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Exam Room Nutrition: Where Busy Clinicians Learn About Nutrition
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Exam Room Nutrition: Where Busy Clinicians Learn About Nutrition

Author: Colleen Sloan, PA-C, RDN

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As a clinician, your patients are asking: 

“What should I eat for diabetes?” “How do I lose weight?” “My child is so picky. What do I do?” But here’s the problem—you probably didn’t learn much about nutrition in school. The National Academy of Sciences recommends 25 hours of nutrition education for med students. Most of us? We got maybe 5.  


Enter Exam Room Nutrition. Hosted by Colleen Sloan, a PA and RD with over a decade of experience, this podcast gives you clear, actionable strategies to tackle those tough nutrition questions with confidence—even when you’re pressed for time. From picky eaters to diabetes management, I’ll renew how you approach nutrition.  

130 Episodes
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Meal replacements are an excellent tool for weight management. But they aren't the same as protein shakes. Medical weight-loss dietitian Julia Axelbaum joins me to clear up the confusion, define the difference (they are not interchangeable), and map out exactly when to use each—on their own or alongside evidence-based tools like GLP-1s. You’ll walk away with a 3-step label checklist you can teach patients, practical strategies to curb evening cravings, and a step-by-step plan for transi...
Coaching Skills for Clinical Practice. Because if you want patients to actually change, you need to coach—not just prescribe. I’m joined by Annie Wildermuth—RD, PA, PhD-trained researcher, and certified leadership & performance coach. Annie breaks down what real coaching is (and isn’t), how to spot legitimate coach training, and the exact questions that open patients up—without adding time to your visit. You’ll walk away with a pocketful of phrases to build trust, reduce defensiveness, an...
Today’s episode will change how you think (and talk) about food. Instead of obsessing over calories or cutting carbs, what if we taught patients to focus on nutrient density? I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, bestselling author of Nutrivore. You’ll learn how to shift the conversation from restriction to addition—and give patients permission to enjoy their food and improve their health. What You’ll Learn: How to explain nutrient density in 60 seconds (using a car analogy your patients will l...
What if your “noncompliant” patient isn’t failing… but the plan is? In this final episode of Sneak Peek Week, RD and behavior change expert Jeannie Boyer shares how to reframe plateaus, shift focus beyond the scale, and help patients set goals that actually matter. Plus, get a preview of our Special Populations modules—covering bariatric surgery and PCOS—and how to support these patients with nutrition guidance that’s clear, compassionate, and evidence-based. Ready to join the Obesity Medici...
Obesity medications can be powerful—but side effects often get in the way. In this episode of Sneak Peek Week, dietitian and weight loss expert Melissa Mitri shares practical, food-first strategies to help your patients manage nausea, stay on track, and get better results—without feeling miserable. Ready to join the Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course? Use code POD15 to get 15% off the full at examroomnutrition.com/course Any Questions? Send Me a Message Support the show Connect with Coll...
Tired of giving advice that doesn’t stick? In this episode of Sneak Peek Week, you’ll hear from behavior change expert and registered dietitian Laura Kohler, who shares the one question every clinician should be asking when a patient feels stuck—and why more handouts aren’t the answer. Get ready to stop playing advice-ping-pong and start creating real momentum. Ready to join The Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course? Use code POD15 to get 15% off the full course at examroomnutrition.com/course An...
Most clinicians were trained to track BMI—but when it comes to motivating real change, that number only tells part of the story. In this sneak peek from the Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course, dietitian and health psychologist Dr. Nina Crowley shares how to use body composition data to guide smarter goals—and how to talk about it with patients in a way that actually motivates change. Grab the full course and Nina's module on Beyond BMI at examroomnutrition.com/course Use code POD15 for ...
Join The Obesity Medicine Nutrition Course! Enter code POD15 at checkout for 15% off! Anti-obesity medications are everywhere—but they also come with new challenges. From rapid weight loss and side effects to TikTok-fueled supplement questions, patients on weight management medications need more than generic nutrition advice. In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Mitri, a seasoned weight loss dietitian and health writer, to dig into exactly how to support patients on their weight loss journe...
If your patient tells you they're avoiding fruit “because it has too much sugar,” this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. From viral posts claiming sugar is poison to influencers suggesting chocolate is healthier than grapes, nutrition misinformation is everywhere—and your patients are soaking it in. In this conversation, Colleen sits down with dietitian and public health researcher Dustin Moore to break down the myths, the nuance, and the science behind sugar. What does it mean to say s...
