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What are some key things I'll need to know before becoming a Nutritionist?

I'm a high school student who needs information on being a nutritionist for a career project for school.

career high-school nutrition nutritionist
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Jimmy’s Answer

Hi there! I'm so excited to hear your interest in nutrition! Nutrition can be a term that covers multiple disciplines as mentioned above. It is generally accepted that registered dietitians are the only ones that carry the specific dietitian title. These folks get a degree in nutrition, often the degree is dietetics or medical nutrition of some sort sorts. Then these graduates apply for an internship, usually about two years, working directly under a registered dietitian in a clinical setting. After this is completed, they can register for their board exam and become board certified as a registered dietitian. In contrast, nutritionist is not a label that specifically regulated. Nutritionist can really vary and it's important to know what their level of expertise is education and further education. Most nutritionist get a degree in nutrition and community health or are there nutrition degree focused less directly on the medical field and interacting with disease. These professionals can have a wide range of jobs in the future, including education, community health, preventative care, or working in the field under a registered dietitian. There are lots of nutrition certification programs out there that don't require a bachelors degree in nutrition of any kind. This is where the term nutritionist gets a little vague as sometimes people get a certification and call themselves a nutritionist. This isn't inherently a negative thing, just something to look out for as ideally you'd like somebody who has a background this at university and has continued their education of some sort sorts for their board certified or not. I myself have a degree in nutrition in community health and call myself a nutrition educato and I now work with animals and I am an animal nutritionist certified canine specialist. Please let me know if you want any more information on this topic!
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Florey’s Answer

Hi Reese:
I am glad you are interested in this profession because it has become more exciting than it ever was and there is lots of potential to fuel your interests.
Besides clinical nutrition, which helps people with illness and chronic conditions, there is the field of community nutrition that seeks to promote healthy behaviors to prevent disease. Newer to nutrition and dietitics is the melding of nutrition science with culinary ideas - how to make our food as healthy as possible, how to eat well on a budget, how to cook delicious food that is healthful too.
There is a fair amount of frustration in the field of nutrition because it is difficult for people to change eating behaviors that they have engaged in for many years.
Nutrition is now recognized as a true science and insurance companies, health organizations and the food industry are all open to registered dietitians.
Let me know if you want more specific info. Good luck!
Florey
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