Key Points:
- Both Fay and Foodsmart match users to registered dietitians to get their care covered by health insurance.
- Fay offers highly specialized care with completely custom nutrition counseling.
- Foodsmart offers more generalized programs for specific health conditions and focuses more on food budgeting.
Changing how you eat is one of the best ways to take control of your health. Whether you’re managing a chronic condition like high cholesterol or just want to feel better in your daily life, eating strategically is one of the most powerful ways to improve your health.
But a generalized cookie-cutter meal plan won’t cut it when it comes to achieving lasting change. Registered dietitians are the most qualified nutrition experts out there. Working one-on-one with a dietitian is one of the most proven approaches. And you can access these expert services more easily than ever with online platforms that pair you with an RD who accepts health insurance.
Fay and Foodsmart are two online nutrition counseling platforms that connect users with registered dietitians for personal nutrition services. Both platforms accept health insurance to get your care covered, but each platform has its own approach. Read on to learn more about each platform and what makes each stand out to support your nutrition and health goals.
Fay vs. Foodsmart at a glance
| Fay | Nourish | |
| Insurance coverage | Covers 700+ insurance plans | Works with major providers, Medicare & Medicaid |
| Care approach | Offers medical nutrition therapy, as well as weight loss, eating disorder recovery, food sensitivities/gut health, and more | Focuses on medical nutrition therapy |
| Offers mobile app | ✔ Meal logging and goal tracking, 24/7 provider chat | ✔ Provider video chats, meal planning, food shopping |
| Platform focus | Focuses on flexible care that works with your individual lifestyle | Focuses on food budgeting |
| Offers custom nutrition services | ✔ Every RD takes a completely custom approach tailored to your health concerns and goals | ✔ |
What is Fay?
Fay empowers individuals to take control of their health through personalized nutrition counseling. With Fay, you can easily match with a dietitian who specializes in your area of concern, like losing weight or managing your gut health, and get your care covered by health insurance. Sessions are available both virtually and in person across all 50 states.
All providers in the network are vetted Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). Fay works with most major insurance carriers to help cover the cost of care, including:
- Aetna
- Anthem
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna
- Humana
- Select Health
- United Healthcare
How it works:
- Search for a dietitian based on your specific health needs and insurance coverage, or get matched by Fay’s system.
- Get your care cost estimate of out-of-pocket costs, which will later be confirmed after billing to your insurance.
- Meet with your provider in person or virtually every week or as needed.
- Fay handles the billing and claims process directly with insurance providers on your behalf so you don’t have to worry.
What is Foodsmart?
Foodsmart is a foodcare platform focused on affordable and accessible nutrition services through medical nutrition therapy and food budgeting. Its care is built by programs that center around specific goals:
- Weight management
- Wellness & sports nutrition
- Maternity & family health
- Diabetes
- Wallet Wellness Nutrition Program
Foodsmart partners with Instacart to offer rewards for meeting with a Foodsmart dietitian. “Foodsmart Bucks” can be redeemed to purchase some healthy food items on its Instacart marketplace.
How it works
- Book a phone or video call with a nutrition coach.
- Input your health insurance information and fill out your preferences and goals.
- Meet your personal nutrition coach.
- Get food delivery through partner apps.
Compare Fay vs. Foodsmart benefits
Fay and Foodsmart both offer dietitian services covered by health insurance, but each platform has a different approach to nutrition counseling. Learn more about each platform to see which is right for your health goals.
Expertise
Fay
Fay prioritizes matching you with the exact right provider for your needs and goals. You can use Fay’s highly specific search tools filter the dietitian network by several criteria to ensure a great match, including:
- Health insurance, to ensure you’re covered
- Location, if you want to meet in person
- Specialty, like metabolic health, behavioral nutrition, or diabetes care
- Gender
- Language
- Diet and cuisine
- Modality, like cognitive behavioral therapy or intuitive eating
All providers are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, the highest qualification a nutritionist can have.
Foodsmart
Foodsmart offers specific programs for different health concerns, like gut health, heart health, wellness, and more. It primarily offers medical nutrition therapy. All Foodsmart providers are registered dietitians.
Insurance coverage
Fay
Fay accepts 700+ insurance plans across all 50 states, including all major insurance providers.
