Best Online Nutritionists to Help Get You Back on Track
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When it comes to virtual nutrition care, the best online nutritionists are those that can help bridge the gap between expensive in-person nutrition counseling and affordable virtual nutrition care. Many of the virtual nutritionists out there offer personalized wellness plans, customizable meal planning, round-the-clock goal tracking, and so much more.
But even if you are ready to take that step toward hiring a nutrition coach, it can be hard to know what to look for — so Shape narrowed down some of the top choices in the virtual nutrition space. Whether you're looking for self-guided meal plans or nutritional therapy with a registered dietitian (RD), here are the best online nutritionists to help meet your needs.
Best Online Nutritionists of 2022
Best Overall: Culina Health
Best for Health at Every Size: Tepper Nutrition
Best for Eating Disorder Recovery: Nourish
Best for Integrative Health: Amwell
Best for Fitness & Nutrition Coaching: Forge Fitness and Nutrition Counseling
Best for Customizable Meal Plans: Anderson's Nutrition
Best for Parents: Lemond Nutrition
Best for Chronic Health Conditions: OnPoint Nutrition
Best Budget: HealthTap
Best Overall: Culina Health
Key Specs
Where Available: Nationwide
Pricing: Self-pay varies, contact the company to learn more
Accepts Insurance?: Yes
Platforms: Browser, app
Why We Chose It
Culina Health has a huge team of registered dietitians who offer customized nutrition plans, recommended lab work, discounted supplements, and easy online booking.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Accessible, non-judgemental nutrition care
Full team of 25 RDs
In-network for multiple types of insurance
Cons
No up-front pricing listed on website
Might not be covered by your insurance plan
Culina Health provides personalized nutrition care that is non-judgemental and honors all body types, health conditions, and personal backgrounds. With both in-person office visits and virtual visits for clients nationwide, Culina Health offers personalized, inclusive nutrition care to people all over the country.
Initial online consultations can be booked via phone or through their booking portal online. These sessions consist of a 60-minute coaching session where an RD will assess your health background and create a personalized nutrition and lifestyle plan. This process is collaborative, which means that you play as much of a role in creating your personalized plan as your RD does.
After your initial meeting, you'll continue to meet with your RD for weekly or bi-weekly follow-up sessions. These sessions can help you review your progress, make new goals, and continue to check-in while you work towards improving your health. You can also access all of your personal information and easily reach your nutritionist between sessions via their mobile app.
Although Culina Health is a newer contender in the virtual nutrition space, they have so much to offer. With their large team of trained professionals, personalized plans and recommendations, and online support, they are a leader in the world of online nutrition care.
Best for Health at Every Size: Tepper Nutrition
Key Specs
Where Available: DC, MD, VA, WV, AZ, MI, MO, CA, CO, MA, TX, and PA
Pricing: $170 for initial appointment, $150 for a 50-minute follow-up, and $100 for a 30-minute check-in
Accepts Insurance?: No
Platforms: Browser, app
Why We Chose It
Tepper Nutrition is a body neutral nutrition practice that focuses on teaching intuitive eating – rather than fad dieting – to help their clients build long-term, sustainable eating habits.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Focus is intuitive eating and Health at Every Size
Sliding-scale pricing on a case-by-case basis
Monday-Saturday appointments available
Cons
Does not accept any health insurance
Can only meet virtually in certain states
Tepper Nutrition was founded by Allison Tepper, a Virginia-based dietitian with over a decade of experience counseling clients in eating disorders, emotional eating, and more. Since 2016, Tepper Nutrition has grown to include a team of five RDs who work closely with clients to help them build a more positive, peaceful relationship with food.
Before you book your first appointment, you'll be able to book a free 15-minute phone consultation to help the team learn more about your goals and availability. If you decide to move forward with counseling, you'll meet with an RD for an initial 60-minute session to explore your background and goals and create a long-term plan.
Follow-up appointments are available as either 50-minute follow ups or 30-minute check-ins, each with a different price point. During each of these sessions, you'll review your progress and discuss any changes or new goals you'd like to make. And between sessions, Tepper Nutrition RDs also offer email support, as well as feedback via their nutrition-logging app.
