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The 10 Best Online Nutritionist Services 2023

Updated: May 03, 2023
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Top Nutrition Coaching is our pick for best overall online nutritionist.


Embarking on a journey towards optimal health has never been easier, thanks to the rise of online nutritionist services. In this comprehensive guide, we've evaluated and ranked the top platforms that connect you with online nutritionists to help you find the best one for your needs.

Best Online Nutritionists of 2023


Our Top 3 Picks For Best Online Nutritionist Services

We reviewed every service across 14 different factors and identified the best ones.

Factors Analyzed Best Overall
Runner Up
Second Runner Up
Free introduction session with a dietitian Yes. Claim now. No No
Virtual All sessions are virtual All sessions are virtual All sessions are virtual
Price $65-75 session. $200-1000+. Pay in installments. $70/session
Registered Dietitians Only works with registered dietitians. Only accepts the best. Less than 1.7% acceptance rate for dietitians who apply. Accepts dietitians & nutritionists. Only works with registereted dietitians.
Specialists (Weight Loss, Diabetes, etc) Experts across every area of nutrition (weight loss, intutitive eating, sports performance, and much more). No No
Personalized Matching Process Free 15 minute call with trained matching specialists who handpick the right expert based on your needs and goals. See available times. Team of 12 dietitians. You'll get paired with one of them. Choose from their list of hundreds of providers.
Unlimited Messaging Yes Yes No
Customized Nutrition Plans Yes Yes No
Sustainable Approach Yes Yes Depends on the provider
Flexible Scheduling Sessions are available Monday-Sunday from 7am-10pm. Sessions are available Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:30pm EST. Depends on the provider
Mobile App Yes No Yes
HSA/FSA Yes Yes Yes
Satisfaction Guarantee Risk free trial. Pay only if satisfied. Learn more about risk free trial. No No
Customer Support Team Dedicated nutrition concierge ready to help you 24/7 with any questions, navigating the platform, and more. Yes. Two team memebers focused on customer support 9-5pm. Yes. Only open during certain times/hours. Response time not high.

Below are our 2023 choices for the top online nutritionists available. The companies listed offer the best value, best results, and most stress-free experience. We've also outlined the strengths and weaknesses of each service so you can make an informed decision.

1. Top Nutrition Coaching

Best Overall

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Use our discount code NOLAFREE
to claim a free session ($70 value)

Pros
  • Free, Personalized Matching Process
  • Flexible Scheduling
  • 24/7 Access
  • Excellent Value
  • Highly Personalized Counseling Experience
  • Sustainable, Evidence-Based Approach
  • Community of Experts
  • Best Dietitians in the Industry
Cons
  • 6-Session Minimum
  • Limited Availability With Matching Specialists

Top Nutrition Coaching was far and above the best service we reviewed for a few reasons:

  1. Best Dietitians In The Country - They only hire the top dietitians in the country.
  2. Personalized Matching System - Their proprietary matching system finds you a nutritionist with the exact expertise for your needs.
  3. Root Cause Focused & Sustainable Changes -They focus on the root cause and their plans are sustainable and long term focused.
  4. Affordable & Flexible - They are remarkably affordable, have flexible session frequencies, unlimited messaging, and much more.
  5. Powerful Platform - Most comprehensive platform dedicated to nutrition on the market.

The first step is you complete a short health assessment and book time with a matching specialist on their team. This is a free 15 minute call designed to dig deeper and help their team find the exact right expert for your needs. On that call they dug deeper into goals, challenges, medical history, and walked us through who was going to be the perfect fit as well as made a recommendation on session frequency. The experience was seamless and highly personalized.

After that, you are setup for a free 30 minute introduction call with your recommended dietitian. The team boasts an impressive 97% match success rate. Your dietitian walks you through what working together is like and you setup your first session with them right on the call.

The way the program works is first you deep dive into your lifestyle, goals, medical history, and your nutrition builds a personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan that is designed to guide you towards your goals.

Your weekly sessions are designed to help you make progress, develop your knowledge & skills with nutrition, as well as serve as a form of regular accountability and check-ins.

In between sessions, you'll have access to your dietitian 24/7 via messaging as well as full access to their platform which is slick and easy to use.

