The last few articles have all been on the topic of food and nutrition. I've covered the psychological and physiological damage that dieting can cause, I have outlined how to use the Food Guide Pyramid and explained the importance of eating the correct serving sizes and I have offered advice on self-monitoring as a tool to improve your eating habits.

As March is Nutrition Month, it seemed appropriate to devote one more article to the topic. This week's article offers some advice to those who are still feeling confused and overwhelmed when it comes to eating a healthy diet.

There is a lot of conflicting information out there on the topic of eating a healthy diet, and although the Food Guide Pyramid and other information I have offered is the most widely accepted approach to healthy eating, I would not be offended if you are still not sure how to go about eating a healthy diet.

There is help out there - you do not have to do it alone. Although it may cost you some money, there are people who can help give you more personalised and detailed guidelines for putting together a healthy eating plan - they are called Registered Dieticians. A Registered Dietician (RD) is a healthcare professional with a specialised knowledge in the area of nutrition.

An RD has completed a nutrition-related degree that involves a rigorous course of study in the scientific areas of biochemistry, human anatomy and physiology. An internship or supervised practice must be completed and a national board examination must be passed before an individual can receive the RD designation.

In order to keep their registration current, RDs must also complete continuing education credits. So why am I telling you all this? Because Registered Dieticians translate nutrition science into practical everyday eating and meal-planning techniques. And they are thoroughly educated and well-qualified professionals who will not dish out any hokey-pokey information and will not offer magic pills, powders or solutions.

As obesity has become an epidemic, the weight-loss industry has become extremely profitable; however, unfortunately not everyone has our best interests at heart.

My advice for those of you who need a little more guidance is to seek out the services of a Registered Dietician to work with you to create a healthy nutritional plan. There are several ways of going about this. To meet with a local professional, contact the Bermuda Dietician's Association (236-2345 ext. 1603) to get information on Registered Dieticians in Bermuda or contact the Government Nutritionist through the Government Health Department.

There are several well-qualified RDs on the island. If you prefer, there are also good resources available online. The website www.RDlink.com provides connections to RDs available on the web. www.ediets.com is a website that offers individualised meal plans, recipes and nutrition advice; they employ RDs and use the recommendations of the leading nutrition organisations such as the American Dietetic Association and the Food and Drug Administration.

Be careful when using online services; not all of them employ Registered Dieticians. It is important to understand that you are not alone - there are people qualified and interested in helping you to establish realistic goals.

They will work with you if necessary to tailor a diet to help you meet those goals. Don't ever be shy about asking for help in becoming BodyWise.