Mindy J Vanberkel, MS RD LDN
Frequently Asked Questions
1
How long is a session with you?
All our sessions together will be 60 minutes. I provide Telehealth sessions where we can chat over video through the secure platform, Healthie. You are able to message and email me between sessions as needed.
2
What's the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
A dietitian is protected by licensing provided by the state that ensures a practitioner has gone to an accredited program of prerequisite studies and a rigorous internship. Nutritionist is a broader term that is not protected by the state. All dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians. I am a registered dietitian nutritionist, a bit of a mouthful, but it encompasses all aspects of my roles, and provides my clients with the reassurance that I am licensed and trained with the necessary requirements to provide nutrition therapy as licensed by each state I practice in.
3
How long do we work together/ how many sessions do we need to have together?
Each client is unique in their nutrition knowledge, stage of change, and lifestyle. As we work together, we can formulate a cadence of meetings that will fit into all these aspects. I recommend meeting for at least six visits to ensure adequate time for behavior change and sustaining these changes. The cadence I recommend is unique to you and how busy your life is; it is completely customizable. I do offer packages to provide cost savings for more accessibility to the frequency that is needed. Please inquire about packages by booking a discovery call or emailing me.
4
I'm anxious about speaking about my fertility, how do you support fertility clients specifically?
Trying to conceive is a sensitive, exciting, and fragile time for many women. Because the experience is unique to each individual, I utilize my unique training as a dietitian to assess each client's stage of change and provide specific permission requests to ask how they feel about sensitive topics prior to discussion. We do not have to talk about anything that you're not ready to talk about. Instead, together we create a client-led journey map through my supportive and collaborative style that ends up feeling safe for each individual.
Frequently Asked Questions- Prenatal focused
5
Why would someone want to see a prenatal dietitian nutritionist while pregnant?
Well, because as tough as it is to eat traditionally “healthy” during pregnancy, whether that’s due to nausea, taste aversions, fatigue, or you name it, nutrient needs are quite different than the average dietary guidelines in pregnancy. A dietitian nutritionist is trained to help you find simple ways to get those nutrients in naturally, through food. We also have natural solutions to pregnancy side effects like nausea and vomiting, constipation, UTIs, indigestion, and large weight shifts. If you’re pregnant and want to feel better while optimizing the health of your future baby by providing them an ideal epigenetic environment, THAT is why you might want to see a prenatal dietitian nutritionist while pregnant!
2
How often wou I need to meet with a prenatal dietitian?
I recommend one to two sessions per trimester, but we work together to create a plan that fits into your lifestyle, financial goals, and needs. It's helpful to meet this often, because your nutritional needs change at each trimester. I recommend five sessions minimum for the course of your pregnancy to really be able to optimize your nutrition!
3
I don't have much time between all my prenatal appointments, how much time will I have time to spend with you in a session?
I am right there with you and totally understand. Making time while pregnant can feel like an uphill battle. I offer mini thirty-minute sessions after the initial hour-long intake to save you time. I often find that my clients say our sessions save them time and effort in the long run because the meal planning and supplement review prevent hours of googling and wasting leftovers.
4
I have so many cravings and foods that help me to survive right now, are you going to take those away?
I hear this so often, which is why I'm proud to be a dietitian who takes a non-restrictive, additive approach to nutrition. Everything we discuss will be additive and you are free to continue to turn to the foods you need to nourish yourself, no matter the stigma with them. All the changes we make are 100% up to you, and are your decision; I am merely assisting you in making those decisions in alignment with your other goals, through tools like motivational interviewing, using cognitive behavioral theory, and supportive nutrition counseling techniques.