The platform comes with useful health tracking features that automatically plug into apple health, fitbit, and much more. It comes built in with food journaling and metrics tracking features which serve to keep your dietitian updated on your progress and allows them to coach you in between sessions.

Top Nutrition Coaching

The team is highly engaged providing motivation, support knowledge, and accountability both in session and outside of session.

Bottom Line: This is our top pick for any individuals seeking a well-rounded and results-driven approach to personalized nutrition counseling, backed by a team of compassionate and knowledgeable professionals.

They’re worth a serious look as they are changing the approach to nutrition coaching and raising the bar.

2. OnPoint Nutrition

Runner Up

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Pros
  • Excellent Customer Support
  • Free Initial Consultation
  • Phone App Support
  • High quality providers
  • Personalized nutrition plans
  • Unlimited messaging
Cons
  • Expensive packages
  • Few Package Options

On Point Nutrition sets itself apart by offering a comprehensive and holistic approach to personalized nutrition counseling. The platform matches clients with expert dietitians who are dedicated to helping individuals achieve their health and wellness goals. Clients can expect one-on-one virtual consultations, customized meal plans, and ongoing support throughout their journey.

What makes On Point Nutrition stand out is its emphasis on lasting behavioral changes rather than quick fixes. Their dietitians work closely with clients to identify and address the root causes of unhealthy habits, ensuring sustainable improvements in overall health and well-being. The platform also incorporates a user-friendly app that facilitates easy communication with dietitians, meal tracking, and progress monitoring.

OnPoint Nutrition

The primary downside to On Point Nutrition is the relatively high cost of their services, which may not be suitable for those on a tighter budget. Additionally, they currently do not accept insurance, which can limit accessibility for some potential clients. Lastly, On Point Nutrition is not as tech friendly and forward as some other services making the experience less intuitive, slick, and overall adds a bit of friction to what overall is a great experience.

Bottom line: On Point Nutrition is a strong runner up for us as their core service is excellent and their providers high quality.

3.

Amwell

Second Runner Up

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Pros
  • Short, efficient sessions
  • Physicians are specially trained for online care
  • Users choose their nutritionist
  • Mobile-friendly digital platform
Cons
  • Insurance coverage is unreliable
  • Less comprehensive care than some competitors

Amwell offers a personalized nutrition counseling service that connects clients with registered dietitians through an easy-to-use telehealth platform. The convenience of virtual consultations allows clients to receive expert advice and guidance from the comfort of their own homes. Amwell's dietitians work closely with clients to create customized meal plans, address dietary concerns, and set achievable goals, making the service highly tailored to individual needs.

One of the strengths of Amwell lies in its extensive network of qualified professionals, ensuring clients can find a dietitian with expertise in their specific health concerns or dietary preferences. Additionally, the platform supports a secure, user-friendly interface that enables seamless appointment scheduling and record-keeping.

Forge

However, there are a few drawbacks to Amwell's service. The quality of the providers vary dramatically and as a result the experiences are often inconsistent. Additionally, they don't specialize in nutrition, making the advice and experience feel a bit cookie cutter compared to On-Point and Top Nutrition Coaching.

Bottom Line: Amwell is a big name brand with a reputation in the telehealth space. They are a solid option if for some reason you are unable to get an appointment with Top Nutrition Coaching or On Point.

4. Eleat Nutrition

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Pros
  • In-Person or Virtual sessions
  • Excellent Program Flexibility
  • No Minimum Program Length
Cons
  • Does Not Accept Insurance
  • Vague Pricing Information
  • Waitlist for New Clients

First founded in 2014 by dietitian and sports coach Angie Asche, Eleat Nutrition is an athlete-centric virtual nutrition service that prioritizes flexibility and ease of use. Even though Angie and her nutritionists focus mostly on sports nutrition, personal training, and injury recovery programs, they also offer services for people who want to improve their overall health.

The most impressive thing about Eleat Nutrition is how flexible and easy to understand their packages are. While scheduling sessions may be a stressful experience with other coaching services, Eleat Nutrition allows clients to choose whether to meet weekly, monthly, or on any other timeline. This flexibility reduces stress by allowing clients to work on their health goals at their own pace. Also, Eleat Nutrition does not require a minimum number of sessions for any of their packages.

