The team behind kencko’s Nutrition Program answers some common questions about getting professional help with healthy eating.
Nutrition coaching is a subject close to our hearts here at kencko. Since 2019, all our subscribers have been able to call on the support and advice of registered dietitians to help them build healthy eating habits and reach their nutrition goals. It’s a proven model, with many happy clients to vouch for it. But what is a registered dietitian (RD), and why might you need their advice? Let’s ask the experts! Mallory Gonzales and Carolina Schneider are the RDs - and fruit and veggie fanatics - behind kencko’s Nutrition Program.
What is a registered dietitian?
A registered dietitian (RD) is a healthcare professional and nutrition expert licensed to provide nutritional advice. To earn the title of RD, you need to have completed at least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, and 1,200 hours of an accredited, supervised program, and passed a national examination. RDs may work in a variety of professional settings such as health care, business and corporations, community/public health, education, research, government agencies and private practice. Think of us as the specialised nutritional wing of the healthcare profession.
As kencko’s nutrition team, we bring a wealth of experience in healthcare, private practice, sports and nutrition consulting. We’re passionate about improving health & well-being through creating a positive relationship with food, and using a healthy diet as a key form of preventative medicine.
What should I expect from an initial consultation?
On your first consultation, our main aim is to learn more about you and your lifestyle in order to help you identify and reach your nutrition goals. Topics we discuss may include:
- dietary patterns, such as what you usually eat in a day and usual meal times
- whether you have any dietary restrictions or allergies
- any major changes to your eating habits or diet in the past
- medical conditions that may influence dietary decisions or require specific diets
- your food preferences, usual routine, physical activity, etc.
Please don’t worry, it’s not a test! It’s very much a friendly conversation, aimed at identifying what adjustments will work for you. Once we’ve had a chance to get to know you a little, your dietitian will help you set goals and provide you with resources to support you in achieving them. Usually, we like to take small, simple steps that are realistic for your lifestyle and can be sustained in the long term.
P.S. Nutrition consultations are confidential, and all nutrition software used to document your information is HIPAA-compliant. You may disclose as little or as much information as you like - whatever you are comfortable with.
Is it a weight loss program?
The short answer is, no! It’s a “health improvement” program. We want to make sure you are meeting your nutritional needs and that you feel happy and confident in your body, have great energy levels, and a healthy state of mind: the numbers on the scale don’t actually tell us any of those things. Instead of getting hung up on pounds and ounces, we want to equip you with all the knowledge and tools you need to feel happy and healthy for life.
I don’t want to give up meat! Can you still help me?
Of course! We know for a fact that a varied diet of whole foods that includes lots of fruits and vegetables is the healthiest way to eat. Other than that, we are not attached to any particular dietary rules. We do have plenty of expertise in plant-based nutrition, but kencko team members follow a range of healthy diets and we will work with whatever dietary preferences you may have.
Will you tell me what to eat? Or how much?
We will give you guidelines to help you make healthy choices and judge portion sizes, but we won’t have you counting calories, weighing portions or obsessively timing meals and snacks. Our whole ethos is to free you from external measures and get you in touch with your innate body wisdom and the internal mechanisms of your appetite. We want to empower you to know when you’re hungry, and stop eating when you’re full. If you’re anxious about having control over your calorie intake, we’ll work with you to gently overcome your fears and take charge of your wellbeing, for good.
How does kencko’s Nutrition Program work?
It’s a subscription service, with no minimum term - you can pause or cancel your membership at any time. When you first enroll, we’ll contact you to schedule an initial consultation, live on the phone with one of our RDs. That call usually lasts about an hour. As part of the initial consultation, you and your dietitian will agree how often to meet, and what communication channels work best for you. In addition to the phone consultations, you are entitled to unlimited text and email convos with your dietitian as long as you’re in the program.
How long does the program last?
That depends on you. The program is personalized for you and your needs, so the length varies depending on your nutrition goals. It also depends on how frequent our consultations are, whether weekly or bi-weekly. As a rough indication, the average client has regular consultations for the first six to eight weeks, but some people continue for longer. Usually, once we see that a client has gained enough knowledge and expertise to make educated decisions when it comes to their diet and lifestyle, we like to see them take control of their health, knowing that we are always here for support if needed.
