Can you be vegan when you’re pregnant? What about B12 or iron deficiencies, and should you abstain from gluten when going vegan?
There are a million questions regarding vegan diets, and the internet is full of different answers for each of them.
If you want to make sure that you follow solid advice, grab a book by one of our favorite vegan RDs and nutritionists, check out their online content, or see if they even offer consultations!
Read more about vegan doctors, what I eat in a day as a vegan, and the vegan food pyramid on our website.
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Difference between Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist
Although the terms dietitian and nutritionist are sometimes used interchangeably, the qualifications and requirements behind those titles differ. This can also vary from country to country!
Registered Dietitians (RDs) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are health professionals with an accredited university degree who have gone through an internship, passed an exam, and obtained a state license.
They are trained to help with specific health conditions, such as eating disorders, by providing food recommendations.
The term “nutritionist” isn’t protected, and their training can differ vastly.
Look out for certified nutrition specialists (CNS) or certified clinical nutritionists (CCN) if you want to make sure that the person you’re working with earned a B.S. or M.S. degree!
There are many online nutritionist certification programs and diplomas that either require very little training or contain lots of misinformation.
When to see a Dietitian or Nutritionist
Now you know what to look out for when researching vegan dietitians and nutritionists. But what exactly could they help you with?
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Food allergies
- Prenatal nutrition
- Digestive problems
- Chronic health conditions
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Mindful eating
- Meal planning
Top Vegan Registered Dietitians & Nutritionists
The following list of registered dietitians and nutritionists contains vegans with different approaches, styles, and focus areas.
Some see clients in person or virtually; others do speaking events and write helpful books.
Search the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics database of credentialed practitioners by location, specialty, and insurance for more!
Virginia Messina
Virgina, or Ginny, Messina, is a dietitian, vegan, and animal advocate. She is the author of numerous books on vegan nutrition and ethics, such as Vegan For Life, Even Vegans Die, Vegan for Her, and Never Too Late to Go Vegan.
Her website TheVeganRD.com is full of important information and tips for vegans — some of which might surprise you.
Ginny is a huge proponent of animal rescue and devotes her career to giving people the tools they need to adopt a healthy vegan diet.
Catherine Perez
Catherine is an RD and fellow food blogger who shares wonderful plant-based recipes, healthy lifestyle tips, and more at PlantBasedRD.com.
She can help you add more plants to your plate and loves to provide everyone with evidence-based nutrition information that can be applied on a daily basis.
Catherine went vegan in 2009 due to health-related issues and embraced animal ethics shortly after that.
Her website is a one-stop shop for everything you would need or want! You can find her on Instagram, too.
Brenda Davis
Brenda is like the “Godmother” of vegan dietitians! As an internationally acclaimed speaker and author of over 10 books, including Becoming Vegan and Nourish, she has contributed so much to the plant-based movement for the last few decades.
In 2007, Brenda Davis was inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame after having been the lead dietitian in a diabetes lifestyle medicine trial and co-authoring numerous professional and lay articles.
She has a lovely way of communicating, and you’ll love listening to her or watching any of her conversations! Check out her website BrendaDavis.com to find all of her work and any upcoming events.
Gena Hamshaw
Whether you hope to create more ease and peace in your relationship with food, in search of guidance about plant-based eating, or struggling with health conditions related to your diet: Gena Hamshaw is here to support you!
After earning her Master of Science in Nutrition from Teachers College, Columbia University, and completing her dietetic internship, she now has ten years of experience in counseling as an RD and offers her services online.
Gena is the sweetest soul and shares meaningful musings, nutrition articles, and beautifully photographed recipes on her website TheFullHelping.com.
Sharon Palmer
Fellow plant-based blogger and RDN Sharon Palmer is The Plant-Powered Dietitian in your life! Through countless articles and recipes on her website SharonPalmer.com, she makes plant-based eating really accessible for everyone.
Sharon has over 20 years of experience in the field of plant-based nutrition and sustainability and earned a Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems. She has authored over 1000 articles in a variety of publications as well as four books.
As a dietetics student, you can do a plant-based virtual 3-month dietetic internship with Sharon!
Jack Norris
If you’re looking for evidence-based nutrition information that concerns vegan diets, look no further than Jack Norris and his website VeganHealth.org.
He and his team put together great articles about potentially critical nutrients, such as iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, and omega-3, as well as tips for new vegans and how to meet your daily needs.
While the content on this website is more research-heavy and not as colorful and “fun” as other blogs, Jack is our go-to resource if we want to learn more about the latest scientific findings.
Plus, he co-authored the excellent book Vegan for Life with Ginny Messina!
Taylor Wolfram
Do you struggle with disordered eating or would love to step away from unhealthy diet culture? Taylor is your gal!
Her work focuses on healing your relationship with food and sharing evidence-based nutrition information free from restriction. Social justice and inclusivity are at the core of her and her team’s work over at TaylorWolfram.com
She offers online courses, counseling, virtual support groups, and wonderful free content on her website and Instagram! We love that Taylor challenges many conceptions around “healthy” eating and speaks about mental well-being, too,
Julieanna Hever
Are you interested in a whole food plant-based diet? If so, then check out Julieanna Hever, MS, RD.
Known as the Plant-Based Dietitian, she has a huge passion for food and helping people follow a healthy diet. On her website PlantBasedDietitian.com, you can check out her services, podcast, 7 books, recipes, and articles!
Julieanna has two peer-reviewed journal articles on plant-based nutrition for healthcare professionals and appeared in numerous shows.
Karla Moreno-Bryce
Wherever you may be in your vegan journey, Karla is here to help guide you in meeting your vegan kid’s nutritional needs.
As a vegan parent, she knows the importance of proper nutrition and shares free resources about baby-led weaning, planning snacks for toddlers, feeding kids a vegan diet, and helping picky eaters broaden their food acceptance.
Find great family and nutrition tips as well as easy recipes on her website VeganKidsNutrition.com or follow her on Instagram. She also offers online coaching and is fluent in Spanish!
Desiree Nielsen
Desiree specializes in gut health and is the author of the digestive health cookbook Good For Your Gut as well as the host of TheAllsorts podcast.
While she focuses predominantly on chronic digestive issues and inflammatory diseases, she also shares information about vegan nutrition, supplements, and intermittent fasting.
Check out her fantastic website DesireeRD.com to find her articles and recipes or to see which nutrition services she currently offers!
Alex Caspero and Whitney English
These two women are the power duo behind PlantBasedJunoirs.com, a great website and Instagram page with resources for pregnant moms or families with picky eaters.
Alex and Whitney are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and moms who know how overwhelming feeding little ones can feel sometimes! Their everyday tips for kids and family-friendly recipes are truly invaluable.
You’ll also love their book The Plant-Based Baby & Toddler!
Alyssa Fontaine
Are you in need of a Zoom consultation across Canada and the USA to improve your plant-based diet? Then check out Alyssa Fontaine, a plant-based Registered Dietitian.
She created the company Plant Based Dietitians and has a team of vegetarian/vegan dietitians to help you make sustainable changes.
On her website AlyssaFontaine.com, she publishes articles about intuitive eating, vegan baby food, digestive problems, sports nutrition, weight loss, and more. Follow her on Instagram for delicious food ideas and the “Ask a Dietitian” series!
Related Resources
Have you consulted a vegan dietitian or followed one on social media? Share your thoughts in the comments below and Pin this article here!
Do you want to ensure that you follow the plant-based diet that’s best for your situation? Check out these vegan registered dietitians and nutritionists and consider a consultation.