Pediatric Nutrition Counseling for Kids and Families
Our pediatric dietitians don’t focus on weight or body size — instead, we empower you and your child to make nourishing, energizing food choices that feel good.
Your child deserves compassionate, realistic nutrition guidance, free from the body shaming that too often happens in healthcare settings.
Far too many of our clients — kids, teens, and adults alike — struggle with body image issues and disordered eating habits that started when a healthcare professional made a negative comment on their weight in childhood. We’re different.
We offer weight-neutral, non-diet nutrition guidance that teaches your child to appreciate their body and nourish it in a way that feels good. We also help you (the caregiver) feed your child in a way that’s as stress-free as possible while honoring both your needs and theirs.
We can help with a wide variety of pediatric nutrition issues.
We don’t prescribe weight loss, ever. Instead, we provide age-appropriate nutrition education, and we work with you to implement nutrition solutions that are right for your child and your family.
Our dietitians are trained to provide support for various health conditions and common pediatric nutrition issues, including:
- Food allergies
- Infant feeding
- Picky eating
- Binge eating/secret eating
- Metabolic syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Hyperlipidemia
- High blood pressure
- Eating issues during big life changes (divorce, relocation, new school, etc)
Nutrition counseling looks different for everyone and can vary quite a bit depending on your challenges and goals. Some things you or your child might do with your dietitian are:
- Engage in age-appropriate nutrition education, like talking about food groups and mealtimes
- Create flexible meal plans for the week
- Learn to navigate food allergies or medically necessary diet changes
- Create grocery lists with foods that you love, or new foods your dietitian thinks you might love
- 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 intake: $195*
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