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.

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 struggling with an eating disorder or disordered eating patterns. Our registered dietitians can help you to establish a healthier relationship with food and creating healthy, sustainable patterns. We work closely with your treatment team to help provide optimal support.
3. You are thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery or have been prescribed a GLP-1. Our registered dietitians are equipped on helping guide you to meet nutrition needs while aiding in the prevention of malnutrition, maintaining lean muscle mass and limiting digestive symptoms that are common when taking a GLP-1 or after having bariatric surgery.
4. You have digestive problems. Our registered dietitians will work with your physician to help fi ne-tune your diet to help identify culprits that may be affecting your digestive health. We can also create specialized diets that ensure that your nutrition needs are still being met, while helping manage symptoms.
5. You're trying to conceive, pregnant or postpartum and have special dietary needs. During this stage there are unique dietary needs to ensure that both mother and baby are safe and cared for. Our dietitians are here to help navigate the special
   nutrition needs and establish a plan for how you can meet those needs with your lifestyle.
6. Your child or teenager has issues with their relationship with food and/or experienced unplanned weight shifts. A registered dietitian can assist with helping your child learn and achieve a healthy relationship with food that supports an "all foods fit" approach while refraining from restrictive behaviors. We can also help support your child in development and maintaining their individualized growth curve.
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 a guilt free relationship with food. We can help you sort through misinformation and help you feed yourself and/or your family with confidence. Our registered dietitians promote and "all foods fit" approach and are skilled in identifying current patterns, including potential barriers and lifestyle factors that may influence behaviors around food. This helps them establish a plan that
   can support small and consistent changes that will promote sustainable outcomes.
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. Our registered dietitians can provide support for meeting these demands. They can also support specialized dietary concerns that may arise during childhood such as managing elevated glucose, elevated cholesterol, picky eating, failure to thrive diagnosis, and other serious medical conditions requiring dietary alterations.

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.