Medical Nutrition Therapy
Medical nutrition therapy offers food and nutrition support through assessment, guidance, coaching and counseling.
At OSF HealthCare, we provide personalized care for each patient’s unique health journey. Our registered dietitian nutritionists are experts who use evidence-based practices like nutrition counseling to help you get healthy.
Who Should Get Medical Nutrition Therapy?
This therapy can provide general guidance on healthy eating for anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle.
In addition, people who have certain conditions or lifestyles benefit from nutrition counseling and services.
- Diabetes (Type 1, Type 2 and gestational)
- Heart disease
- Food allergies and intolerances
- Gastrointestinal (GI) and gut health
- Emotional eating
- Eating disorders
- Nutrition issues in children, including picky eating
- Pregnancy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Obesity
- Weight management struggles
Benefits
Struggling with eating or getting proper nutrition can interrupt daily living.
With medical nutrition therapy, you’ll learn how to have a healthy relationship with food and how to get the right nutrition for your lifestyle.
What to Expect
During your first appointment, you’ll meet with the registered dietitian nutritionist for an hour. They will gather information from you about your medical history, what you typically eat in a day and recent weight changes. They’ll also provide helpful education and find out what your needs are.
The nutritionist will work with you to develop SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) goals to help you be successful. You will work together to create a timeline to schedule future appointments.
You’ll leave your first appointment knowing what the next steps are.
Access
If you’re interested in setting up a medical nutrition therapy appointment, talk to your primary care provider about getting a referral.
In-person or virtual appointments are available Tuesday-Thursday.
Cost
Nutrition services are covered by Medicare.
For more information, visit Medicare’s nutritional therapy page .
For private insurance, check with your provider to see what your benefits are.
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