How to Schedule an Appointment with a Registered Dietitian

How do I find a Registered Dietitian?

There are a few ways you can schedule an appointment with a Registered Dietitian or Licensed Nutritionist in your state. Here are a few tips:

• Talk with your primary care doctor. Many doctors know dietitians or licensed nutritionists in their offices or your local community.
• Find a provider online. Go to healthprofs.com/us/nutritionists-dietitians. Then, click on the “Find a Registered Dietitian” button in the top right corner. From there, you can search for a dietitian by zip code or specialty.

How do I schedule an appointment with a dietitian?

You may need a referral prior to scheduling with a nutrition professional. Ask your loved one’s primary care doctor to send a referral to the dietitian directly.

You should also call the provider’s office to make sure they have received the referral. Ask if the nutrition provider needs any other documents to schedule the appointment.

Are there nutrition experts who specialize in nutrition for Down syndrome?

Yes, but a nutrition expert does not need to specialize in nutrition for Down syndrome to be helpful to you and your family. This is because nutrition for people with Down syndrome is very similar to nutrition for people without Down syndrome.

Many dietitians who specialize in nutrition for Down syndrome work or have worked in clinical Down syndrome programs. They see patients as part of a medical team like your team at the Mass General Down Syndrome Program.

Why is it important to find a licensed nutrition expert?

Registered Dietitians (RD) and Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNS) must get licensed to practice in each state. An active license shows you that they are keeping informed of current nutrition research and practice. An active license also allows your insurance company to consider covering their services.

Will my health insurance cover the appointment?

It is best to call your insurance company to check your level of coverage. When you call your insurance, ask about the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) benefit.

If you have a private health insurance company, it is likely you have coverage for many nutrition concerns. These concerns include weight gain, weight loss, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, food allergies or tube feeding.

There may be better coverage for pediatric medical nutrition therapy (MNT) versus adult care.

If you have Medicaid, coverage varies by state.

If you have Medicare only, insurance will cover time with the dietitian for diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency, end-stage renal disease or post-kidney transplant. If these conditions are not relevant to your loved one, Medicare will not cover the appointments.

What will happen at the first appointment?

At the first appointment, the nutrition provider will ask questions about eating habits and preferences.

Then, the provider will help you make a nutrition plan. The plan will include your food likes and dislikes, lifestyle and health. The provider will also help you choose a few smaller goals to work on during the week after your first appointment.

A nutrition plan is not the same thing as a “meal plan” but may give ideas of how to make a meal plan.

Before the appointment ends, the nutrition provider will discuss scheduling a follow-up appointment. Many people who see a nutrition expert regularly do better with their nutrition goals.

How can I best be prepared for my nutrition appointments?

Here are a few tips on how you can help your nutrition expert know you better:

• Give the provider information about your health. This will help the nutrition expert learn more about your needs.
• Tell the provider if you have any medical conditions that are more common in individuals with Down syndrome. These can include hypothyroidism, Celiac disease or sleep apnea.
• Offer the nutrition expert a chance to ask questions about how they can best care for you. You can ask the provider, “Are there any questions I can answer so you can better care for me?”
• Share your strengths and learning style. The nutrition provider can then present information in the way you learn best. You can say, “I like your colorful handout. I learn best with handouts and visuals.”
• If you see a provider through a Down syndrome program, ask the dietitian if it’s okay to share contact information with a nutrition provider who is closer to home, in case they have any questions.

Rev: 10/2025. Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Brigham for Children do not endorse any of the brands listed on this webpage. This webpage is intended to provide health information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treatment of any medical conditions.