Dr. Cathy Forbes in Baltimore: Individual Nutrition Counseling for Weight Management and Chronic Disease

Dr. Cathy Forbes runs a one-person nutrition practice in Baltimore focused on medical nutrition therapy for clients managing weight, diabetes, heart disease, and gastrointestinal conditions. She holds credentials as a registered dietitian (RD) and works by appointment only, with a patient load that reflects her emphasis on depth over volume.

What she actually does

Forbes operates as an independent registered dietitian, which means she has completed a bachelor's degree, an accredited dietetics program, and passed the Commission on Dietetic Registration examination. She accepts clients on direct self-pay basis and does not bill insurance, which distinguishes her from dietitians embedded in hospital systems or large medical practices. Her specialty is helping clients with diagnosed conditions modify eating patterns to improve lab values, reduce medication dependence, or manage symptoms; she does not work in performance nutrition, sports dietetics, or general wellness coaching.

Services and pricing

Initial consultations run 60 to 75 minutes and cost $125 to $150; follow-up visits of 30 to 45 minutes range from $75 to $100. These rates are at the higher end of the Baltimore independent dietitian market, which typically ranges from $60 to $120 per hour. Forbes creates individualized meal plans and provides written summaries of each session, which clients can share with their physicians. She does not stock supplements or branded meal plans. Payment is due at the time of service; she does not file insurance claims on the client's behalf. Some clients with flexible spending or health savings accounts can request an itemized receipt to submit to their insurance for potential reimbursement, though coverage and reimbursement rates vary widely by plan.

How she compares to other Baltimore nutritionists

Baltimore has several entry points for nutrition advice. Registered dietitians employed by University of Maryland Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins offer nutrition counseling, often at lower out-of-pocket cost for insured patients but with longer wait times (typically 4 to 12 weeks for an appointment). Those systems specialize in post-discharge counseling and standard protocols rather than extended ongoing relationships. Independent practitioners like Forbes trade insurance billing convenience for the ability to spend 90 minutes on a first visit and develop a relationship over months. A handful of online nutrition coaching services operating in Baltimore charge $40 to $70 per session but offer less face-to-face accountability and no medical credentials beyond basic health coaching certification. Nutritionists without RD credentials (sometimes called "nutritional consultants") are unregulated and may lack the clinical training to interpret lab work or work safely with clients on medication; Forbes's RD status means she has completed 1,200 supervised practice hours.

Who this suits and who it does not

Forbes is best for clients with a diagnosed condition (prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, IBS, Crohn's disease) who want to modify their diet as first-line or adjunct treatment and have the budget for out-of-pocket counseling. She works well for people who see their doctor regularly and want their nutrition plan to align with recent lab values and medication changes. She does not suit people seeking quick-fix weight loss diets, meal delivery services, or wellness tips for general health; nor does she work with children or adolescents.

What the first visit involves

The initial appointment begins with a detailed dietary history: what you eat and drink, meal timing, portion sizes, and barriers to change. Forbes asks about medical history, medications, food allergies, cultural food preferences, and previous dieting attempts. She reviews recent bloodwork if the client brings it. She takes anthropometric measurements (weight, height) and may ask about physical activity. By the end of the first session, she provides a written plan with specific foods to add or reduce, meal examples, and homework (often a three-day food diary for the next visit). She does not use preprinted meal plans; plans are built from the client's actual diet and preferences.

Hours, location, and logistics

Forbes operates by appointment only; there are no drop-ins or same-week urgent slots. She is located in Canton and can be reached by phone or email to schedule. Off-street parking is available. Verification note: office hours may vary seasonally; confirm availability when scheduling. Most sessions are in-person, though she offers phone consultations for follow-ups when travel is a barrier.

Forbes's fees and deliberate practice model make her most valuable for clients with complex medical needs who are willing to invest in sustained dietary change rather than a single consultation.