Registered Dietitians (RD’s) are health professionals specializing in food and nutrition. In order to earn the nationally-recognized credential of RD, a candidate must complete a Bachelors Degree in Food and Nutrition and/or Masters Degree in Nutrition or American Dietetic internship. RD status also requires successfully passing the National Registration Exam and accumulating a sufficient number of on-going Continuing Education credits annually. A RD is sometimes referred to as a nutritionist, however, a nutritionist who has not achieved RD status may not advertise herself or practice as a Registered Dietitian. Also, in Texas, Registered Dietitians are licensed (LD) to prevent misuse of the term nutritionist.

RD’s and LD’s are the only health professionals permitted to counsel patients on medically-necessary dietary intervention. There are no laws about what credentials are needed to go by the title of “nutritionist”.

A Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) earns the designation by successfully completing the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators. Candidates must meet rigorous credential and professional practice experience requirements to be eligible to take the examination. Achieving the CDE credential demonstrates to patients that the health care professional possesses distinct and specialized knowledge, thereby promoting quality care for patients with diabetes. There are currently only 22 diabetes educators who hold the CDE credential in Austin. Shelley Madsen & Associates are very fortunate to employ four of them!

Health insurance often covers medical nutrition therapy (appointments with your dietitian) for diagnoses that are deemed “Medically Necessary.” These often include: Diabetes, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Sleep Apnea, Food Allergies, Unexplained Weight Loss/Gain, Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol), Gastrointestinal Problems, Eating Disorders, Kidney Disease, etc.

If you are not sure if your insurance will cover our services, please contact your insurance company for verification.

We are currently contracted with and accept the following companies:

• Aetna
• United Healthcare
• BlueCross BlueShield
• Cigna
• Humana
• Medicare*

* Please Note: Unfortunately, we are not able to contract with TRICARE.

Do you want to lose or gain weight? Are you pregnant, looking to become pregnant or just had a child? Are you looking for ways to maintain your health in your older years? Are you an athlete looking to boost performance? These are just a few of the reasons people seek the expert, science-based advice of a registered dietitian.

Here are some good reasons to consult with a dietitian at Texas Nutrition Consultants:

1. You have diabetes, cardiovascular problems or high blood pressure. We can serve as an integral part of your health-care team by helping you safely change your eating plan without compromising taste or nutrition.
2. You are thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery. Since your stomach can only manage small servings, it’s a challenge to get the right amount of nutrients in your body. We will work with you and your physician to develop an eating plan for your new needs.
3. You have digestive problems. Our registered dietitians will work with your physician to help fine-tune your diet so you are not aggravating your condition with fried foods, too much caffeine or carbonation.
4. You’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant. We can help make sure you get nutrients like folate, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, lowering your newborn’s risk for neural tube or spinal cord defects.
5. Your child or teenager has issues with food, eating healthy, weight gain or weight loss. A registered dietitian can assist with eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and overweight issues.
6. You are struggling with disordered eating patterns, anorexia or bulimia. Our registered dietitians can help you to establish a healthier relationship with food.
7. You need to gain or lose weight. We can suggest additional calorie sources, tips and strategies for healthy weight gain. OR, a calorie reducing eating plan, along with regular physical activity for weight loss while still incorporating your favorite foods. We all know that losing even a few pounds or preventing more weight gain has many important health benefits. However, losing weight can easily feel overwhelming with a busy life and complex health needs. Talking to a registered dietitian nutritionist is a great first step to getting organized, focused, and ready to improve your nutrition and transform your health!
8. You’re caring for an aging parent. Our registered dietitians can help with food or drug interaction, proper hydration, special diets for hypertension and changing taste buds as you age.
9. You want to eat smarter. We can help you sort through misinformation; learn how to read labels at the supermarket; discover that healthy cooking is inexpensive, learn how to eat out without ruining your eating plan and how to resist workplace temptations.
10. You want to improve your performance in sports. Our registered dietitians can help you set goals to achieve results — whether you’re running a marathon, skiing or jogging with your dog. Whether you’re a casual or professional athlete, or somewhere in between, nutrition plays a key role in physical performance. We can guide you with your eating plan to ensure you are eating the right balance of foods to fuel your performance and reach your personal health and fitness goals.
11. Pediatric health. Childhood is a time of growth and development. Good nutrition plays a key role in helping kids become healthy adults. Whether your child is overweight, underweight, is at risk for diabetes, or has feeding issues, we can provide specialized guidance needed to keep your child healthy and happy.

We serve clients from throughout the region and regularly have patients coming from Austin, Bastrop, Buda, Burnet, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs, Elgin, Georgetown, Hutto, Kyle, Lakeway, La Grange, Leander, Marble Falls, Round Rock, Smithville, Taylor, West Lake Hills and Wimberly. Many of our dietitian nutritionists are licensed to provide nutrition consultations in other states. Please reach out if you are interested in seeing one of our dietitians and don't live in Texas. Texas Nutrition Consultants became part of the MyorThrive network of dietitians in January 2025.