For Patients

Serving Clients In-person in Bozeman and Virtually Across Montana

Northern Nutrition Group offers the trustworthy knowledge and empathetic support you deserve.

We are nationally certified and state licensed registered dietitians in Montana. We are trained in all things food and nutrition related. We provide nutrition counseling, education, guidance, support and resources to help you find an approach with food that works for you. We meet you where you are, offering refreshing perspectives and clear guidance through our realistic and evidenced-based understanding of nutrition.

 

We support clients seeking help with:

  • Eating Disorders 

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders and Diseases 

  • Chronic Medical Conditions and Symptoms 

  • Weight Concerns 

  • Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease 

  • Family Feeding 

  • Oncology

  • Nutrition Support Therapy

  • Athletic Fueling

  • Women’s Health  

In-Network Insurance Companies

Disclaimer: Being "in-network" does not guarantee automatic coverage for all services. Coverage determination depends on the specifics of your individual insurance plan, including benefits, exclusions, and prior authorizations. While we strive to provide accurate information, the details on this website do not guarantee coverage. We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to confirm benefits, eligibility, and any out-of-pocket costs associated with your care. We are able to help with benefit verifications or questions.

Insurance Companies

  • Aetna

  • Allegiance

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield

  • Cigna

  • Employment Benefit Management Services (EBMS)

  • First Choice Health

  • Healthy Montana Kids

  • Humana

  • Missoula County Medical Benefits Plan

  • Mountain Health CO-OP

  • Pacific Source

  • UnitedHealthcare

Medicaid Nutrition Services Coverage Eligibility

Diabetes

  • Individuals diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are eligible for Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

  • Beneficiaries with non-dialysis kidney disease qualify for nutrition therapy.

Post-Kidney Transplant

  • Coverage is available for recipients of a kidney transplant within the past 36 months.

Pediatric Populations

  • Children and adolescents from birth through 20 years of age (up until their 21st birthday) are covered for all nutrition services under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) program.

Note: Eligibility for coverage is subject to individual Medicaid plans and program requirements. Please verify with your provider or Medicaid office to confirm your eligibility and coverage specifics.

Medicare Nutrition Services Coverage Eligibility

Diabetes

  • Individuals diagnosed with diabetes are eligible for Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

  • Coverage is available for beneficiaries with non-dialysis kidney disease.

Post-Kidney Transplant

  • Beneficiaries who have undergone a kidney transplant within the last 36 months qualify for MNT services.

Note: Medicare coverage for nutrition services is subject to specific eligibility requirements and a physician’s referral. Please consult your healthcare provider or Medicare directly to confirm your coverage and benefits.

The Values We Practice From

  • No “bad” Foods

    Unless you have an allergy, intolerance, or medical condition, all foods have a place.

  • No Restrictive Diets

    You need nutrients and satisfaction. We focus on variety and addition rather than restriction and deprivation, which can lead to cravings, nutritional deficiencies and feelings of out of control.

  • Small Shifts Add Up

    Major overhauls and big shifts don't usually last. We guide you through small, realistic goals so your efforts can be long lasting, creating change for a lifetime instead of a quick fix.

  • Trust Your Intuition

    Do you trust your body? We help you tune in, question and give yourself permission to trust your own hunger cues, needs, cravings and preferences.

  • Honor the Progress, Not Perfection.

    There is no “perfect” way to eat. We help you lean into self-compassion and curiosity rather than guilt or shame, honoring the process of learning what works for you and your goals.

  • Food is More Than Fuel

    Your food should support you, your lifestyle and your overall wellbeing. We empower your success with nutrition through finding enjoyable eating habits, honoring food preferences and implementing realistic behavior changes that fit your life.

What to Expect in Nutrition Counseling

We don't just tell you what to eat — we go deeper, exploring your relationship with food and creating successful strategies to meet your nutritional needs.

 

  • The first appointment is scheduled for 75 minutes. In this appointment, we do a thorough nutrition assessment including:

    • What brought you in

    • Nutrition related signs and symptoms

    • Medical diagnoses

    • Types, amounts and schedule of food and nutrient intake

    • Medication and supplement use

    • Knowledge/beliefs about food and diet

    • Food availability/security

    • Barriers and/or challenges with food and nutrition

    • Recent medical test, lab results, vitals and anthropometric data

    • History of hospitalizations, surgeries and procedures

    • Social, medical and nutrition history,

    • Other health related topics such as: sleeping habits, stress, physical activity, self-care routines, etc.

    • Personal goals

    …and more! In the initial appointment, we get to know the intricacies of your unique relationship with food. Our goal is to create a neutral environment where you can candidly share your experiences with eating. Through assessing your eating habits, lifestyle patterns, symptoms, health conditions, labs and personal goals, we can begin to create a custom plan that supports your way of life.

