Nutrition Center

Frequently asked questions
 

How long will the visit last? Will it start on time?

It will take approximately one or two hours, however, the length of your child's visit will depend on the diagnosis and what he or she is being treated for. Regardless of the type of visit, please prepare for waiting time in the clinic and the possibility of staying longer in case further tests and/or procedures are necessary.

What does the visit consist of? Will there be testing?

The format of your child's visit depends on his or her diagnosis and reason for being at the hospital. The dietitian most often discusses eating and food with you and your child and decides from that what the best way to move forward would be. If necessary, yes, there may be tests and procedures that day, depending on the diagnosis.

Do I have to bring my child with me?

Yes. It is very important for the dietitian to see the patient for a proper assessment to be made. In addition, there may be a need to perform tests, such as arm anthropometrics, and to take an accurate weight and height measurement, so there is a proper and consistent way to compare these variables at follow-up visits.

Is it better to see the registered dietitian (RD) first, or the specialist that I'm seeing the same day and then see the RD?

Because we work as a team at Boston Children's Hospital, unless otherwise instructed prior to your visit, it does not matter what order your child sees the dietitian and the specialist in the same visit.

Does Children's have any RDs at the satellite where I see my gastroenterology doctor? Yes, there are nutritionists available at Lexington, Peabody and Waltham.

My child has not seen an RD yet, but we have a quick nutrition question. What should we do?

Because there are so many questions we need to have the answers to and, before we can give you a legitimate answer to any questions you and your child may have prior to the initial visit, we often recommend waiting for your child's RD visit.