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Hello! My name is Lisset and I am a current high school student. I'm conducting an interview with any professional in the nutritionist field for a Foundations in Health Science class project about careers! I have created a total of 13 questions. Comment on this post, answering all 13 questions to be apart of my assignment. Thank You!
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field?
5. Were you in a college program?
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field?
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist?
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist?
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritonist?
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6 answers
Updated
Aairah’s Answer
Hi Lisset! I'm thrilled to participate in your interview for your Foundations in Health Science class project. Here are my responses to your 13 questions:
What profession did you choose? Why?
I chose to become a nutritionist because I've always been fascinated by the impact of food on our health and well-being. I wanted to help people make informed choices about their nutrition and support them in achieving their health goals.
How many years of college did you need to go through?
Becoming a nutritionist typically requires a bachelor's degree, which takes around four years to complete. However, some individuals choose to pursue higher education, such as a master's degree or a Ph.D., for further specialization.
What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
Before entering the nutritionist field, I gained experience by working at a health food store, assisting a dietitian, and interning at a community health center. These opportunities allowed me to apply my knowledge and build practical skills.
How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
Deciding to pursue a Ph.D. in nutrition is a personal choice. It is beneficial if you have a deep passion for research, teaching, or advancing the field's knowledge. Consider your long-term career goals and if a Ph.D. aligns with them.
Were you in a college program?
Yes, I completed a bachelor's degree in nutrition as part of a college program. It provided a comprehensive understanding of the field and allowed me to specialize in areas of interest.
Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
I did not have to pivot and return to school later, but it's not uncommon for individuals to go back to school to pursue further education or specialize in a specific area of nutrition.
Did you shadow another professional in this field?
Yes, I had the opportunity to shadow a registered dietitian during my college program. It was a valuable experience to observe their daily work and gain insights into the practical aspects of the profession.
Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
Yes, I joined a nutrition club at my college, which provided a platform for students to engage in discussions, organize events, and learn from guest speakers in the field of nutrition.
Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
Personally, I found biochemistry to be challenging during my school years. However, with persistence and seeking extra help, I was able to grasp the concepts and succeed in that subject.
What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
Pursuing a career in nutrition helped me develop skills such as nutritional assessment, meal planning, dietary counseling, research literacy, effective communication, and the ability to adapt to different client needs.
What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist?
Working as a nutritionist brings several benefits, including the satisfaction of positively impacting people's lives, the opportunity to continually learn and stay updated with nutritional science, and the joy of building meaningful connections with clients.
What is the work environment like for a nutritionist?
The work environment for a nutritionist can vary. Some work in hospitals or clinics, while others have private practices or work in community settings. Additionally, nutritionists may collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.
In your opinion, did you think it was worth it to become a nutritionist?
Absolutely! Becoming a nutritionist has been incredibly fulfilling for me. The ability to empower individuals to make positive changes to their health and witness their progress is immensely rewarding. It's a profession that allows me to make a meaningful impact every.
What profession did you choose? Why?
I chose to become a nutritionist because I've always been fascinated by the impact of food on our health and well-being. I wanted to help people make informed choices about their nutrition and support them in achieving their health goals.
How many years of college did you need to go through?
Becoming a nutritionist typically requires a bachelor's degree, which takes around four years to complete. However, some individuals choose to pursue higher education, such as a master's degree or a Ph.D., for further specialization.
What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
Before entering the nutritionist field, I gained experience by working at a health food store, assisting a dietitian, and interning at a community health center. These opportunities allowed me to apply my knowledge and build practical skills.
How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
Deciding to pursue a Ph.D. in nutrition is a personal choice. It is beneficial if you have a deep passion for research, teaching, or advancing the field's knowledge. Consider your long-term career goals and if a Ph.D. aligns with them.
Were you in a college program?
Yes, I completed a bachelor's degree in nutrition as part of a college program. It provided a comprehensive understanding of the field and allowed me to specialize in areas of interest.
Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
I did not have to pivot and return to school later, but it's not uncommon for individuals to go back to school to pursue further education or specialize in a specific area of nutrition.
Did you shadow another professional in this field?
Yes, I had the opportunity to shadow a registered dietitian during my college program. It was a valuable experience to observe their daily work and gain insights into the practical aspects of the profession.
Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
Yes, I joined a nutrition club at my college, which provided a platform for students to engage in discussions, organize events, and learn from guest speakers in the field of nutrition.
Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
Personally, I found biochemistry to be challenging during my school years. However, with persistence and seeking extra help, I was able to grasp the concepts and succeed in that subject.
What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
Pursuing a career in nutrition helped me develop skills such as nutritional assessment, meal planning, dietary counseling, research literacy, effective communication, and the ability to adapt to different client needs.
What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist?
Working as a nutritionist brings several benefits, including the satisfaction of positively impacting people's lives, the opportunity to continually learn and stay updated with nutritional science, and the joy of building meaningful connections with clients.
What is the work environment like for a nutritionist?
The work environment for a nutritionist can vary. Some work in hospitals or clinics, while others have private practices or work in community settings. Additionally, nutritionists may collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.
In your opinion, did you think it was worth it to become a nutritionist?
Absolutely! Becoming a nutritionist has been incredibly fulfilling for me. The ability to empower individuals to make positive changes to their health and witness their progress is immensely rewarding. It's a profession that allows me to make a meaningful impact every.
Loved reading this, thanks!
Lisset
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
3827
Answers
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Lisset!
1. What profession did you choose? Why? ----> Nutrition and Dietetics. Family members dying early.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? ----> 12
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? ----> Biochemist.
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field? ----> The advancement of knowledge requires it.
5. Were you in a college program? ----> No
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? ----> Yes
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field? ----> No
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? ----> The Dietitians' Association of Australia.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? ----> Science, Technology, and Underdevelopment.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? ----> How to use nutrition and dietetics to beat medical problems.
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist? ----> Good pay as a visiting specialist.
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist? ----> Hard driving 80,000 km a year visiting 16 hospitals.
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritionist? ----> Yes improved prognosis for many of my patients!
Don't forget to read my autobiography, paying attention to the foods that provide all the essential nutrients for effective studying. You might discover that you can accomplish twice as much academic work in half the time. Your performance in exams and assignments could also improve, especially if your diet has significantly improved. Replenishing missing nutrients can do wonders.
GOD BLESS YOU,
[BECAUSE HE CAN AND WILL]
James Constantine.
1. What profession did you choose? Why? ----> Nutrition and Dietetics. Family members dying early.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? ----> 12
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? ----> Biochemist.
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field? ----> The advancement of knowledge requires it.
5. Were you in a college program? ----> No
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? ----> Yes
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field? ----> No
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? ----> The Dietitians' Association of Australia.
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? ----> Science, Technology, and Underdevelopment.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? ----> How to use nutrition and dietetics to beat medical problems.
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist? ----> Good pay as a visiting specialist.
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist? ----> Hard driving 80,000 km a year visiting 16 hospitals.
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritionist? ----> Yes improved prognosis for many of my patients!
Don't forget to read my autobiography, paying attention to the foods that provide all the essential nutrients for effective studying. You might discover that you can accomplish twice as much academic work in half the time. Your performance in exams and assignments could also improve, especially if your diet has significantly improved. Replenishing missing nutrients can do wonders.
GOD BLESS YOU,
[BECAUSE HE CAN AND WILL]
James Constantine.
Updated
Yulia’s Answer
Hi Lisset,
Here are my answers.
1. Clinical Nutritionist
2. 3 years including pre-requisites
3. Practitioner consultant, Nutritionist (this is my 2nd career though)
4. You should ask yourself 2 questions: Do I want to work directly with clients as a clinician? Do I enjoy conducting scientific research instead of dealing with people directly? PhD can help you move down the career path faster though, so might be worth looking into it.
5. Yes. I got a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, CT (this program is heavily routed in teh principles of functional medicine. Highly recommend it)
6. No
7. Yes, I did. It is also a part of the internship hours that are required in order to get certified by the American Nutrition Association. You need to accomplish an internship (which includes shadowing) and those hours before you sit for the final exam. This certification (CNS) is the next step after you got your degree in Nutrition. It's not obligatory but it will put you on a different level as a professional in this industry.