Eleat Nutrition

At this time, Eleat Nutrition does not have clear pricing information on its website. Potential clients may request more information and a quote. Remember that due to their limited team and high demand, Eleat Nutrition often has an active waiting list.

Bottom Line: Eleat Nutrition’s customizable online nutrition programs, flexible scheduling, and broad wellness expertise make it our top pick for those of you who may have busy schedules and uncertain availability.

5. Tepper Nutrition

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Pros
  • Only Hires Registered Dietitians
  • Flexible Pricing
  • Free Initial Consultation
Cons
  • Out of Network for Insurance Coverage
  • May Lack Specialty Knowledge

Tepper Nutrition is an expert, comprehensive nutrition service that only partners with registered dietitians. Because of this, the company maintains a small but highly competent team with experience in an impressive range of specialties. Also, Tepper Nutrition talks about how much they love "intuitive eating," which is different from traditional dieting and something that many of their clients prefer.

Because of the broad experience of their relatively small team, Tepper Nutrition can handle many specific food-related conditions, such as medical nutrition therapy for diabetes, PCOS, heart health, GI disorders, and more.

Potential clients are encouraged to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation, during which they'll speak with a Tepper Nutrition representative and establish a clear set of main goals. If, after this call, a client decides to move forward with the process, they'll be matched with a dietitian for a more thorough assessment. For communication, Tepper Nutrition allows email contact and conversations via its website portal, but no texting or third-party applications.

Tepper Nutrition

At the moment, Tepper Nutrition is not in network with any insurance companies. However, they have a flexible payment system for people on a budget.

Bottom Line: Tepper Nutrition's extensive course offerings and dedication to education help you take control of your fitness journey, teaching you the skills you need to become your own coach.

6. Lemond Nutrition

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Pros
  • Excellent Pediatric Nutrition Counseling
  • Inclusive to All Backgrounds
  • Prioritizes Weight-Neutral Counseling
Cons
  • Limited Availability in Certain States
  • Less Expertise in Non-Family-Related Nutrition

Based out of Texas but offering services in an impressive number of states, Lemond Nutrition is a nutrition counseling service with a strong focus on pediatric nutrition and family care. Although they provide nutrition and fitness services, they specialize in weight-neutral programming that puts health before the number on a scale. Many of their clients highly value this inclusive approach to maintaining a healthy weight and often prefer it over traditional, low-calorie-centric dieting.

A unique quality of Lemond Nutrition is their family-oriented packages, which offer nutrition counseling for up to four family members. Though technically a group package, this service provides individual, personalized meal planning for each family member to help them reach optimal health.

Lemond Nutrition has a custom-built mobile app that clients can use to talk to their coaches and keep track of their progress. Outside of the app, the company also offers virtual consultations with flexible scheduling options.

Lemond Nutrition

Currently, Lemond Nutrition accepts several major insurance carriers. Because they don't work in some states, potential customers should check ahead of time to see if their insurance is accepted.

Bottom Line: Only the best will do when it comes to your family's health. Lemond Nutrition's dedication to pediatric expertise and compassionate coaching make them an outstanding choice for your family's nutrition needs.

7. Anderson's Nutrition

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Pros
  • In-Person Sessions Available
  • Flexible Session Timing
  • Extensive Recipe Library
Cons
  • Uses External Apps for Communication
  • More Expensive Primary Package

Anderson's Nutrition is a full-service online nutrition counseling service that helps its clients live better lives by offering affordable package options and a wide range of resources. Although most companies in the nutrition industry offer meal planning, Anderson's Nutrition takes this particular service to the next level.

Once a client is given a dietitian, they work with them to come up with a personalized meal plan and tasty foods that help them reach their goals. Additionally, Anderson's Nutrition maintains and regularly updates an enormous, curated recipe library from which clients can take inspiration or entire recipes. Their partner app, EatLove, also has a grocery function to help you make smart shopping decisions.

Anderson's Nutrition doesn't support all types of nutrition specialties, but it has a lot of flexibility when it comes to programs and schedules. Unlike most companies in the space, they allow clients to schedule appointments on weekends and evenings. The company also supports Spanish-speaking clientele.

Anderson's Nutrition

Finally, insurance is accepted at Anderson's Nutrition, and their representatives are more than happy to work with clients to navigate out-of-network coverage.

