What Happens in a Nutrition Counseling Session for a Teen with an Eating Disorder?

Written by Cristina Luibil MS, RD, LDN with support from Sabrina Stadelman

If your teen has recently been diagnosed with an eating disorder, you may be wondering what recovery will look like, especially in terms of nutrition. You may be wondering what you should look for or expect from a nutrition counseling session, or you may even be worried about how you will ensure that your teen sticks to a recovery meal plan.  Nutrition counseling sessions with a registered dietitian are meant to address these concerns.

What Can You Expect From a Nutrition Counseling Session?

In a nutrition counseling session for an eating disorder, a registered dietitian will work with teens and their parents or caregivers to improve energy and nutrient intake to meet recovery goals and to rebuild an improved relationship with food. At Aterra Nutrition, nutrition counseling sessions are collaborative, personalized conversations with your registered dietitian designed to meet your teen’s unique needs. 

In a nutrition counseling session, you can expect your registered dietitian to discuss:

• A thorough health and medical history, including a review of recent lab work and any medications or supplements your teen is taking 

• A comprehensive nutrition assessment, which includes a review of your teen’s daily routine and eating patterns

• A recovery meal plan tailored to and adjusted to the treatment goals

• Realistic, sustainable nutrition goals tailored to your teen’s life

• Adjustment of goals based on personal wins and challenges

• Coordination of care with your teen’s therapist, physician, family, and full treatment team

• Between-session check-ins with the RD (called concierge nutrition care) for questions and ongoing support before the next 1:1 appointment

Nutrition counseling sessions may look slightly different depending on diagnosis, severity of the eating disorder, and individual goals, needs, and challenges. However, the goal of nutrition counseling sessions for a teen with an eating disorder should always be to help caregivers ensure their teen is eating enough and helping teens to build a better relationship with food, with the goal that they will eventually resume responsibility for their own nutrition and be able to nourish themselves in a healthy and sustainable way. 

What Happens in Eating Disorder Nutrition Counseling Sessions at Aterra Nutrition?

At Aterra Nutrition, our registered dietitians will discuss all aspects of nutrition-related care, including a thorough nutritional and medical history, a comprehensive nutrition assessment, coordination of care, and realistic, sustainable, and personalized goals for eating disorder recovery. Aterra Nutrition’s eating disorder nutrition counseling is designed to help teens across all diagnoses and include parents and caregivers in the process. We also offer support to families, parents, and caregivers who want help navigating mealtimes and family nutrition dynamics during your teen’s recovery. 

Our nutrition counseling appointments are held virtually through a secure client portal, Healthie, making it easy to access and allowing you and your teen to attend sessions from the comfort of your own home. Additionally, we also offer food and feelings journaling through Healthie when desired and helpful for eating disorder recovery. Our nutrition counseling sessions are designed to meet your teen where they are in recovery and help them to build realistic and sustainable long-term eating habits and an improved relationship with food. 

Eating disorder recovery nutrition counseling sessions with a registered dietitian are meant to address concerns regarding nutrition, involve coordination of care with the rest of your treatment team, and help your teen to improve their eating habits. These sessions should be personalized based on your teen’s unique goals and needs. Always look to work with a registered dietitian in nutrition counseling sessions, as they will have the knowledge and experience needed to meet your teen’s needs and help your teen, as well as you as a parent or caregiver, to be more successful in meeting your teen’s nutritional needs and building a better relationship with food in recovery. 

If you’re looking for support for a teen struggling with an eating disorder, Aterra Nutrition offers virtual nutrition counseling and support for eating disorder recovery with a registered dietitian. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling for those in DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Michigan. Learn more about the eating disorder services Aterra Nutrition offers on our website at aterranutrition.com.

About the Author

Cristina Luibil, MS, RD, LDN specializes in eating disorder recovery and Intuitive Eating for teens and adults. Aterra Nutrition provides virtual nutrition counseling for those in DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Michigan. This post was researched and written in conjunction with Sabrina Stadelman, dietetics student and nutrition assistant at Aterra Nutrition. Learn more about the whole team here.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for general educational and informational purposes only. It may not be tailored to your specific health needs as it is written here. This content is not intended to replace personalized medical advice, nutrition counseling, or medical nutrition therapy. Any recipes or suggestions provided are meant to inspire and should be used at your discretion. Always consult with your own registered dietitian, physician, or healthcare provider before making changes to your nutrition, lifestyle, or treatment plan. If you choose, Aterra Nutrition would be happy to help you in your own, individual nutrition and intuitive eating journey.