How Your Love of Food Can Lead to a Career as a Nutritionist
Are you a self-confessed foodie who loves eating healthy? Do you add (more than) a dash of nutrition to all the yummy treats that you prepare? Or do you simply enjoy creating guilt-free recipes during your free time? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you’d probably thrive in a food-related field. It’s never too late to turn that passion for nutritious meals into a rewarding career! What Nutritionists Do Nutritionists help people to make better choices and achieve a healthier lifestyle through the food they eat. In a nutshell, these healthcare experts use food and nutrition to promote wellness and manage illnesses. They assess and evaluate the nutritional needs of patients or clients—and give advice on healthy eating habits based on their findings. The demand for nutritionists continues to grow, as more individuals and organizations find ways to prevent diseases through a healthy diet or lifestyle. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for dietitians and nutritionists from 2014 to 2024 is much faster than the average for all occupations. Nutritionists typically work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, health clinics, government agencies, and more. Self-employed nutritionists often work as consultants for various organizations, prepare informational materials for clients, and meet up with patients. How to be a Nutritionist
- Earn a bachelor’s degree. In general, entry-level nutritionists have a degree in clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, food science, and other health-related areas. Nutritionists who have earned an advanced degree may have better job opportunities.
- Receive supervised training. Shortly after graduating from college, nutritionists have to complete hours of supervised training through an internship program.
- Meet state-specific licensing and certification requirements. In order to practice, nutritionists are required by most states to be licensed. While regulations differ in every state, common licensure and certification requirements include:
- Graduating from an approved or accredited nutritionist degree
- Completing a supervised practice program
- Passing a national exam
- Meeting continuing education (CE) requirements
Those who aspire to be a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) are recommended to contact local regulatory authorities for complete guidelines. Complete Your Nutrition Courses Online Do you have what it takes to be a certified nutritionist? At Meditec, you can meet your continuing education requirements in a matter of clicks. Browse our nutrition certification programs to broaden your understanding of Functional Nutrition, School Nutrition and Wellness, Family Nutrition, and more! Sources: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm#tab-1 https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/nutritionist/