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a top-of-the-line, custom meal plan to fit your nutrition goals, Anderson's Nutrition's extensive recipe library and handy companion app make them one of the best in the business.

8. Noom

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Pros
  • Custom Digital Tools
  • Unlimited Messaging
  • Less Expensive
Cons
  • No Face-to-Face Sessions
  • More Basic Programming
  • Hires Unregistered Coaches

A streamlined, straightforward nutrition coaching company that uses a custom-built app to provide services, Noom is unlike many of the other selections on this list. By combining modern behavioral therapy techniques with digital resources, Noom allows customers to build healthy, sustainable habits by simply following the instructions given via their app. While the bulk of this service involves a manufactured nutrition and meal plan, Noom subscribers may also communicate with a team of nutritionists to answer questions or address concerns.

At $70.00 a month, Noom’s bottom price point is less than that of many other services. Despite this, it’s important to note that Noom provides a more bare-bones approach to nutrition. While this may be preferable for those seeking a casual approach to their health and nutrition journey, customers who prefer more structure and guidance may find more success with another company.

Noom

Nonetheless, Noom’s focus on simplicity, clarity, and flexibility make it an excellent choice for those still unsure about the benefits of more extensive nutrition coaching. If you want to test the waters of the nutrition coaching industry, Noom may be the perfect way to get your feet wet.

Bottom Line: With a subscription-based system and a host of user-friendly, convenient digital tools, Noom fills a rare niche in the nutrition coaching industry. For customers looking for a more casual, relaxed approach to nutrition, Noom may be the perfect fit.

9. Tuttle Nutrition

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Pros
  • Affordable Pricing
  • Excellent for Bodybuilders
  • Run by Fitness Professionals
Cons
  • Does Not Accept Health Insurance
  • Excludes Non-Bodybuilder Demographics

If you are a fitness enthusiast or athlete, you probably know that perfecting your nutrition can often be more difficult than anything you do in the gym. When nutrition gets in the way of your progress, finding a good nutrition and fitness coach can give you the push you need to keep going.

Guided by a husband-and-wife team of bodybuilding experts, Tuttle Nutrition has established itself as one of the premier nutrition coaching services for professional and amateur bodybuilding enthusiasts. Chris Tuttle, a professional bodybuilder himself, is also a dietitian and collegiate guest lecturer who tours the country to spread his knowledge. Alexia, his wife, is an expert nutritionist and bodybuilding prep coach who has helped many clients reach their performance goals.

As a company, Tuttle Nutrition has streamlined its services to address only clients with bodybuilding goals. Their nutrition services are extensive within that specialty, and the client response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Tuttle Nutrition

Pricing for Tuttle Nutrition's plans ranges from $300 for a one-time plan to $1,100 for a full contest preparation plan. Additionally, Tuttle Nutrition offers a range of secondary services, such as supplements and lab testing, which may benefit those aiming for peak performance.

Bottom Line: Although their services may be narrow in scope, the coaches at Tuttle Nutrition are some of the best in the industry for bodybuilding-related needs.

10. Culina Health

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Pros
  • Run by Dietitians
  • Compassionate Care
  • Focuses on Long-Term Results
Cons
  • Very Expensive
  • More Considerable Time Investment

Co-founded in 2020 by Tamar Samuels and Vannessa Risetto, a pair of dietitians, Culina Health is a premium nutrition coaching service dedicated to educating clients on nutrition and healthy eating. Rather than focusing on short-term, immediate results, Vannessa and Tamar prioritize long-term lifestyle changes and steady, concrete progress.

Blending clinical, science-backed techniques with a lifetime of experience serving clients from diverse backgrounds, Culina Health welcomes clients of all knowledge levels, from novice to expert. Even though Culina's dietitians specialize in weight loss, disordered eating, and recovery from disordered eating, they have a lot of knowledge in many different areas, which makes them a good choice for anyone who values experience.

Because they believe in long-term solutions, Culina Health's coaching programs run longer than other programs in the industry, ideally for many months.

Culina Health

Although more expensive than some competitors, the pedigree of Culina's nutrition professionals makes them a wise investment, and ongoing supplement and lab work discounts add to the value of the company's packages. Additionally, Culina Health is in-network with most popular insurance providers, a quality that may help offset the increased cost while maintaining the high level of service provided.

