New Dietitian Services

Physio Sport Med of Oakville welcomes Danielle Boudreau to our clinic.  Danielle is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Dietitian with Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Guelph and Ryerson in Applied Human Nutrition and Nutrition Communications.  She is ready and able to provide group and one-on-one counseling.  She is excited to combine her loves of food, nutrition and fitness to help others achieve their goals while maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

---

What's the Difference Between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?

We are constantly being bombarded by nutrition information from family, friends, and the media.  It can be overwhelming to make sense of it all.  If you have tried finding a professional to help sift through these messages, you may have come across Registered Dietitians, nutritionists, holistic nutritionists, and many others.  Although these titles are often used interchangeably, there are a few main differences between a dietitian and a nutritionist.  

Dietitians are Regulated Professionals.  Registered dietitians are governed by a college that strives to protect the public.  In Ontario, “Registered Dietitian” is a protected title but Nutritionist is not.  This means that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist regardless of their qualifications. An individual can only call themselves a Registered Dietitian if they have met the educational requirements and continue to prove their competence. 

Education.  The first step to become a Registered Dietitian is to complete an accredited four-year undergraduate program in nutrition.  Following this program, students must complete an internship or a Masters program that will provide practical training.  The final step in becoming a Registered Dietitian is to complete a registration exam. This may sound like a lot, but the education continues! Registered Dietitians are expected to continuously upgrade their knowledge in order to maintain their license.

Nutritionists aren’t required to have such intensive education and training - some may not have even studied nutrition.  This doesn’t mean that nutritionists aren’t knowledgeable.  The problem is that you can’t be sure of their educational background or where they are getting their information.  Some nutritionists may be following media trends while others are providing evidence based information.  When you see a Registered Dietitian, you are better provided with safe, current, and reliable information.  

Evidence-Based Practice.  Registered Dietitians base their practice on evidence from scientific literature.  Their education has given them the skills to evaluate research and translate the findings to the public.  In addition, they have the skills to tailor this information to the needs of their clients and make individualized recommendations and care plans.

If you are looking for nutrition information or support, reach out to our Registered Dietitian!