Food and Healthy Eating - Getting Help
Registered dietitians
Registered dietitians are trusted food and nutrition professionals. They are trained to provide advice on diet, food, and nutrition for you and your family. The title registered dietitian, professional dietitian, and dietitian are protected by law so that only qualified practitioners who have met education qualifications can use that title. Registered dietitians have RD after their name and are members of the College of Dietitians of Ontario.
Is a nutritionist the same as a registered dietitian?
A nutritionist is not the same as a registered dietitian. Registered dietitians are required to earn a four-year university degree in food and nutrition, complete supervised practical training or a master's degree in food and nutrition, and write a national registration exam. A registered dietitian must be registered with the College of Dietitians of Ontario (or the College of Dietitians in the province where they work). The term nutritionist is not protected by law in all provinces so people with different levels of training and knowledge can call themselves a nutritionist.
Registered dietitians at KFL&A Public Health
Public health dietitians assess the nutrition needs of their communities, and develop nutrition programs and services to meet those needs.
Registered dietitians at KFL&A Public Health work in several different areas including:
- reproductive and child health,
- school health, and
- chronic disease prevention.
Health Connect Ontario
- Get answers to your nutrition and healthy eating questions from registered dietitians for free. Call 811 or visit UnlockFood.ca.
Websites and applications
There is a lot of information out there and it can be difficult to know what sources you can trust. Check out these healthy eating websites and apps below that are dietitian-approved!
Websites:
Application
Community Care Access Centre (CCAC)
CCAC provides the services of a registered dietitian for nutrition counselling to clients and their families in their home, residence, or school. Services are covered by OHIP.
- South East CCAC
- 1-800-869-8828
Kingston Community Health Centre
Community Health Centre dietitians provide individual nutrition counselling and group programs for adults and children. Self-referrals accepted. Services are covered by OHIP.
- Kingston Community Health Centre
- 613-542-2949
Diabetes education
Registered dietitians and other health professionals provide diabetes education to individuals and groups. Call the following numbers to find out if a doctor's referral is required. Services are covered by OHIP.
- Hotel Dieu Hospital
- 613-544-3400, ext. 3590
- Lennox & Addington County General Hospital
- 613-354-3301, ext. 285
- Maple Diabetes
- 613-531-6086
- Napanee Area Community Health Centre
- 613-354-8937
Family health teams
Family Health Team dietitians provide individual nutrition counselling and group programs including diabetes education for patients of the Family Health Teams. Services are covered by OHIP.
- Kingston Family Health Team
- 613-531-4234
- Lakelands Family Health Team
- 613-333-1333
- Loyalist Family Health Team
- 613-507-0213
- Maple Family Health Team
- 613-531-5888
- Queen's Family Health Team
- 613-533-9303
- Sharbot Lake Family Health Team
- 613-279-2100
Grocery store
Dietitians working in a grocery store provide education sessions, grocery store tours, cooking classes, and one-on-one counselling.
- Loblaw greatfood™
- 613-483-2193
National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC)
NEDIC is a Canadian non-profit that provides resources on eating disorders and weight preoccupation.
- NEDIC Helpline
- 1-866-633-4220
Hospitals
Dietitians working in hospitals provide nutrition counselling in a variety of clinical areas such as cardiac rehabilitation, eating disorders, cancer care, and mental health. A doctor's referral is required. Services are covered by OHIP.
Private practice dietitians
Registered dietitians working in private practice provide individual nutrition counselling and group nutrition presentations on a fee-for-service basis. Some offer virtual counselling. Some medical benefit plans cover nutritional counselling. Services are not covered by OHIP. Find a Registered Dietitian offering private services through the Dietitians of Canada.