Bottom Line: Required dietitian registration, flexible scheduling, and a focus on long-term education make Culina one of the best catch-all nutrition counseling services for those simply looking to improve their general wellness.

11. Forge

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Pros
  • Realistic Expectations
  • Registered Dietitian-Built Plans
  • Fitness Coaching Services
Cons
  • Does Not Accept Insurance
  • Lacks Services for Non-Athletes

Designed with the amateur athlete in mind, Forge Fitness and Nutrition Coaching offers personalized nutrition planning, exercise programs, and guidance to help push you to the next level of performance.

Unlike some services which promise extreme, often unachievable results, Forge focuses on each step to provide gradual, consistent improvements in your performance and quality of life. This measured approach to fitness and nutrition helps athletes and other active individuals build a rock-solid foundation for a lifetime of wellness.

To begin, Forge invites potential customers to undertake their free program inquiry. During this process, you’ll meet with a company representative to discuss your goals, potential hurdles you’ve experienced, and your past experience with fitness and nutrition coaching.

Then, you’ll select from one of several packages designed to fit a range of needs depending on your level of athleticism, and Forge’s nutritionists will send you your custom nutrition plan within four business days.

Forge

Although Forge primarily offers its services to amateur athletes and other active individuals, they’ve been recognized as one of the best in its niche due to its realistic approach to nutrition, focus on sustainable results, and emphasis on body-inclusive programming.

Bottom Line: With a focus on amateur and professional athletes, Forge is an excellent choice for active individuals looking to improve their performance. Those looking for other specialties, however, may have more luck elsewhere.

Methodology: How We Decided on the Best Online Nutritionists

Qualifications and Credentials

In nutrition coaching, only professionals that have completed a certification program can be considered a registered dietitian. They have been trained and tested, often by board-certified physicians, to make sure they offer a higher level of care than what less experienced nutritionists would offer. 

Experience

There are few substitutes for experience. So, finding a nutrition specialist with sufficient experience in the areas most relevant to your needs can make all the difference. On your hunt for the right nutrition counseling service, you would likely find a match with a company that has a diverse team of specialists. Conversely, you might consider choosing a smaller, niche service that focuses on only one or two specific areas of nutrition coaching.

Approach

All of the education and experience in the world mean little if you cannot work productively with the nutrition coach. This is why we place a premium on a company's approach to online nutrition counseling. As an individual, we suggest you take a moment to decide what style of coaching or personality might motivate you best, then personalize your search for a nutrition specialist who fits that description.

Communication

Effective, consistent communication is key to growth, which is why we reviewed each nutrition coaching service by their mode of communication, customer service, and resource availability. This is because when your health is on the line, you deserve to have a clear assessment of all the details.

Personalization

Your personality is unique as are your nutrition requirements. That's why we assessed each company according to the level of personalization in their programs, pricing, and scheduling. Health and nutrition are stressful enough; you deserve coaching tailored to you.

Support

Although nutrition coaches are the front line in your effort to live a healthier life, competent and compassionate staff are often the primary factor in the results you see. We evaluated these companies not only on the strengths and weaknesses of their nutritionists but also on the quality of their customer service..

Cost

It's borderline impossible to put an accurate price tag on your health. Even so, we conducted a value-based survey on each company, their pricing and packages, and how that data relates to the industry as a whole. That way, you can be sure you're getting the most value possible for your money without sacrificing quality.

What is an Online Nutritionist?

An online nutritionist is a health professional with a background in one or more nutrition specialties that is dedicated to helping clients improve their lives through better nutrition. Depending on their area of expertise and level of experience, a nutrition coach creates meal plans, provides advice on how to deal with a chronic illness or ailment, or help a client recover from an eating disorder.

Previously, this type of nutrition counseling required individuals to meet in person with their nutrition coach when an appointment is available. Fortunately, online nutrition counseling is becoming increasingly popular, which is making services easier to access online.

Those looking for mentoring on fitness and nutrition can find an expert online nutritionist and meet with them from the comfort of their own home. For those with decreased mobility, a chronic illness, or a demanding schedule, online coaching services can often mean the difference between success and failure when dealing with weight loss goals or nutrition-related medical issues.