Tepper Nutrition's emphasis on intuitive eating and Health at Every Size means that many of their clients report feeling more knowledgeable, hopeful, and positive about their relationship with food.
Best for Eating Disorder Recovery: Nourish
Key Specs
Where Available: Select states nationwide
Pricing: $225 for a new client appointment, $100 for a follow-up
Accepts Insurance?: Yes
Platforms: Browser
Why We Chose It
Nourish offers a wide range of nutrition services, but their "Food Peace Team" specifically focuses on eating disorder recovery, intuitive eating, and finding peace with food again.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Online counseling for eating disorder recovery
More than 20 RDs available
Accepts most forms of health insurance
Cons
Online counseling not available in some states
Appointments only available through Zoom
Nourish is a virtual nutrition counseling service that has been helping clients build sustainable eating habits since 2009. With a team of over 20 nutrition professionals, Nourish helps clients navigate everything from eating disorder recovery to chronic gastrointestinal conditions, and much more.
If you're interested in becoming a Nourish client, you can book your first appointment over the phone or online through their booking portal. At your 90-minute new client appointment, you'll go over some of the information that you provided in your intake forms and discuss more about your eating habits and health goals.
After you and your nutritionist create a personalized plan for you — which includes meal planning and test recommendations — you'll have full support to start working on building a better relationship with food. And with 60-minute follow-up appointments, you and your nutritionist can easily keep track of your progress and make changes or new goals whenever necessary.
Nourish's Food Peace Team stands out in the world of online eating disorder recovery by helping clients navigate the journey through a non-diet, intuitive eating approach.
Best for Integrative Health: Amwell
Key Specs
Where Available: Nationwide
Pricing: $70 per visit for nutritionists
Accepts Insurance?: Yes
Platforms: Browser, app
Why We Chose It
Since 2006, Amwell has offered affordable, online health care to millions of people all across the country. In addition to offering virtual nutrition visits, it also covers a wide variety of concerns, including pregnancy care, behavioral health, and more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
More than just nutrition counseling available
Transparent, up-front pricing for visits
Insurance may cover some visits
Cons
Additional nutrition services not included in price
Counseling approaches may vary by provider
Amwell is a virtual health care provider that offers low-cost visits for a variety of health concerns, including nutrition counseling and 24/7 urgent care. When you book a visit with a nutritionist or RD through Amwell, you'll pay a flat fee of $70 up-front, with no hidden costs.
Before you can utilize Amwell's network of virtual providers, you'll need to sign up for an account online. After providing some basic information, you can browse for providers by specialty or by name (if you already have someone in mind). And once you've booked your appointment, it's as simple as meeting your provider through the secure online platform – which also comes in a convenient app.
What makes Amwell unique in the telehealth nutritionist space is that you can integrate your nutrition care with the other types of care available. So, if you're a new parent looking for both postnatal nutrition and breastfeeding support, you can book visits with both of these specialists directly through the Amwell platform.
According to the website, ninety-four percent of Amwell patients report being satisfied with their level of nutrition care — which makes Amwell one of the best online nutritionists for integrative health care.
Best for Fitness & Nutrition Coaching: Forge Fitness and Nutrition Counseling
Key Specs
Where Available: Nationwide
Pricing: $125-$225 per month, depending on the plan
Accepts Insurance?: No
Platforms: App
Why We Chose It
Forge Fitness & Nutrition Coaching offers online personal training and nutrition coaching to people all over the world. By blending custom personal training sessions with nutrition coaching, Forge Fitness provides a dual approach to help you meet your health goals.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Three different plans and price points available
Offers a free program inquiry before booking
Pairs personal training with nutrition coaching
Cons
Custom meal plans must be purchased separately
No free trial or money-back guarantee
Forge Fitness & Nutrition Coaching is an online platform offering custom wellness plans that combine personal training with nutrition coaching. With the guidance of certified fitness and nutrition specialists, Forge Fitness can help you address all of your wellness goals in one place.
