Meet Our Providers: Margaret Apura, Registered Dietitian
Welcome to Amwell Meet Our Providers. In this series, we take you behind the scenes of Amwell so you can learn about our health professionals who are available for online visits.
Meet Registered Dietitian Margaret Apura (pictured above). She provides online nutrition care to patients on Amwell from all around the country. As a registered dietitian (RD) with over 15 years of experience in weight and chronic disease management, Margaret has many healthy nutrition tips to share below.
When did you first decide you wanted to work in nutrition?
I was always interested in the relationship between food and health. However, when I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in college, I met with a registered dietitian to discuss my diet. That’s when I realized this was the profession I wanted to go into and I added a second major — nutrition and dietetics.
What’s your favorite thing about practicing online care?
The convenience of course! Patients get to connect with me from the comfort of their home or office.
What’s the main reason people turn to you for care online?
Usually, they’re looking for help with losing weight.
In your opinion, what’s the best feature of Amwell?
The two-way video visit so that we can see one another and form a relationship.
How has online care helped your busy schedule as a provider?
I save time on commuting to get to work, which allows me more time with my family. Additionally, I find patients are less stressed, for the most part, meeting online. They don’t have to worry about a stressful commute or long wait times once in the clinic. They can connect at a day and time that’s convenient for them which makes it an overall more pleasant experience. I don’t necessarily spend any more time with the patient than I would in an in-person setting but I think it’s higher quality time spent together. Plus, the two-way video allows me to see in a patient’s fridge or pantry for better insights on their eating patterns.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to bake, especially muffins! I also play with my kids, take my dog for a walk, and swim laps at our local pool.
What’s your general opinion on dieting?
I don’t promote fad or extreme diets. They may help you lose weight in the short term but in the long run, they can lead to weight regain or other health issues. My advice to patients is to follow a healthy eating pattern that includes:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Legumes (beans, lentils, peas)
- Whole grains
- Lean protein
- Heart-healthy fats (like olive oil)
What’s your recommendation for patients looking to choose a nutritionist? Should they shop around?
Registered dietitians are nutritionists but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. This is important to know because virtually anyone can call himself or herself a nutritionist — regardless of education or training.
All of our Amwell Medical Group nutritionists at Amwell are registered dietitians (RDs). RDs receive extensive training that combines academic preparation with hands-on, practical patient experience. RDs must complete a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, participate in a practice program involving direct patient care and pass a national registration exam.
How would I prepare for a visit? Should I log my meals before nutrition visits?
No, you don’t have to complete any food logs before your initial visit. Simply be ready to discuss your nutrition concerns and overall goals for the visit. If needed, I may ask you to track your food or weight for future visits.
What are your favorite tools for managing your nutrition?
Gone are the days of handwritten food logs! Now you can download an app to keep track of everything from food, exercise, sleep, weight, and the list goes on. There are so many options out there but I believe it’s all about finding what works best for you and fits your lifestyle – that’s most important.
Looking to jumpstart your own healthy eating plan? Amwell Nutrition Counseling can help with weight loss, food allergies, meal planning, vegetarian, sports or pregnancy diets and more. See a registered dietitian online from the comfort of home today.