Not all online nutrition coaching services are created equal. Whether it's specialization, a preferred method of communication, or sufficient insurance coverage, it’s important to choose the best online nutritionists company for your unique situation. 

Are you simply looking for nutrition advice and delicious, easy-to-prepare meal planning? Has your primary care doctor suggested medical nutrition therapy to manage your diabetes? Do you need help with eating disorder recovery, and if so, do you want a nutrition coach willing to coordinate with a mental health professional to provide care? Each situation requires a different kind of care, so the best online nutrition coach will create a plan tailored to your situation. To help you choose wisely, we've carefully reviewed the best online nutrition coaches of 2023, laid out their strengths, and given you the bottom line for our favorite companies.

Who Can Benefit From Working with an Online Nutritionist?

Anyone with nutrition-related health concerns or fitness goals can benefit from nutrition coaching. No matter your age, gender, level of fitness, or medical history, finding an expert to help you navigate the complicated and often confusing discipline of nutrition will reduce your stress, increase your chances of success, and teach you valuable lessons.

There are even more benefits with online nutrition coaching. In addition to saving yourself time from commuting to in-person sessions, you also receive:

  • A wide range of specialists: By working with an online service, you increase the services available. No matter where you are, you can find the perfect specialist to meet your needs online.
  • Flexible scheduling: You're busy, and sometimes short meeting windows aren’t realistic. With online coaching, you can find a nutrition professional to work around your schedule.
  • Online resources: Videos, recipe libraries and user-friendly apps are just some of the invaluable resources you can access through online nutrition counseling.

How to Choose the Best Online Nutritionist Programs

Use this short-and-sweet checklist when deciding which nutritionist is suitable for you.

1. Determine Your Personal Goals

Before you begin choosing the best online nutritionists for your needs, sit down and take a moment to write out your hopes and goals for your health and wellness journey. For some, this may be as simple as signing up for personal training and cutting out sugar For others, it may mean a specific, goal-oriented approach to managing a chronic disease or condition. Knowing precisely what you need can help ensure best results.

2. Research the Best Online Nutrition Coaching Providers

Even if a specific online nutrition coach seems knowledgeable and trustworthy, you should still look into the coaching company and platform. Different companies will offer various service specialties, communication styles, and price points. Figuring this out before you decide on a coach will save you time, effort, and potential headaches.

3. Evaluate Their Qualifications

To be considered a credible nutrition industry professional, a coach will generally need to have earned at least one bachelor's degree in a dietetics-related field and any of the various certifications related to nutrition coaching.

The best online nutritionists will be someone with a high degree of education and training as well as experience in the specialty most relevant to your needs. Research these ahead of time to ensure you find the perfect match.

4. Assess Their Approach

After getting a feel for your potential coach's qualifications, experience, and specialty, all that's left is to assess their approach, or how they interact with their clients. Depending on your personality, you may benefit from a more direct, personal-training-style approach. Conversely, you may prefer working with someone who lets you move at your own speed and prioritizes your comfort above all else.

5. Availability and Support

Sometimes, even the best online nutrition coach for your situation may be unavailable due to overbooking or administrative issues. Make sure that whichever company you select also maintains a team of support professionals to facilitate scheduling, communication, and payment.

Finding your way to better health is a team effort. And, while you and your coach are the star players, a solid support staff can make all the difference in whether you succeed or fail in your mission for better health.

6. Compare Pricing

Even if an online nutritionist has outstanding credentials and the perfect coaching style for your personality, there's still one final factor to consider: cost.

Nutrition counseling is a valuable way to improve your health, but we also acknowledge that cost is an important factor. Finding a company that has flexible pricing, accepts insurance, and allows you to schedule only the number of sessions you want can help ease stress and allow you to focus on what matters most: your health.

7. Schedule a Consultation

Once you've conducted research, completed all these steps, and decided on the right online nutrition counseling for your needs, the next step is scheduling a consultation. Often, these introductory sessions will be complimentary and serve as onboarding to introduce you to your new coach.

How to Find the Best Online Nutrition Coach for You

If you've decided to be proactive about improving your health, losing weight, or reducing your risk of heart disease, one of the best things you can do is develop healthy eating habits. You probably know the basics, like reducing sweets and eating more veggies, but it often takes a lot of work to turn these generic suggestions into sustainable lifestyle changes. Here are a few baseline things that you should know.

