Overview | FAQs

How do your nutrition appointments work?

Who will I be seen by?

What kind of training do student clinicians receive at Bastyr?

What if I know nothing about the foods you recommend?

I’ve never been able to stick to a diet. Can you help with that?

Can I make a nutrition appointment to lose weight?

Do you advocate vegetarianism?

I’m concerned that I won’t be able to afford an all organic diet, if that’s what is recommended. Do you have suggestions?

How do your nutrition appointments work?

Bastyr’s approach is highly individualized. Nutritional counselors work with you to set practical and realistic goals that fit your circumstances and needs, and give you concrete tools to help you achieve them.

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Who will I be seen by?

You will be seen by one or more student clinicians as well as a registered dietitian who supervises your care.

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What kind of training do student clinicians receive at Bastyr?

Our science-based whole foods nutrition curriculum includes training about nutritional supplementation, food composition, and the body’s physiology. Students study specific medical conditions and are also well-versed in nutritional strategies for weight loss and general well-being.

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What if I know nothing about the foods you recommend, such as where to find them or how to cook them. Can you help with this?

Yes, we certainly can. Our nutrition teams are adept at guiding you through the “health food” maze! We provide hand-outs with simple recipes, cooking information and meal plans. A unique service we offer is a guided shopping trip to local grocery or health food store to help familiarize you with different foods to buy and prepare.

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I’ve never been able to stick to a diet. Can you help with that?

Yes. Again, the approach would be individualized to your particular situation. But generally, our clinicians help raise your awareness of your current eating habits through the use of diet diaries, calculate your unique caloric needs based on your body type and your lifestyle, and discuss serving sizes and the right combination of foods to support your goals. We also help you understand the relationship between food and health, which can be a strong motivator to change your current habits. 

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Can I make a nutrition appointment to lose weight?

Yes, but the nutritional counselors don’t work with weight-loss-only programs. Rather they consider your weight issues in the context of your overall health and wellness. 

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Do you advocate vegetarianism?

Bastyr does not endorse vegetarianism for everyone. Whether someone eats animal products or not, we can help assure that they are getting sufficient nutrition and suggest dietary changes that might improve their health. 

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I’m concerned that I won’t be able to afford an all organic diet, if that’s what is recommended. Do you have suggestions?

Bastyr’s nutritional counseling includes awareness of cost and budgets. We can help you assess the areas where you might want to increase your expenditures and areas where you can spend less. Many of the foods we recommend, such as whole grains and legumes, are quite inexpensive.

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