  • Follow-up appointments range in duration from 30-minutes to 1 hour. Each individual client is different, so there is not a standard number of sessions you may need. Follow-up appointments may include ongoing assessment of:

    • Your progress through evaluating what is working and what isn’t

    • How your body is feeling and responding

    • Signs and symptoms

    • Habit/behavior changes

    • Progress towards goals

    • Lab and/or medical test results

    • Mindset shifts

    • Food and nutrition knowledge

    • Nutrition logs, journals and/or documentation

    • Readiness to make changes

    …and more! We will continue to provide you with the support, guidance, education and nutrition counseling you need, while assessing your progress and evaluating personal milestones.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

You deserve to make informed decisions about your care. Our goal is to give you the answers you need to feel confident in your journey and in determining if working with our team of dietitians is right for you.

 

  • In short: A dietitian can be a nutritionist, but a nutritionist can not be a dietitian.

    The biggest difference is the level of education obtained and required. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts required to obtain:

    • Minimum of a bachelor's degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

    *Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

    • Completion of a ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (typically 7-24 months in length) This is also referred to as a dietetic internship.

    • Complete and pass a national registration examination given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

    • Must complete 75 continuing education credits every 5 years to maintain credential.

    The term "Nutritionist" does not guarantee any type of schooling or credentialing.

    The RDN credential is recognized by many states as eligibility for dietetic licensure within that state. RDNs are licensed in the state of Montana through the Board of Medical Examiners.

    In Montana, to provide nutrition assessment and counseling an individual must be licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners and be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

    Nutritionist do not meet the educational requirements to treat disease states and medical conditions through medical nutrition therapy like a dietitian.

    Also, dietitians can bill insurance, while nutritionist can not.

  • We are in-network with the insurance companies listed below and are continuously adding more. Within these networks, each insurance plan is different and coverage is not guaranteed. We are happy to provide guidance on determining your insurance coverage for nutrition services. Please reach out to us for assistance.

    • Blue Cross Blue Shield

    • PacificSource

    • United HealthCare

    • Cigna

    • Healthy Montana Kids

    • Aetna

    • UMR

    • Allegiance

    • Mountain Health Co-op

    • First Choice Health

    • Allied Benefits Systems

    • Prairie State

    • Montana Medicaid*

    • Montana Medicare*

    *Medicare Part B and Medicaid covers medical nutrition therapy services for diabetes or kidney disease diagnoses, or if you’ve had a kidney transplant in the last 36 months and your doctor refers you to us for services.

    *Montana Medicaid covers all nutrition services for those 20 years old and younger.

    We do provide reduced Medicare/Medicaid out-of-pocket rates. Contact us for our most current insurance and out-of-pocket rate information.

  • Most insurance companies cover all nutrition services performed by a dietitian. However, there are some specific plans that may not have nutrition benefits. We welcome you to call your insurance company to inquire about this or we can help you navigate this process.

  • Yes. We offer self-pay options and reduced rate packages to those without insurance.

  • After your appointment is scheduled, you will receive an email from Northern Nutrition Group with a link to the new patient intake forms. All paperwork is filled out online and HIPAA compliant.

  • Contact our office via phone (406-282-1398) or email (contact@northernnutritiongroup.com) and let us know that you are running late. We ask that you do not try to log into the session while driving or multitasking.

  • Yes, we are happy to have appointments with multiple people (partners, family members, friends, etc.) if what you are working on is in alignment with each other. However, if there are different goals for each person, we may recommend having individual appointments with separate dietitians with periodic joint appointments. Feel free to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to determine which appointment type would be the best fit for your situation.

  • Yes, Northern Nutrition Group uses a HIPAA-compliant virtual platform so we can meet patients wherever they are in Montana. We also have an office in Bozeman to see clients in person.

  • All appointments can be scheduled to fit your budget, starting at 30 min. We prefer the first appointments to be scheduled for 75-minutes to allow adequate time to complete the initial assessment. Follow-up appointments can be scheduled for 30-, 45-, 60-minutes.

  • Yes!

Trusted Provider Partners

If your health goals could benefit from a whole-person care approach and complementary treatments, we can help you build a care team of trusted experts in the following fields:

  • Primary Care Physicians

  • Women's Health Specialists

  • Gastroenterologists 

  • Registered Dietitians

  • Therapists

  • Psychiatrists

  • Physical Therapists

  • Acupuncturists

  • Massage Therapists

  • Personal Trainers

  • Other Provider Specialities

Ready to get started?

Contact Northern Nutrition to kick off the conversation! Start by scheduling a free 15-minute consultation call with you to determine if we’re a good fit for your needs–and if not, we’ll help you find a provider who is.