Why you should get a nutrition coach

Understanding nutrition can be intimidating, and taking control of your own health through nutrition can be even more daunting. Even the prospect of working with a coach to take control of your nutrition can sound scary—it’s hard to know where to start or what questions to ask. But a nutrition coach can be an important tool in your overall health. Preventative care is essential to your well-being. It’s a lot easier to have your chimney cleaned once a year than to have your house burn down because the chimney was blocked. In the same vein, it’s more productive for your overall health to consult a nutrition coach before anything goes wrong.

We’re here to help make the search for a nutrition coach a lot easier. We’ll break down what a nutrition coach actually does and how to find the right fit.

What does a nutrition coach do?

A nutrition coach should be, first and foremost, a resource for you. They are there to debunk the many, many myths about nutrition out there. This can save you from wasting your time on the gimmicks and fads floating around the internet. Diet culture feeds on misinformation to promote the next big thing. Nutrition coaching is there to steer you away from diets backed up by no scientific research.

A nutrition coach will offer you new approaches to your habits that will align with your personal goals, rather than a blanket approach you might find from a social media influencer. They're there to make sure your nutrition is tailored to you personally, because no one’s needs are the same.

The right nutrition coach will also prioritize your mental health. They should recommend approaches that help you make choices aimed at preserving your self-care. This is all done through a compassionate approach that helps you make specific, long-term changes to take control of your health even after your coaching relationship is over.

What to look for in a nutrition coach

Always look for a coach who focuses on evidence-based practices and has been trained with a health at every size (HAES) approach. These coaches will use the most up-to-date scientific information to help you reach your goals. They will also prioritize healthy habits, and would never place any judgement around body size.

A quality nutrition coach will always look for ways to help you make sustainable changes to your lifestyle. This means they will not suggest a quick fix, a crash diet, or a change that will not fit into your lifestyle long-term.

Nutrition coach red flags

Several claims and promises can be red flags when looking for a nutrition coach. Any coach promoting a fast weight loss program, particularly when they only discuss the number on the scale while ignoring other indicators of health, such as blood pressure and cholesterol numbers, isn't going to help in the long run.

A nutrition coach should never, barring your own personal allergies and dietary restrictions, recommend removing, restricting, villainizing, or eliminating any food groups. They should not recommend focusing on low-calorie diets or limiting macronutrients (the major building blocks of food: carbohydrates, protein, and fats). These approaches are unsustainable and can lead to veering off your diet completely.