What happens when patients leave an integrative or functional medicine appointment with multiple recommendations but limited practical support for implementation?

In this episode, Kate Kresge sits down with Monique Richard, Holly Van Poots, and Sudha Raj to discuss the evolving role of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) trained in Integrative and Functional Nutrition (IFN). The conversation centers on the Revised 2025 Scope and Standards of Practice for RDNs in Nutrition in Integrative and Functional Medicine, which clarifies the scope, standards, and clinical contribution of IFN practitioners. (Crowe-White 2025)

Together they explore why nutrition may remain underused in some conventional care settings, including concerns that many medical providers receive limited formal nutrition training. (Adams 2010) They also discuss why sustained behavior change often requires more time, context, and follow-up than a brief visit can provide, and why food choices are shaped by more than nutrient content alone. The discussion highlights how IFN dietitians can help translate complex plans into sustainable daily habits while helping patients connect symptoms, lifestyle patterns, culture, stress, and nutrition.

The episode makes a practical case for team-based care and shows how integrative nutrition practitioners can help bridge the gap between clinical recommendations and meaningful long-term change.

Clinical Takeaways From This Episode

Behavior Change Is Often the Missing Piece

Many visits focus on diagnosis and treatment decisions, while meaningful behavior change takes time, relationship-building, and ongoing support. (Crowe-White 2025) (Körner 2016) IFN dietitians help patients put recommendations into practice in real-world settings.

Food Is More Than Nutrients

Food choices are shaped by culture, identity, family history, emotional experience, access, and lifestyle. Accounting for these factors may help make nutrition recommendations more realistic, acceptable, and sustainable; effects on clinical outcomes depend on the condition, intervention, and patient context. (Odoms-Young 2024) (Crowe-White 2025)

Nutrition Is Central to Complex Chronic Disease

Many patients present with concerns where nutrition may be one component of care, including issues related to digestive health, metabolic health, immune function, and quality of life. (Crowe-White 2025) (Moloney 2025)

Dietitians Serve as Translators of Functional Medicine Plans

Many patients leave appointments with extensive recommendations. IFN practitioners can help patients prioritize, personalize, and implement clinician recommendations within the patient’s preferences, resources, culture, and care plan. (Moloney 2025) (Senkus 2024)

Team-Based Care Improves Patient Support

Integrative care tends to work best when physicians, naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, health coaches, and nutrition professionals collaborate on whole-person care. (Körner 2016) (Crowe-White 2025)

Guest Introduction

Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN

Monique Richard is an experienced registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in integrative and functional nutrition. Known for her practical and patient-centered approach, she helps individuals explore lifestyle, nutrition, and environmental factors that may be relevant to their health goals and care plans. She often describes IFN practitioners as "nutrition detectives" who help connect the dots between symptoms, habits, and underlying patterns.

Holly Van Poots, MS, RDN

Holly Van Poots is a leader in integrative and functional nutrition education and one of the contributors to the newly published guidance paper on the role of IFN dietitians. Her work focuses on defining how nutrition professionals contribute to whole-person care beyond traditional dietary counseling.

Sudha Raj, PhD, RDN

Sudha Raj brings a deep understanding of nutrition behavior change, cultural competency, and patient-centered care. Her work emphasizes the importance of relationship-based nutrition counseling and understanding the lived experiences that shape food choices and health behaviors.

The statements, information and opinions shared by each individual are not in the capacity as official spokespeople, or, on behalf, of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. They volunteered to be authors/contribute to the NIFM SOP and received no funding from the Academy.

FAQ

What is integrative and functional nutrition?

Integrative and functional nutrition combines evidence-informed nutrition science with a whole-person approach that considers lifestyle, environment, stress, sleep, culture, and other contributors to health.

How is an IFN dietitian different from traditional nutrition counseling?

While foundational nutrition principles remain the same, IFN practitioners often spend more time exploring nutrition- and lifestyle-related factors, patient context, and personalized behavior-change strategies.

Why are dietitians important in functional medicine practices?

Dietitians can help patients translate complex recommendations into practical daily actions, which may support adherence and follow-through. Evidence for clinical outcomes varies by condition and intervention. (Moloney 2025)

What are patients often missing after a functional medicine visit?

Patients frequently understand what they should do but struggle with how to implement recommendations. IFN practitioners help bridge that gap.