If your insurance plan requires pre-authorization, you can ask your dietitian if they can handle this for you so you don’t have to worry.
Foodsmart
Foodsmart accepts most insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Provider network
Fay
Fay boasts a network of 3,600+ specialized dietitians. All providers go through a rigorous four-step vetting process to confirm they are both qualified and have a proven track record. Fay also measures and monitors providers’ ongoing outcomes to ensure consistent excellence.
Dietitians who work with Fay operate independently and own their own practice. Every provider is a board-certified Registered Dietitian Nutrition.
Foodsmart
Foodsmart has a broad network of dietitians. It offers programs for specific conditions, like heart health or diabetes, which may take less of a custom approach than individual nutrition counseling.
Cost
Fay
Fay clients pay as little as $0 per session with insurance (compared to $150+ per session without insurance coverage).
Fay offers a pricing estimation tool that uses your insurance information to get the most accurate estimate possible:
- Fay verifies the validity of your insurance and the eligibility and coverage with your insurer;
- Available cost-sharing details (such as copays or deductibles) are reviewed;
- Fay generates the most accurate estimate possible based on returned data.
Pricing depends on several factors, including your specific insurance plan, deductibles status, how the insurer applies copays, and more.
Foodsmart
Most Foodsmart members pay nothing out of pocket. Foodsmart also helps members save on groceries with recommendations for cheaper alternatives and enables them to use points on platforms like Instacart.
Availability
Fay
With Fay, all RDs work virtually and many work in person as well. You can filter search results based on your preference.
When browsing dietitians, you can see every provider’s availability on their profile, so you know exactly who’s available and when. This makes it easy to compare two providers’ specialties, ratings, and availability. You can either book directly through each profile from the search result page, or go through Fay’s matching service to find a provider who matches your needs.
Foodsmart
You can only find a dietitian through Foodsmart’s scheduling portal or by calling. If you prefer to browse options and read through profiles and reviews before scheduling, this may feel limiting.
App
Fay
Fay offers a comprehensive mobile app that keeps you connected to your dietitian between appointments, helping you stay on track with your goals.
The chat function is open 24/7, enabling easy communication between you and your RD. The app encourages steady progress with daily to-dos, which you can customize yourself based on your goals, or your RD can help set.
You can also log meals (including photos), track symptoms, and share your latest wins and concerns.
Foodsmart
The Foodsmart app is designed as a complement to your work with your dietitian. You can find health recipes, a meal planner, grocery list, and food budgeting tools inside. Some of these tools include a view of deals at your local grocery stores as well as a price comparison feature.
How to choose the right nutrition service provider
Just because someone has the proper qualifications doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for you. Working with a dietitian is a very personal process. When comparing options, these factors can help inform your decision:
- Cost and insurance: Coverage will vary by insurance provider and plan, and your final price often isn’t 100% confirmed until after your first appointment. Input your insurance information to get your estimated cost to see if the service is accessible to you.
- Specialty: All dietitians are qualified to offer nutrition services, but many choose to specialize in a particular area. Look for an RD who focuses on your area of concern. Many nutrition services that allow you to filter by specialty or need to find the right dietitian for you.
- Availability and scheduling: Some RDs only work online while others also offer in-person services. Consider what kind of support you want and when you want to meet, whether it’s during the day, in the evenings, or on the weekends.
- Additional benefits: Working with a dietitian is more than just a meal plan or weekly appointment. Ongoing support is crucial for lasting success, so look for platforms that offer mobile app support, helpful resources, and robust features like meal tracking.
Ultimately, the right platform is one that pairs you with a dietitian who specializes in your needs, prioritizes thoughtful and personalized support, and accepts your insurance.
Final thoughts
Both Fay and Foodsmart make it easy to get nutrition counseling services covered by health insurance. If you’re looking to focus on budgeting while taking control of your health, Foodsmart is a good option. If you want highly specialized care with a completely custom approach, Fay is the right platform for you.
The right choice depends on your personal needs and insurance coverage. What’s most important is finding a provider who champions your success and empowers you to build lasting habits for a healthier life.
Start your nutrition journey today.
The views expressed by authors and contributors of such content are not endorsed or approved by Fay and are intended for informational purposes only. The content is reviewed by Fay only to confirm educational value and audience interest. You are encouraged to discuss any questions that you may have about your health with a healthcare provider.