Before you become a Forge Fitness client, you have the option of booking a free program inquiry to discuss how their packages can help you meet your goals. Once you're ready to book your first coaching appointment, you can sign up for one of three fitness and nutrition packages. Each package varies in the amount of times each month that you can meet with your personal trainer one-on-one.
Coaching sessions usually involve reviewing your workout plan and meal plan, and answering any questions you might have. Between sessions, you can access all of your coaching materials and reach out to your coach via the Forge Fitness app. And for people who need more support, extra 30-minute sessions with your coach or dietitian are available for an additional cost.
Forge Fitness also offers a separate 90 Day Habit Transformation package, led by founder Michael S. Parker, that is intended to be a more immersive fitness and nutrition experience. Although the price point for this program is much higher — at $1,800 up-front — it contains 3 months of customized, weekly coaching to help you meet your long-term goals.
With the ability to combine your fitness and nutrition coaching into one package, Forge Fitness is one of the best online coaching programs for people who want to do both.
Best for Customizable Meal Plans: Anderson's Nutrition
Key Specs
Where Available: Nationwide
Pricing: Meal planning starts as low as $39 per month, while programs range from $100-$625
Accepts Insurance?: Yes
Platforms: Browser, app
Why We Chose It
Anderson's Nutrition is an in-person and online nutrition practice that has helped over 4,300 clients learn more about nutrition. With multiple dietitian-led programs and meal plans, there's a package to meet everyone's needs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Three options for meal-planning programs
Four different dietitian-led nutrition programs
Insurance may cover up to 100% of costs
Cons
May not be available in certain states
Meal planning done through partnered app (EatLove)
Anderson's Nutrition has offered individual, corporate, and specialized nutrition counseling for 15 years, both offline and online. Anderson's team of dietitians offer virtual one-on-one nutrition counseling and meal planning to help people meet their health goals.
A free 15-minute phone or video consultation is available through their online scheduler to help answer any questions you might have about their programs before joining. After you've had a chance to address any initial questions or concerns, you'll be free to choose any one of Anderson's personalized nutrition counseling or meal planning packages.
If you're interested in the full nutrition counseling experience, you can choose from one of three packages that offers one-on-one counseling, menu planning, and other exclusive coaching features. But if you're only interested in meal planning, the company offers personalized meal planning through the app EatLove, with plans starting as low as $29 a month.
With ninety-eight percent customer satisfaction, Anderson's Nutrition offers the best of both long-term nutrition counseling and meal plan packages that don't require a huge up-front commitment.
Best for Parents: Lemond Nutrition
Key Specs
Where Available: AK, CA, CO, CT, HI, ID, IN, MA, NH, NY, OK, OR, PA, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY
Pricing: $200 for an initial 90-minute visit, $135 for 45-60 minute follow-up visits
Accepts Insurance?: Yes
Platforms: Browser, app
Why We Chose It
Lemond Nutrition offers individual in-person and online nutrition counseling for adults and children. Lemond's registered dietitians work closely with parents to help address food intolerances, eating disorders, and other health conditions that might be impacting their child's health.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Virtual nutrition counseling available for children
Focus on weight-neutral nutrition outcomes
Cons
Counseling not available in all states
In-network insurance coverage varies
Initial sessions can cost upwards of $200
Created in 2009 by Angela and Jeff Lemond, Lemond Nutrition is a Texas-based private nutrition practice that specializes in both adult and pediatric nutrition counseling. At Lemond Nutrition, a trained team of RDs address both medical and general nutrition for adults and children.
An initial session at Lemond runs anywhere from 60-90 minutes, during which time your nutritionist will work with you to create your personalized nutrition plan. If you're booking this initial visit for your child, you'll need to provide information about your child's historical growth charts, health records, and recent bloodwork.
Follow-up appointments for yourself or your child are roughly 45-60 minutes, and help provide ongoing support as you progress through your nutrition "prescription." And, when it comes to pediatric nutrition care, these follow-up visits are an important part of monitoring your child's progress, answering your questions, and making adjustments.
Lemond Nutrition is one of the only virtual nutritionists to specialize in pediatric nutrition counseling, which makes them an important option to keep in mind if you're a parent.
