Nutrition Counseling

Most people think of diet and nutrition for weight loss. Dietitians see a wide range of conditions ranging from mental health to digestion to weight. Some conditions we see regularly are: thyroid disorders, PCOS, Crohns, anxiety, depression, pre-diabetes, pregnancy, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and celiac disease. There are more complex conditions that we see as well, such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer. We also see people who are changing their diets or who want to assess their diet for adequacy, such as keto, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, or for sports nutrition.

First appointments usually last about 75 to 90 minutes and consist of an assessment, preliminary education, and some homework. Return appointments are usually 50 to 75 minutes and are more education and strategy focused.

There is no required number of visits, but most people benefit from anywhere between 3 and 12 visits. Very few people will end up with just one visit, some people benefit from long-standing repeat visits, most people end up somewhere in between, at around 4 to 6 visits. We usually start out seeing each other every two or three weeks, then move to monthly or bimonthly.

During nutrition counseling, we strategize food choices, discuss sleep regimens, develop stress management techniques, monitor blood work, and learn how to meal plan and stabilize blood sugar. Each nutrition counseling session is different, each patient has different needs, and our sessions respond to those specific needs.

Yes, we see pregnant and breastfeeding patients for nutrition and lifestyle counseling regularly, in conjunction with your regular OB/GYN, midwife and/or physician visits.

For most people with commercial insurance, MNT, or nutrition counseling, costs nothing. Some people may have to meet their deductible, have a copay, or coinsurance. Without insurance, or for our medicare and medicaid patients, we do offer a prompt pay/cash cost.

At Flourish, Shelby is in network with Premera, Regence, Cigna, First Choice, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Lifewise. If you have another insurance, please call the office for your cash pay or other appointment options. If you have Medicare or Medicaid, please call the office and let our front desk know you have Medicaid or Medicare and would like nutrition counseling (limited to existing patients).

We have an insurance verification form that we can send to you that helps you navigate a phone call with your insurance customer service representative. It is the patient's responsibility to verify their medical nutrition therapy insurance benefits for Shelby Slenkamp, RDN at Flourish Family Medicine in Mill Creek (CPT 97802 and 97803; NPI 1790331056).