Dietetics

In Ontario, “dietitian” is a regulated title and “nutritionist” is not. A Registered Dietitian (RD) is licensed by the College of Dietitians of Ontario, while anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, whatever their training.

OHIP does not pay for visits to a dietitian in private practice, which includes our clinic. Many extended health plans do cover Registered Dietitian services, so most people use workplace or private benefits.

A first appointment is mostly a conversation. Your dietitian learns about your health, your usual eating and your goals, then gives you a small number of practical changes to start with.

A sports dietitian plans what, when and how much you eat and drink around training, competition and recovery. The aim is steady energy, better recovery and fewer avoidable problems such as fatigue, cramping and getting run down.

It is worth it if your teen trains most days, plays more than one sport, or seems tired, often injured or unsure what to eat. Teen athletes have to fuel growth and training at the same time, and many do not eat enough for both.

There is no fixed number. Some people need only an initial assessment and one follow-up, while ongoing health conditions and long training seasons usually mean check-ins spread over several months.

No. You can book directly with a Registered Dietitian in private practice in Ontario without seeing a doctor first. That is how appointments work at our Gloucester clinic.

Many sports nutrition guidelines suggest about 1.2 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day for endurance athletes, spread across meals. The right amount depends on your training load, goals and overall diet. A sports dietitian can help you find your number.

Eat a familiar, carbohydrate-focused meal about 2 to 4 hours before the start, keeping fat, fibre and spice low. In the day or two before, make carbohydrates a bigger part of your meals. Never try new foods on race day.

Common signs include tiredness, a drop in performance, feeling short of breath, getting dizzy, looking pale and slow recovery. Female athletes are at higher risk because of menstrual losses and training demands. Only a blood test can confirm low iron.

A sports dietitian starts by learning about your sport, training schedule, goals, health and food preferences. From there, they build a practical plan for daily meals, training-day fuelling and recovery, and adjust it over follow-up visits.