The cost of working with a dietitian can vary depending on the appointment type and your insurance coverage, but it often begins at around $100. You can also find nutrition support through online apps.

Nutrition is a science, and it’s one that so many people say they wish they knew more about. After all, food may be an innate part of our lives, but there’s a difference between enjoying food and understanding how the foods we eat affect our health.
Dietitians can help us learn more about the foods we put on our plates and how we can nourish our bodies. But how much does an appointment with a dietitian actually cost in the United States, and does insurance cover nutrition services?
We’ll explore the cost of a dietitian and discuss a few cost-saving alternatives to private nutrition care.
Dietitians vs. nutritionists
Some people may use the words dietitian and nutritionist interchangeably. However, registered dietitians are healthcare professionals and nutrition experts who have met the necessary requirements to obtain a certification as a registered dietitian (RD) or a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
RDs and RDNs must meet the following certification requirements:
- obtained a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program
- completed supervised practice requirement
- passed a national exam
- continued professional development throughout their careers
RDs and RDNs are board certified dietitians who can offer individualized nutrition counseling to clients. RDs and RDNs can also perform medical nutrition therapy, which includes individualized dietary regimens that help manage or treat chronic conditions.
In contrast, a nutritionist advises others on food and nutrition, but is not required to complete certification requirements.
Appointments with a dietitian can cost upward of $100 per hour. However, nutrition services can vary widely in cost, depending on many factors, including your location, the services you receive, and more. These estimates are based on U.S.-centric discussions and are subject to frequent changes.
When you contact a dietitian, you can typically book one of several appointment types. Estimates for what the prices for those appointments may look like include:
- Consultation: A consultation appointment lets you discover whether working with a dietitian is right for you. Many dietitians offer short in-person or virtual consultations for a minimal fee or even free of charge.
- Intake: An intake appointment is the next step after you and your dietitian decide to work together. Intake appointments often cost more (around $150 to $250) because they take longer and are more in-depth.
- Follow-up: A follow-up appointment is your chance to check in with your dietitian as you work together. Follow-up appointments are typically shorter and cost around $100 to $150 per check-in.
When it comes to meal planning, prices also vary, depending on the plan type you purchase.
For example, if your dietitian provides you with a fully customized meal plan to meet your needs, this plan can cost upward of a few hundred dollars per month.
However, some dietitians include meal planning in the cost of their services, so you won’t have to pay extra costs. Other dietitians also offer premade meal plans for sale, which can be significantly cheaper.
Many private health insurance plans and Medicare typically cover nutrition services for people with certain chronic health conditions. These may vary by plan.
If you’re unsure whether your plan offers coverage for nutrition services, you can check your summary of benefits and coverage. You can also talk with a company representative directly to ask what your plan covers. If you already have a dietitian in mind, ask their office what types of insurance they can accept.
Depending on your plan, you may need to work with a dietitian in the plan’s network. Choosing someone outside the network can increase your costs, as insurance may not cover all or any of the services.
Dietitian support may be FSA/HSA eligible if it’s considered medically necessary. You may need to obtain a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMD) from a healthcare professional for the services to be covered.
Everyone’s nutrition needs differ, and dietitians play many roles in a client’s journey toward better health.
If you need to connect with a dietitian about treatment for a chronic health condition, you may need to have appointments with them once or twice weekly. You may also need to continue your sessions with them for as long as necessary until your condition improves.
However, some people hire dietitians because they want to learn more about food or have support on their health journey. If this sounds more like you, you may find that you only need to check in with your dietitian once or twice monthly.
Between the initial consultation, intake, and follow-up appointments, nutrition service costs can quickly add up, especially if you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover a dietitian’s services.
If you don’t need individualized nutrition counseling for a health condition, cost-saving alternatives to private nutrition services are available. Here are a few of our favorite nutrition apps to get you started:
- Wellos: a nutrition app that offers evidence-backed nutrition education and support
- PlateJoy: a meal planning app that allows you to create customized meal plans
- MyFitnessPal: a food tracking app that offers a ton of free and paid features
Plenty of dietitians also share education, tips, and tricks on social media, especially on Instagram and YouTube. Whether you want more information on healthy eating or culturally competent nutrition advice, there’s something for just about everyone.
Nutrition services and costs can vary, and even with insurance, your out-of-pocket expenses for nutrition services depend on multiple factors.
Some dietitians charge upward of a few hundred dollars per session, while others offer low cost alternatives to individualized nutrition counseling. Sometimes, your insurance plan may even cover services with an RD or RDN, especially if you have a chronic health condition.