Nutritional Services for a Healthier Lifestyle

Our wide-range of services allow us to meet the needs of working professionals, athletes, or overwhelmed individuals looking to live a healthier lifestyle. Many individuals who have been diagnosed with a disease like diabetes or cardiovascular seek nutrition counseling to help manage their condition. If you find yourself wondering how to eat healthier or how to navigate the grocery store, then nutrition counseling may be a good match. 

As a practice we value and look at the whole person. Food is only part of the equation that makes you unique. There are other factors like physical activity, coping patterns, genetics, lifestyle and culture that effect leading a healthy lifestyle. We base our nutrition plan recommendations on your foundation as a person. 

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are food and nutrition experts. An RDN's expertise includes explaining the role of food and nutrition in your health and counseling clients that may have chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Celiac Disease and/or cardiovascular disease. The term nutritionist isn’t regulated, so technically, anyone can call himself or herself a nutritionist, even with no formal training, license, or certification. Dietitian, specifically registered dietitian, noted by RD after one’s name, or RDN for registered dietitian nutritionist (note: both RD and RDN are used by dietitians), has a specific meaning.

That title requires:

• Completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics approved by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education and have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
• Coursework includes but not limited to: biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, general nutrition, lifecycle nutrition, clinical nutrition assessment and planning, and medical nutrition therapy.
• Completed a dietetic residency program at an accredited, supervised dietetic residency program that includes 1200 hours of training.
• Passed a comprehensive national board examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Must maintain and complete continuing professional education requirements that includes a minimum of 75 continuing education credits every 5 years.
• RDs/RDNs are also held to a professional code of ethics.

Nutrition counseling is a very individualized process. Depending on your needs, goals and/or insurance we may see you weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or yearly. On average, we see patients 2 times a month for at least the first 3 months and monthly there after until goal is met and quarterly or bi-annually thereafter as needed.

You can schedule an appointment online, or you can contact us directly.

Yes, we enjoy working with children. We see children starting at 6 months old. All children under the age of 18 require guardian consent and supervision for nutrition services during the appointment.

CAMNA Nutrition welcomes spouses, family members, or significant others to attend consultations, if the patient receiving medical nutrition therapy agrees upon it. A spouse, family member, or significant other offers a great support system, which can enhance your likeliness to succeed. Our goal is to maximize our time together to achieve the best understanding and success; therefore, we limit whom you can bring to your appointment to one other person.

Some patients are referred by physicians and others come on their own. Some insurance companies require a physician’s referral based on the type of plan that they have in order to use the nutrition coverage on their plan. If you are using insurance you should contact your insurance company to determine eligibility for nutrition services and what is specifically covered; additionally, it would help for you to know if you have a medical deductible and if so has it been met and if not how much is your deductible. Please note that if you have a deductible balance, that the amount that we billed to your insurance will be applied to your deductible which will still leave you with the financial responsibility to our office for your visit.

During our first visit, your diet, medical, family and lifestyle history will be evaluated. Your visit will also include taking an initial weight to determine your baseline weight which will assist us with your medical nutrition therapy needs. Depending on the reason for your visit some patients will receive a sample 1-week meal plan along with other nutritional education material that was discussed between the patient and the provider. This material is usually sent out within 24 -48hours of your visit.

An initial visit can last anywhere from 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the complexity of your assessment.

Please bring copies of any lab work you have had drawn in the past 3 months along with a valid government ID and your insurance card.

In order to cut down on the amount of paper usage and cost of printing documents which can be a lot at times we ask for an email address so that we can do our path to both save the environment as well as provide our patients with the maximum care by not having to cut back on the materials necessary for you to achieve your nutritional goal.

Absolutely! Nutrition recommendations are based on a variety of factors that include anthropometrics, activity level, age, gender and goals. These individualized recommendations are based on the information provided by the initial visit forms and adjusted during follow-up visits.

Phone appointments are available for patients who are paying out of pocket and live in Maryland, District of Columbia or Virginia. Not all insurance companies cover phone sessions, please consult with your insurance company to find out if it covers telemedicine for the practitioner that you are trying to see and ask the insurance company to provide you with documented information in writing on their letterhead which will allow us to attempt to bill for your visit on your behalf should you like to pursue using insurance as an option. Please note that if for any reason we are unable to bill for your visit that it does not absolve you from your financial responsibility for your appointment.

Yes, we do! We accept most debit and credit cards including but not limited to Master Card, Visa, and American Express