five frequently asked questions answered by one of our eating disorder registered dietitians
Takeaway: Our Registered Dietitians hear a lot of the same questions from current and prospective clients. One of our Registered Dietitians, Alexandra Fleet, took the time to answer them to hopefully help you better understand the value of having a registered dietitian on your outpatient treatment team.
restored purpose counseling services
Restored Purpose Counseling is an established group private practice specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders and trauma-related disorders. We offer individual counseling with licensed therapists, psychologists, and registered mental health counseling interns to address mental health concerns such as trauma, anxiety, depression, disordered eating, and body image distress. We also offer individual nutrition counseling with Registered and Licensed Dietitians who can help support you as you work to achieve your nutritional goals. In this blog, we wanted to enlist the help of our team of Registered Dietitians to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that they get from clients and other professionals in the field.
our registered dietitians
Our team of Registered Dietitians consist of three amazingly unique and talented women. Our Dietitian Supervisor, Tessa Balish, has been with us for many years and supervises and provides support to our other two dietitians in a collaborative environment to ensure that all of our clients receive the best care possible. She also sees clients and is trained in Exposure-Response-Prevention (ERP) which she uses to help reduce fear around certain foods or food groups. Our two staff dietitians, Jenna and Alex, are uniquely qualified to support those with eating disorders as well as those individuals with chronic health concerns by tailoring their approach to your unique needs. We are thankful for a strong and qualified team of dietitians and are very grateful that Alexandra Fleet has lent us her time and expertise in writing this blog to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.
introduction
As Registered Dietitians (RDs) working with those who have eating disorders, we get asked all kinds of questions—some simple and some that need a deeper explanation. The good news? We love talking about nutrition and helping people find peace and confidence in their relationship with food. Dietitians rely on science and evidence-based research to guide our practice and you’ll find that our answers to these questions combine evidence-based research along with our practical experience from years in the field.
While we can’t cover everything in one blog, these five questions are some of the most common ones we hear—so let’s dive in!
five frequently asked questions
question 1: what's the difference between
a dietitian and a nutritionist?
Answer: Let’s start with the basics: Anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist,” regardless of their education or training. However, there is a difference between a general nutritionist and a licensed nutritionist.
A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), on the other hand, must complete a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, plus a 1,000+ hour supervised internship through an accredited program. Then, they must pass a national board exam and meet ongoing education requirements to maintain their license.
In short: all dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians. If you’re looking for an expert who’s trained in food science, medical nutrition therapy, metabolism, counseling, and more—you're looking for a registered dietitian. All of the dietitians here at Restored Purpose are Registered and Licensed with the unique training and education needed to support you on your journey to wellness.
question 2: what diet is the best?
Answer: The short answer? None. Nutrition isn’t one-size-fits-all. As dietitians, we tailor nutrition plans to each person’s lifestyle, health history, goals, and nutrient needs.
And here’s a friendly reminder: food should be enjoyable, not just functional. The best “diet” is one that fuels your body, supports your health, and makes you feel good—physically and emotionally.
At Restored Purpose Counseling, we all have an anti-diet approach and actively challenge diet culture messages and are aligned with the movement Health at Every Size. If you are looking for a dietitian who will meet you where you’re at and support you without encouraging weight loss, you’ve come to the right place!
question 3: are processed foods bad?
Answer: This is a tricky one, especially with all the conflicting information that can be found online. First, it’s important to know that not all processed foods are the same. There's a big difference between minimally processed foods (like frozen vegetables or canned beans) and ultra-processed items.
As eating disorder dietitians, we believe all foods can fit into a balanced eating pattern. Food doesn’t have moral value—it’s not “good” or “bad.” What matters most is the bigger picture of your overall intake and wellbeing. If there are specific foods that you have questions about or concerns with, you are more than welcome to bring these to the attention of your dietitian who can process through your emotions with you and provide education on the specific foods you are wanting more information on.
question 4: what is "food noise" and can i get rid of it?
Answer: Food noise refers to the constant, intrusive thoughts about food—thinking about what, when, or how much to eat, even when you’re not hungry. Others have described the feeling as their brain won’t stop obsessing over meals, calories, or food rules.
Here’s the thing: the more we restrict and label foods, the louder the noise gets. Think of it like this—if I tell you not to think about a white polar bear, what pops into your mind? A white polar bear? Exactly. If you are constantly checking labels on foods and counting calories or thinking about how many calories you need to burn during your workout, food noise is hard to get rid of because you’re always focusing on it.
Silencing food noise starts with making peace with food and letting go of rigid rules. A great tool for this is the book Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, which helps guide you back to trusting your body and your hunger/fullness cues.
question 5: why are carbohydrates important?
Answer: Carbs get a bad rap, but let’s be honest—who doesn’t love them? Besides being delicious, carbohydrates are essential for your body and brain to function.
Carbs break down into glucose, which is the primary fuel for your brain, muscles, and organs. They also contain fiber, which supports digestion, heart health, satiety, and more. Even individuals with diabetes still need carbohydrates—the key is learning how to balance them. Everyone needs carbs and restricting them in your diet or eliminating them completely can have disastrous consequences. Please be open and honest with your dietitian about fears surrounding carbs so that they can provide you with the science and education you need behind their importance.
Despite the diet myths out there, research continues to show just how vital carbs are for both physical and mental health. Your dietitian is happy to help you parse through the information available on the Internet and bust myths around carbs and other food groups alongside you to ensure that you have a full and complete understanding of nutrition and what your body needs to function properly.
