Non-Diet Nutrition for Chronic Disease Management
Our dietitians can help you manage conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, thyroid conditions, PCOS, IBS, acid reflux, and more
You deserve expert, evidence-based nutrition guidance without a side of diet talk and weight shaming.
Whether you’re looking for general nutrition guidance or need help navigating food choices in light of a health condition or life stage, we’re here to help.
We’re a group of anti-diet, Health at Every Size®-aligned dietitian nutritionists. We work with people from all walks of life who are looking to improve their overall well-being with intuitive eating.
Our dietitian nutritionists provide medical nutrition counseling from an anti-diet, weight-inclusive lens.
We don’t prescribe weight loss, ever. In fact, if weight loss is your only goal, then we’re not the dietitians for you. Instead of giving diet and weight loss advice, we help you settle into a way of eating that feels nourishing, sustainable, and fun for you.
Our dietitians are trained to provide support for various chronic diseases, health conditions, needs, and life stages, including:
- Acid reflux/GERD
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Diabetes
- Eating disorders and disordered eating
- Fertility
- High blood presure
- High cholesterol
- Irritable bowel syndrom (IBS)
- PCOS
- Pregnancy and postpartum
- Thyroid disease
We don’t put our clients on rigid, impossible-to-follow diets. Instead, we work with you to find a way of eating that’s satisfying and sustainable.
Nutrition counseling looks different for everyone and can vary quite a bit depending on your challenges and goals. Some things you might do with your dietitian are:
- Talk through and challenge any negative beliefs you have about food and your body
- Create flexible meal plans for the week
- Go over your intuitive eating journal (if you’re keeping one) or any other exercises you tried in the previous week(s)
- Discuss any medical nutrition therapy recommendations that could be beneficial for you
- Brainstorm recipe and restaurant ideas
- Get suggestions for podcasts, books, articles, and other resources
How nutrition counseling works
Step 1:
Request an appointment with one of our dietitians
Fill out our appointment request form with some information about yourself and what you need help with. We’ll send an email with more information and a booking link within 48 hours. We’ll also give you a call, since we know some people prefer scheduling over the phone.
Step 2:
Confirm your appointment, fill out the required paperwork, and verify your insurance benefits
Once you’ve booked an appointment, we’ll send you forms to fill out prior to your session.
Before your first session, you’ll reach out to your insurance company to confirm your in-network benefits (if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield) or out-of-network benefits (if you have Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, or another insurer). Most Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans cover nutrition services in full, but it’s always best to check.
Step 3:
Have your initial nutrition counseling session
The nutrition counseling process looks pretty much the same whether you meet with your dietitian virtually or in person. During the initial session, your dietitian will introduce themselves, share more about our practice and office policies, and make sure to answer any questions you have.
Then, they’ll ask you lots of questions to get a sense of who you are, what you’re struggling with, and what your goals are for nutrition counseling. By the end of your initial appointment, you and your dietitian will agree on some long-term goals and a plan for reaching them. (Of course, all of this is subject to change — and often does! — as you continue to work together.)
Step 4:
Continue meeting regularly with your dietitian
Depending on your situation and your goals, your dietitian might suggest meeting weekly, bi-weekly, or at another regular frequency. You’ll have a standing appointment time (for example, 4 PM on Thursdays), and each session you’ll take small steps towards your long-term goals.
Nutrition counseling is a process, not a quick fix, and you probably won’t get much out of just a couple sessions.
Fees and Insurance for Nutrition Counseling
85-minute intake: $215*
55-minute follow-up: $140*
*This is a discounted rate only for clients paying out of pocket on the day of service. It is not the full rate billed to insurance plans.
Ruby Oak Nutrition dietitians are in-network providers with most Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance plans. Many plans cover nutrition counseling at little or no to you.
To verify whether your insurance benefits cover my services, call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and use the script provided here.
Our dietitians are considered out-of-network providers for Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, and other insurance plans. That means you’re responsible for payment at the time of service. Many clients are able to get some reimbursement from their insurance companies after submitting receipts (AKA superbills) for nutrition counseling.
Check out the FAQ page for more about billing and reimbursement.
Work with us for nutrition counseling
Virtual nutrition counseling
Available across several states in the US, via a HIPAA-compliant video platform. Our dietitians are licensed in North Carolina, Georgia, and Montana. We can see clients virtually in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont.
In-person nutrition counseling in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
Appointments are available at our two North Carolina offices:
Downtown Raleigh Office: 219 S. East Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Downtown Durham Office: 3001 Academy Rd, Ste 130, Durham, NC, 27707