One of the questions I get most frequently during discovery calls is if I will provide the client with meal plans. I think the reason why this question is asked so much is because of the misconception that that is what I do, and that I have not much else to offer.

That isn’t anybody’s fault, really. How would anyone know what a Registered Dietitian does if they were never told?

To hopefully (in part) put to rest the “do you do meal plans?” question, here are 4 reasons as to why I only use meals plans as a LAST ditch effort, when nothing else is going right:

1. A single meal plan cannot be used long-term

It just isn’t sustainable! As a Registered Dietitian, I much prefer to help my clients develop the habits they find to be the most helpful for their lifestyle, so they won’t need to depend on a piece of paper telling them what to eat for the rest of their life. 

When you work with me, my goal is to provide you with as many tools necessary to help you navigate the world of nutrition on your own. Does that mean we can’t check in from time to time after our formal follow-ups are over? Absolutely not! I would love nothing more than to keep following you with punctual consultations, but that doesn’t mean I’d want you to be completely dependent on me to tell you what to eat.

I, like many other dietitians, don’t teach people what to eat, but how to eat. You’re in the driver’s seat, we’re in the passenger seat with the Google Maps on hand.

2. Meal plans don’t allow you to experiment in the kitchen

Everyone starts somewhere! Whether you are a beginner or amateur chef, or have never used a kitchen knife in your life, a Registered Dietitian can help you explore and overcome the obstacles that prevent you from improving your cooking skills (if one of your goals is to eat out less, or if you simply want to learn, for example). We do recommend eating 3 meals a day most of the time, after all… developing the kitchen skills that you need can help you save a lot of money you’d otherwise spend on UberEats. Cooking and preparing your own meals can help boost your confidence, and can also be an opportunity for connection, if you try cooking with a friend, family member, or significant other.

3. Meal plans don’t teach you much about nutrition

All it teaches you is what to eat and how much to eat in the next few weeks or so. Would you be able to continue preparing meals without it? Chances are, you’re going to need some more guidance from your Registered Dietitian. It doesn’t really teach you why to prioritize certain foods over others, or how to add more variety while taking into account your values, goals and health condition.

4. Meal plans imply that you cannot trust yourself or your body

This is the most important reason of all, in my humble opinion. We are all born with hunger and fullness queues. Over time, we may lose touch with them. Following a meal plan, instead of teaching us how to reconnect with those natural signals, tells us that our body isn’t to be trusted, and we cannot be trusted to take care of our body. It tells us what to eat and how much of it to eat, which can in turn disconnect us even more from our body’s queues! Hellllllo stress, food guilt and food anxiety!

As a Registered Dietitian, I can help you reconnect with those signals so that you can finally start building a partnership with you body, instead of distrusting it, trying to control it, or working against it constantly.  

Final thoughts

Can meals plans be a useful tool among many for a particular nutrition intervention? Sure! However, I use it just as that: one of many tools at our disposition until you build that self-trust and self-confidence to fly with your own wings. As much as I enjoy the company of my clients, I don’t find it helpful to check in with them multiple times a week to adjust a meal plan, and frankly, they don’t either!

If you’re looking for guidance from a Registered Dietitian in regards to your dietary habits or knowledge, click here to book a FREE 15-minute discovery call with me. 

Have a wonderful day!

Maria Tanielian, RD/Dt.P

Registered Dietitian/Nutritionniste (OPDQ #7223, CDBC #2815, SDA #949)