’t focus on weight as a measure of health
A good dietitian uses a weight-inclusive or Health at Every Size® (HAES®) approach. They won’t judge your body or try to make you shrink it. Instead, they focus on:
Energy levels
Labs and vitals
Growth (for kids and teens)
Your relationship with food
They support health, not dieting.
4. They individualize your care
No two people have the same recovery journey. A good dietitian will tailor their approach based on:
Your age and developmental needs
Cultural and family context
Medical conditions or sensory needs
Where you are in your recovery
They don’t believe in one-size-fits-all nutrition.
5. They help you expand—not restrict—your relationship with food
Rather than focusing on "good" and "bad" foods, a skilled dietitian helps:
Normalize all foods
Reduce fear around eating
Rebuild hunger and fullness cues
Address binge-restrict cycles without shame
You leave sessions feeling more supported and less afraid of food.
6. They welcome questions and invite collaboration
A good dietitian:
Explains why they're recommending something
Encourages you to speak up if something doesn’t feel right
Respects your boundaries and autonomy
It’s a partnership, not a power struggle.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
If your dietitian:
Encourages weight loss during eating disorder recovery
Prescribes restrictive diets without medical necessity
Shames you for your food choices or body
Doesn’t collaborate with your care team
Pushes “clean eating” or detox programs
…it may be time to seek a second opinion.
Final Thought
A good dietitian helps you nourish your body without punishing it. They hold space for the emotional side of eating while guiding you toward food freedom—at a pace that feels manageable. Whether you're early in recovery or further along, the right dietitian is someone who sees you as more than what you eat.
