Frequently Asked Questions
Cristina is here to educate and inspire- Here are some of my most common questions:
Do you direct bill my extended health plan?
Yes! We do offer direct billing for the extended health plans that have this option. Check with your plan if you have coverage for a registered dietitian and we can tell you if your plan allows direct billing. If your plan does not allow direct billing for dietitians, we will give you a receipt that you can submit for reimbursement. These are the plans that usually DO allow us to do direct billing on your behalf for dietitian services.
Insurers that allow direct billing for dietitians:
Chamber of Commerce
CINUP
ClaimSecure
Desjardins
First Canadian
Great West Life
GreenShield
Industrial Alliance
Johnson Group
Johnson Inc
Maximum Benefit
What do I need to prepare for my first session?
Please read these instructions on keeping your 7 day food journal before your appointment.
Is she going to tell me not to eat my favorite foods?
Cristina will conduct a complete nutrition assessment and provide you with a diet plan and specific food subsitutions that will help you achieve your goals. Cristina knows how to work your favorite foods into your plan and makes eating better fit into your lifestyle. You will leave feeling empowered, motivated and confident that you will be successful. If you purchase a meal plan or one of the Nutrition Packages, then you will also have a sample meal plan to get you started on your new way of healthy eating.
Cristina has a balanced approach to food and nutrition where moderation is key. She works with your food preferences and lifestyle to make practical meal suggestions, and she will help you make lifestyle changes that are sustainable and will help you reach your performance and body comp goals. She is skilled at helps you overcome emotional eating and improve your relationship with food.
When are you available?
Cristina is available for presentations during evenings and weekends.
Cristina's office hours are Thursdays 9:30am-6:30pm and Saturdays 8am-2pm
Are you hiring any volunteer or paid positions?
There are no paid or volunteer opportunities at this time. Due to confidentiality in sessions with clients, Cristina is not able to have students "shadow" her work day.
There may be some volunteer opportunities at organizations such as Vancouver Coastal Health, non profit food security organizations, UBC, SportMedBC, Fortius, Canadian Sport Centre and recreational sports teams.
Where is your office?
Cristina's office is conveniently located at
North Vancouver, BC V7H0B5
Cristina is available for Presentations throughout the Lower Mainland and beyond. Contact Cristina to discuss your special event.
RD versus Nutritionist?
Registered Dietitians have completed a 4 year university degree, a one year internship and a nationwide exam. We are trained to work in the treatment and prevention of disease using evidence-based treatment plans and are regulated under the Health Professionals Act.
Anyone can call themselves a Nutritionist, it is an unregulated term in Canada and these individuals have no set qualifications or nutrition education. Registered Holistic NutritionistTM are individuals trained in a 1 year program, they are not regulated by a governing body and they are not clinically trained to treat health conditions.
You can check whether someone is a qualified nutrition professional by contacting Dietitians of Canada or BC College of Dietitians to obtain a list of Registered Dietitians in your area.