Best for Chronic Health Conditions: OnPoint Nutrition
Key Specs
Where Available: Nationwide
Pricing: Packages start at $535
Accepts Insurance?: Yes
Platforms: Browser, app
Why We Chose It
OnPoint Nutrition offers a variety of in-depth nutrition counseling programs that are led by a team of skilled nutrition professionals. By focusing on everything from skill-building sessions to long-term support, OnPoint's programs work well for people with chronic health conditions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Offers a free consultation for new clients
All programs are extremely in-depth
Payment plans offered for each package
Cons
Packages start at a higher price point
Insurance coverage varies by state
OnPoint Nutrition is an app-based nutrition counseling service led by a large team of nutrition professionals — including RDs, food scientists, public health experts, and more. At OnPoint Nutrition, clients are given a wide variety of tools to help them navigate everything from short-term health goals to chronic health conditions.
Before you commit to a program at OnPoint, you'll schedule a free consultation, during which you can brainstorm with an expert to find the best program for your needs. Once you're ready to book your program, you'll choose one of three packages, each of which offers a different level of nutrition care.
One of the most unique elements of OnPoint's programs is that they offer different types of coaching sessions, depending on your needs. For example, The Academy package offers 25-minute skill building sessions with your nutritionist twice a week — which is perfect for people with chronic health conditions. But no matter which package you choose, you can find 24/7 support, goal tracking, meal planning, and more in the OnPoint app.
Many of OnPoint's members have reported seeing huge changes in their overall health after counseling. As far as virtual nutrition programs go, OnPoint Nutrition is among the best for both immediate and long-term nutrition counseling.
Best Budget: HealthTap
Key Specs
Where Available: Nationwide
Pricing: $45 billed every three months for subscribers (visits start at $40), non-member visits start at $100
Accepts Insurance?: Yes
Platforms: Browser, app
Why We Chose It
HealthTap goes above and beyond just nutrition care by offering access to 24/7 urgent care, as well as primary care visits, prescriptions, and more for a low monthly fee.
Pros & Cons
Pros
24/7 access to urgent care visits
90,000+ board-certified doctors
Over 140 specialties, including nutrition
Cons
Only subscribers can access primary care
Insurance coverage is limited for non-subscribers
Likely need a referral for a nutritionist
Founded in 2010, HealthTap is a leader in online health care, offering access to over 90,000 primary care physicians and round-the-clock urgent care. HealthTap has the largest network of board-certified U.S. doctors who cover everything from women's health to nutrition advice, and beyond.
Whether you're in need of urgent care or primary care, all HealthTap visits begin by signing up for an account online or through the app. Once you've signed up, you'll be able to browse options for licensed doctors in your state who can address your needs. You can even search by specialty, which is helpful for finding specialists who can address nutrition-related concerns (such as a gastroenterologist).
One thing to know is that HealthTap doesn't necessarily specialize in nutrition care, meaning that it may be hard for you to find an online nutritionist through the app. As a subscriber, however, you can schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor who can address basic nutrition advice. And if you need more guidance and support, your HealthTap physician can refer you to an outside nutritionist.
As one of the largest virtual health networks in the United States, HealthTap offers an invaluable way to access primary care, nutrition care, and more for less than $20 a month.
Final Verdict
With an overwhelming selection of online nutritionists, the companies that stand out the most are those that offer a wide range of services to meet a wide variety of needs. And as a Black-owned, woman-owned nutrition practice, Culina Health does just that — by providing their clients with non-judgmental, personalized nutrition care from the comfort of their phones.
However, there are still a handful of other companies that have carved out a top spot in the world of telehealth nutrition. Both Tepper Nutrition and Nourish offer inclusive nutrition care for everyone, for example, while companies such as Amwell cast a wide net to meet more of your health care needs outside of just nutrition.
Compare the Best Online Nutritionists
Guide to Choosing the Best Online Nutritionists
Is an Online Nutritionist Worth It?
As with regular health care, barriers such as location, availability, and cost can make it difficult for people to access in-person nutrition counseling services. But with online nutrition counseling, a lot of these barriers are removed, allowing more people to access convenient, affordable, and personalized nutrition care.