The best online nutrition coach is a highly qualified expert who can help you make real strides toward your health goals. Even if your doctor has provided you with some good advice, there are significant advantages to hiring a nutrition expert. Dietitians and certified nutrition specialists are the most advanced certifications for personalized nutrition practitioners. Every registered dietitian has at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition, hundreds of hours of supervised practical experience, and has passed a board-certifying exam. An experienced nutritionist can develop a customized plan for your unique challenges and goals. Plus, they can give you the encouragement and support that are the keys to long-term success for many people.

Finding the Right Online Nutritionist for Your Needs

While some online nutritionists practice providing general nutrition education and advice, many specialize in a certain area of expertise. The Top Nutrition Coaching network includes experts in many different nutrition fields; some specialize in sports nutrition or pediatric nutrition, others in very niche categories like renal or heart health. Meanwhile, other nutritionists may have specialties in creating healthy eating habits to rectify nutrition gaps, especially for those who are vegan or gluten-free. However, all nutritionists have one thing in common: a passion for helping people improve their health and wellness through diet and nutrition.

Weight Loss

Human nutrition is a complex and personal subject, and many people have difficulty losing weight even when they understand the basics of being in a caloric deficit. When influencers,  diet companies, personal trainers, and healthcare professionals dispense contradictory messages about weight management, it can be hard to know who to trust. 

Maintaining a healthy weight is incredibly personal, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another. One of the benefits of working with a weight loss nutritionist is their ability to provide a personalized nutrition program that factors in your unique needs, goals, and lifestyle to help you create sustainable habits for long-term success.

Sports and Athletics

Your eating habits can significantly affect your body's ability to perform well in sports and athletics. Nutrition can also affect your recovery times. 

Even if you're working with a personal trainer, they may not have the education and knowledge to provide more than generic meal plans or tips about eating enough protein. Finding online personal training from a nutritionist who specializes in working with athletes can help you understand what your body needs to stay hydrated and nourished so you can train and recover well. If that's your goal, then you're looking for the best sports nutritionist near you.

Prenatal and Postpartum

With all the physical, mental, and emotional side effects of pregnancy and postpartum, it's difficult for many women to know how to eat healthily. Eating well can be especially hard if you have nausea, cravings, or food aversions. If you're having difficulty maintaining a healthy weight, a pregnancy nutritionist near you can offer personalized suggestions that incorporate your unique health concerns and goals.

Heart Health

Your diet can affect your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight, all of which can make your body more or less susceptible to cardiovascular disease. If your doctor is concerned about your cholesterol or high blood pressure, hiring a heart health nutritionist can help you learn how to build meals around foods that are good for your cardiovascular system.

GI and Gut Health

Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and leaky gut are some of the GI issues affecting many people. All of these conditions can have uncomfortable side effects and long-term health risks. By choosing a nutritionist specializing in GI issues and gut health, you can learn how to modify your eating habits to manage your condition and feel better overall.

Pediatric

Nutrition can be hard for kids with food allergies, sensitivity to textures, health problems, or who might have an eating disorder. It can be extremely stressful for parents who want to care for their child's health but don't know how. Many parents work with medical professionals to help take care of their child's illness, but these experts may not be able to give much more than basic advice on how to feed your child well.

A pediatric nutritionist has specialized training in the unique challenges that affect young children and their parents. They can help you understand the possible causes of your child's food sensitivities or symptoms, develop a plan to introduce new foods to your child, and help them develop a balanced diet.

Renal

Eating and lifestyle habits can help you manage the slow progression of your chronic disease. Still, your doctor may be unable to offer you ongoing support and personalized activity and meal plans. With an expert renal dietitian, you can better understand how your choices affect your condition and get the encouragement you need to maintain proper nutrition.

Diabetes

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes require patients to closely watch their nutrition and key health stats, such as blood sugar and cholesterol. A diabetes nutritionist can help individuals at any stage of the disease, including prediabetes. If you aren't sure how to change your diet to manage your condition, a diabetes nutritionist can offer the expertise you need.

Am I a Good Candidate to Work With an Online Nutritionist?