That “picky eater” might not grow out of it. And that patient obsessed with “clean eating”? It might be something deeper. Today, we’re joined by eating disorder dietitian Johnna to challenge everything you thought you knew about disordered eating. You’ll learn: The subtle red flags of disordered eating you might be overlooking during routine visitsHow to ask better questions to uncover what's really going on with your patient’s eating habitsA crash course on ARFID—how it differs from pi...
You’re walking out the door, wrapping up your visit, and then it happens— “...Oh, by the way, what do you think about ... ?” Sound familiar? In this episode, I’m joined by Alexandria Hardy, MS, RD, LDN, to tackle the rapid-fire nutrition questions patients love to drop at the end of an appointment—when there’s zero time left to answer them well. From weight loss and metabolism to carbs, supplements, and snacking habits, Alexandria shares how she answers these questions in a way that’s p...
When formula shelves went empty in 2022, clinicians scrambled. Desperate parents, unfamiliar brands, and European imports raised more questions than answers. Since January 2024, one name kept coming up: Kabrita. Is goat milk-based formula just a trend—or is it a clinically sound option you can recommend with confidence? In this episode, sponsored by Kabrita, I’m joined by Dr. Ari Brown, board-certified pediatrician, bestselling author of the Baby 411 series, and Kabrita’s Chief Medical Adviso...
Your patient says, “My neighbor’s on the carnivore diet and looks amazing. Should I try it?” Cue the internal panic. What do you actually say next? In this episode, Clinical Lipid Specialist Dr. Josh Wageman returns to unpack the dietary chaos surrounding lipids, low-carb diets, saturated fat, and the ever-elusive “best diet.” Whether your patient wants to reverse metabolic syndrome or just “get their cholesterol down,” this conversation will help you separate hype from evidence—and teach you...
Ilana Kersch was 31, healthy, and working as a dietitian—then she was diagnosed with hereditary stomach cancer and told she needed a total gastrectomy. In this powerful episode, Ilana shares what it’s really like to live without a stomach—from managing dumping syndrome and rapid weight loss to navigating survivorship and identity after cancer. As both a clinician and a patient, her insights will change how you counsel your own. Whether you work in GI or not, this one will stay with you. Resou...
RFK Jr. wants to mandate nutrition education in every U.S. medical school—or else schools risk losing federal funding. On the surface, it sounds like a smart move. But as a Physician Assistant and Registered Dietitian, I’m here to tell you: it’s not that simple. In this special Nutrition Newsroom episode, I break down what RFK got right, what he missed, and why nutrition education alone won’t fix our broken system. I also share why dietitians are essential to the solution—and how we can bette...
If your patients are going through the social media rabbit holes about seed oils, you’re not alone. Claims like “pro-inflammatory” and “unhealthy,” are gaining traction—and showing up in the exam room. In this episode we tackle the seed oil confusion head-on. I’m joined by registered dietitian Charlotte Martin, spokesperson for the Soy Connection, to break down the science behind the most common claims. What You’ll Learn: What exactly is a “seed oil” The processing seed oils ...
Ever skip the food label convo because it feels too complicated—or let’s be honest, you’re short on time? In this episode, I’m sharing a few clips from this month’s Nutrition Grand Rounds that’ll help you decode the label and teach it in a way your patients actually understand. We’ll cover what patients are really looking at, how to explain percent daily value, and why front-of-package claims like “multi-grain” or “no added sugar” can be totally misleading. Join Nutrition Grand Rounds h...
In this week’s episode we’re sharing bite-sized answers to the nutrition questions your patients love to throw at you—often at the very end of the visit. My guest, Nina, is a registered dietitian who specializes in weight management, and she’s here to help you deliver fast, practical advice your patients will actually use. You’ll learn: The 3 no-cook meals Nina recommends to the “I hate cooking” crowd How to teach quick label-reading skills in under 30 seconds What to say when...
You’ve probably said it a hundred times: HDL is the "good" cholesterol, LDL is the "bad" cholesterol. But what if that explanation is oversimplified—and leading patients (and providers) to miss hidden risks? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Josh Wageman—a Clinical Lipid Specialist, PhD researcher, and author of The Home Security System and the Lipid Neighborhood—to break down why the old-school lipid model isn’t enough anymore, what a standard panel won’t tell you, and how you can explain...
You’ve probably heard it: “I love food too much,” or “I just can’t stick with anything.” These aren’t just excuses—they’re clues. And when we learn to spot them, we can uncover the deeper mindset blocks that keep patients from making progress. In today’s episode, I sit down with Emily, a registered dietitian and mindset coach, to unpack one of the most overlooked barriers to health behavior change: limiting beliefs. We explore how subtle, internal narratives shape your patients' motivation, c...
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