Everyone has different health care needs, but you might find online nutrition counseling worth it if you:
Don't have time to commute to in-person appointments
Want to access nutritionists outside of your city or state
Have a health condition that makes it hard to meet in-person
Are working with a specific budget for nutrition care
If you're someone who is interested in building a better relationship with food, whether for personal or medical reasons, a virtual nutritionist might be the best option for you.
How to Choose an Online Nutritionist
Choosing the right telehealth nutritionist for your needs can feel overwhelming, especially if you're not sure of what you should be looking for. So, here are some of the most important factors to consider when you're shopping around for virtual nutrition care.
Platform. While some nutritionists offer virtual care, this can mean anything from a simple browser login to a full-fledged app with a ton of features. It's good to consider what type of platform you prefer before moving forward with a company.
Certifications. "Nutritionist" is a vague term that can mean a lot of different things, depending on where you live. When browsing nutrition companies, look for the RD credential – it means that your nutritionist has plenty of years of schooling and training under their belt.
Pricing. Online nutrition care can vary wildly in price, ranging from a few hundred dollars to upwards of thousands of dollars. Before you jump headfirst into a new counseling program, make sure to ask about whether they accept insurance or are self-pay, and whether there are any discounts available.
Features. Some nutrition counseling programs provide just the basics, such as education and meal planning. Other companies provide 24/7 app support, multiple weekly sessions, and more. Once you know the exact level of care that you're looking for, it'll be easier to narrow down your choices.
Specialties. Whether you're just looking to build a better relationship with food, or are seeking out medical nutrition therapy for a specific health condition, online nutrition care can do it all. If you have a specific health concern, try to look for virtual nutritionists who specialize in treating chronic health conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is an Online Nutritionist?
A nutritionist or dietitian is an expert in food and nutrition science. Nutritionists teach people how to best manage and support their long-term health through food and diet. They understand everything from how nutrients affect us on a cellular level to how nutrition can help manage chronic health conditions.
Most online nutrition companies are staffed by registered dietitians. RDs are fully credentialed nutrition experts with extensive schooling and training in the field. Many of these online RDs also have additional training in nutrition therapy for specific health conditions, including inflammatory bowel diseases, type 2 diabetes, and more.
How Much Do Online Nutritionists Cost?
Online nutrition counseling costs can vary between companies, and often depend on the type of services that are being offered. Most telehealth nutritionists offer a free consultation so that you can learn more about the services or packages that would best meet your health goals.
Initial hour-long visits usually cost anywhere from $100-$250 and include an in-depth assessment with a certified nutritionist. Follow-up visits usually range from $50-$150, depending on the length of the visit. And for companies who offer nutrition packages, which usually include these services plus more, you can expect to shell out a few hundred dollars (at minimum).
What Is the Difference Between a Dietitian and a Nutritionist?
The difference involves years of schooling and official state licensure. A "nutritionist" is a fairly unregulated title, meaning that anyone can call themselves a nutritionist — even if they haven't completed a higher education program in nutrition. Meanwhile, a registered dietitian is someone who has met all of the criteria for licensure in their state. Generally, this involves completing an approved bachelor's program in dietetics and a supervised internship, passing a national exam, and obtaining state licensure and continuing education credits.
How Can an Online Nutritionist Benefit Your Health?
Everyone can benefit from learning more about how nutrition plays a role in health — but there's a lot of misinformation out there. And when it comes to seeking out nutrition education online, some of the information that exists can be wrong (or outright dangerous).
Online nutritionists are an affordable, accessible way to learn more about nutrition with the guidance of a professional. With the right nutrition counseling, you can improve your relationship with food, learn how to fuel your body in a healthy, sustainable way, and manage or even lower your risk of chronic health conditions.
Methodology
Shape researched and compared more than 20 companies to find our top 9 online nutritionists in this comprehensive list. When composing our favorites, we considered factors such as location, format, cost, insurance coverage, approach, counselor credentials, and experience. Every program in this list is an established company that offers online nutrition counseling options. Additionally, we made sure that our top choices covered a variety of different needs, including non-diet approaches, pediatric counseling, and integrative health.
