Nutrition Counseling
Telephone: 203-432-0093
Fax: 203-432-0095
Hours: By appointment
Our services | Appointments | Our staff | FAQs
Our services
Our nutritionist counsels individuals and families about:
- Healthy food choices
- Weight control
- Nutritional management of diseases or conditions
Your primary care clinician can make a referral for individual counseling related to a disease or medical condition. Our nutritionists will also respond to e-mail requests for nutrition information and can direct you to nutrition resources. If you are a student or Yale Health member, e-mail Lisa Kimmel.
Appointments
You need to see your primary care provider first, who will then determine if a referral to the nutritionist is necessary. Referrals can also be made from OB/GYN as well as other health care providers within Yale Health, as appropriate.
Our staff:
| Manager: | Patricia Stumpf, RN, MS |
| Staff: | Lisa Kimmel, MS, RD, CD-N, CSSD |
FAQs
- What type of issues would generate a referral to the nutritionist?
Nutrition consultations are appropriate for those who would benefit from individualization of diet recommendations due to medical concerns. Examples of this are people who have diabetes, high cholesterol levels or other abnormal lipid patterns, or impaired fasting glucose. Those people who are overweight or obese with other medical concerns, for example hypertension, may also benefit from a more individualized approach to meal planning. - I have a quick question about nutrition that I would like to have answered. Do I need a referral for this?
No. You may contact the nutritionist directly via phone (203 432-0093) or e-mail. - I would like to lose five pounds but am otherwise okay and my weight is in the healthy range. Can I see the nutritionist?
Your primary care provider will evaluate your concerns and most likely will direct you to cut down on portions and exercise more. Your priority to see the nutritionist would not be considered to be very high. For information on weight reduction, visit Healthwise - I need to lose about 15 pounds. What is the best way to do this?
There are many different ways to lose weight that can be safe and effective. Yale Health provides a discount to Weight Watchers to encourage our patients to use this gradual, holistic approach to weight management. You may also be interested in the information provided in Healthwise regarding weight loss.
If you would like to track your caloric intake, free calorie counters can be found at www.myfooddiary.com and www.my-calorie-counter.com. Most men need between 1800-2200 calories to lose weight, while women can generally lose weight by eating 1200-1500 calories.
Keep in mind that the keys for successful weight control are eating breakfast regularly, exercising for about an hour most days of the week, eating a balanced diet (click here for more information) and checking your weight on a regular basis. Writing down what you eat can also help you identify areas for improvement. - I don't know what a healthy weight for me is. How can I find this out?
You should always feel free to speak with your primary care provider about this issue. To calculate your BMI, see http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/. This site will also provide information about healthy weight and how it relates to health. - I don't know anything about nutrition and healthy eating and don't know where to start. What should I do?
Check Healthwise for information about healthy eating. You can also find out more about healthy eating including calorie needs at www.mypyramid.gov. - I don't have any specific nutrition issues but would like access to healthy recipes and general information from time to time. Is this available?
Yes - visit these websites for recipes and information on current nutrition topics:
- The American Dietetic Association
- The American Heart Association
- The American Diabetes Association
- I have an appointment to see the nutritionist. What will the appointment be like?
The nutritionist will check your height and weight, and then will ask you a variety of questions in order to understand your eating and exercise habits to develop the best approach for improving your nutritional status. The appointment may take between 45 to 60 minutes. Keeping a food diary for up to a week prior to your appointment will help the nutritionist get a better glimpse of your habits. Click here for a form you can use to record this, or just use your own paper if you would prefer. Helpful information on estimating portion sizes can be found here. - I just found out I have a medical problem and need to change my diet, but my appointment with the nutritionist isn't for a few weeks and I am feeling very worried. Is there anything I can do?
Healthwise has links regarding diet recommendations for many medical conditions. If you have gestational diabetes, your OB/GYN care provider will give you a 2000 Calorie meal plan to use until you see the nutritionist; the nutritionist will adjust this meal plan according to your individual needs when you have your appointment.
A wait list is available for nutrition appointments that become open due to cancellations. If you would like to be placed on the wait list, let the receptionist know this when you get your appointment. If you are still worried that you cannot wait until your appointment to begin to address your diet related concerns, contact the nutritionist by phone (203-432-0093) or e-mail.
