A nutritionist counsels people how to eat well in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle

What will I be doing all day?

A nutritionist counsels people how to eat well in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Typical responsibilities include assessing clients’ current diet and health requirements, developing meal plans, tracking the effectiveness of the meal plan and modifying as needed, and educating people about good eating habits and the relationship between nutrition and health.

What kind of career options do I have?

Nutritionists can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practice, cafeterias, nursing homes, schools, government programs such as WIC, and more.

Some common specialties include:

Clinical Dietitians — They provide nutrition therapy, counseling either individuals or groups, and providing customized food plans to help clients achieve specific health goals, whether weight loss or managing a medical problem.

Management Dietitians — They design meal plans in public food service settings, such as school cafeterias, hospitals, or food corporations. Their responsibilities may include purchasing food, overseeing kitchen staff, and more.

Community Dietitians — They promote nutritional awareness within the community, by educating the public about food and diet. They may work in public health clinics, government agencies or HMOs.

What’s the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?

Legally, anyone can use the title nutritionist, whereas to become a dietitian, one must become licensed by taking requisite coursework and passing a national exam, thereby earning the title Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).

Do I have the personality for it?

A successful nutritionist should be patient, sympathetic, and caring, a good communicator and listener, and an effective motivator who can encourage clients to have confidence in themselves. They should also be open to learning and staying on top of new research.

What can I expect to make?

Salaries range from $55,000 to $85,000.  Managerial salaries can be over $100,000.

The average solo private practitioner can make $120,000 to $150,000 working full-time.