Food is fuel for your brain and body. Incorporating healthy foods with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into your diet can help you ward off long-term disease, lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and boost your energy and emotional health. It's important to remember that nutrition is more than merely counting calories; it's a complex science that varies from person to person. Whether you are managing a chronic disease or need guidance navigating food allergies or weight gain, a dietitian can provide you with a personalized nutrition plan to suit your circumstances. Here are a few examples of cases where a qualified nutritionist can be the key to success.

You have food sensitivities or allergies

How can you build a healthy diet around gluten sensitivity? What should you do if you can't stand eating veggies? Talk with a dietitian who specializes in gut health and GI issues. They'll design custom meal plans that factor in your sensitivities and help sustain your healthy new habits for life.

You want to train for an athletic event

Are you training for a marathon or starting a yoga practice? Talk to a sports nutritionist. With experience in fitness and nutrition coaching, they can help you understand how to modify your diet to give your body the fuel it needs to perform and recover well.

You want to lose weight but have a history of eating disorders

If you have an eating disorder, it's imperative to approach calorie tracking cautiously to avoid falling back into those dangerous habits. Look for a dietitian who specializes in assisting individuals with eating disorder recovery. They can help you understand your triggers and give you small, practical steps to improve your relationship with food and your overall mental health and stress levels.

You want to manage your weight while breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is difficult for many women, and weight fluctuations are a common side effect. Talk with a postpartum nutritionist if you are struggling with your weight and don't want to endanger your milk supply. They thoroughly understand the relationship between breastfeeding and nutrition, so they can help you learn how to eat in a way that supports lactation and a healthy weight.

Your child is an unhealthy weight

Childhood obesity is prevalent in the United States. If your child is overweight or underweight, immediately addressing the problem is essential to prevent long-term health issues and mental illness. Many children receive unhealthy messages about body image and dangerous diet tips from social media and pop culture. A pediatric nutritionist can work with you and your child to provide encouragement and support along with safe, science-backed meal plans for sustainable weight loss.

Your doctor has suggested medical nutrition therapy to manage diabetes or prediabetes

It can be scary to hear that you have prediabetes, but the good news is that this condition is reversible. To prevent getting diabetes, you must make significant lifestyle changes and maintain those new habits forever.

A diabetes nutritionist can provide medical nutrition therapy to reverse prediabetes. With an expert, you can understand how your current eating and lifestyle choices contribute to prediabetes and get a realistic plan to develop healthier habits.

You have chronic kidney disease

The symptoms of chronic kidney disease can be devastating. Your doctor and healthcare team can offer basic information on how your diet affects your CKD symptoms, but sustainable progress toward better health requires a detailed, personalized approach. A renal nutritionist can give you the necessary tools to address your unique condition, whether that's kidney stones, an acute kidney injury, or cancer.

You have a high risk of cardiovascular disease

High blood pressure and high cholesterol increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Your weight can also affect your cardiovascular health. 

A heart-health nutritionist can do more than help you build healthier meals and schedule more activities during your days. They can also look at how your sleep patterns and stress affect your blood pressure and cholesterol and give you practical tips for improving those areas of your life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have questions about hiring a nutritionist? Find expert answers here.

Is an online nutritionist worth it?

The answer to this depends on each person. But many people are able to reach their health goals with the help of an online nutrition coach's knowledge, encouragement, and ability to hold them accountable.

What do I need to know before seeing an online nutritionist?

Knowing your medical history, health goals, food allergies and sensitivities, typical activity level, and budget is a good idea. Identifying what success means to you and how you would like to track your progress is also helpful.

What is the best question to ask a nutritionist?

There are many vital questions to ask a nutritionist you consider working with. One of the most important things to learn is whether their approach and definition of success are compatible with yours.

Does insurance cover nutrition counseling?

It depends on your provider, your policy, and the specific nature of your counseling. Some insurance providers may wholly or partially cover the cost of a nutritionist, but this is not true for all of them.

How much do online nutritionists cost?

The answer can vary based on the nutritionist's credentials, services, and geographic location. Generally, the best online nutrition coaches charge between $100 and $200 per session.

Should I see a dietitian or a nutritionist?

Not all nutritionists are dietitians. If you want to ensure that you're hiring a qualified expert who has met rigorous education and experience standards, look for a registered dietitian nutritionist.

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