8. I joined the American Nutrition Association.
9. I found the pathophysiology class being the toughest one.
10. Thinking as a detective. Everything is related to everything when it comes to the health of our body.
11. I can help people gain their health back.
12. It depends. You could be working for a digital health startup/company, or working from home with your clients online, or teaching at school/university, or joining a small practice and seeing people in person. Every scenario yields a different working environment.
13. I love this profession, but it can be hard to make good money, especially in the beginning. The career path is not as straightforward as for the registered dietitians (RDs) but in my opinion, way more exciting and gratifying.
Hope this helps :)
Here are my answers.
1. Clinical Nutritionist
2. 3 years including pre-requisites
3. Practitioner consultant, Nutritionist (this is my 2nd career though)
4. You should ask yourself 2 questions: Do I want to work directly with clients as a clinician? Do I enjoy conducting scientific research instead of dealing with people directly? PhD can help you move down the career path faster though, so might be worth looking into it.
5. Yes. I got a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, CT (this program is heavily routed in teh principles of functional medicine. Highly recommend it)
6. No
7. Yes, I did. It is also a part of the internship hours that are required in order to get certified by the American Nutrition Association. You need to accomplish an internship (which includes shadowing) and those hours before you sit for the final exam. This certification (CNS) is the next step after you got your degree in Nutrition. It's not obligatory but it will put you on a different level as a professional in this industry.
8. I joined the American Nutrition Association.
9. I found the pathophysiology class being the toughest one.
10. Thinking as a detective. Everything is related to everything when it comes to the health of our body.
11. I can help people gain their health back.
12. It depends. You could be working for a digital health startup/company, or working from home with your clients online, or teaching at school/university, or joining a small practice and seeing people in person. Every scenario yields a different working environment.
13. I love this profession, but it can be hard to make good money, especially in the beginning. The career path is not as straightforward as for the registered dietitians (RDs) but in my opinion, way more exciting and gratifying.
Hope this helps :)
Updated
Mallory’s Answer
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
- Registered Dietitian; I loved food and wanted to do something with food that was not being a chef, that was also science based.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
- 4 years undergraduate at an accredited university for their nutrition (bachelors) program, 2 years masters in a nutriton degree (nutrition education & counseling), and 1 year year unpaid, pay to complete dietetic internship through a university
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
- most departments in a grocery store, health educator
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field?
- decide/think about what part of the field do you most want to work in or be specialized in? i.e. sports nutrition, diabetes, teaching, tube feeding/critical care, pediatrics, etc.
5. Were you in a college program?
- Yes - Bachelors in Nutrition & Dietetics
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
- No, I fortunately could do my bachelors straight out of high school and a Masters starting the following semester
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field?
- Yes, a fellow school mom and sit in a class at the local college one day
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
- in high school - cooking; in college: Student Dietetic Association and the Sports Nutrition Club
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
- Biochemistry and Statistics
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
- patience, time management, prioritizing tasks, motivational interviewing, active listening, goal setting
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist?
- Vision, Dental, Health Insurance
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist?
- there are many types: Long Term Care , Critical Care/Hospital, private practice, school, food service, in patient, out patient, sports - all are very different environments!
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritonist?
- I do think it is worth it - there is always more learning to do and helping people is so rewarding; but I will say it can be a very moderate salary job for an immense amount of work
- Registered Dietitian; I loved food and wanted to do something with food that was not being a chef, that was also science based.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through?
- 4 years undergraduate at an accredited university for their nutrition (bachelors) program, 2 years masters in a nutriton degree (nutrition education & counseling), and 1 year year unpaid, pay to complete dietetic internship through a university
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
- most departments in a grocery store, health educator
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field?
- decide/think about what part of the field do you most want to work in or be specialized in? i.e. sports nutrition, diabetes, teaching, tube feeding/critical care, pediatrics, etc.
5. Were you in a college program?
- Yes - Bachelors in Nutrition & Dietetics
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
- No, I fortunately could do my bachelors straight out of high school and a Masters starting the following semester
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field?
- Yes, a fellow school mom and sit in a class at the local college one day
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
- in high school - cooking; in college: Student Dietetic Association and the Sports Nutrition Club
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
- Biochemistry and Statistics
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
- patience, time management, prioritizing tasks, motivational interviewing, active listening, goal setting
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist?
- Vision, Dental, Health Insurance
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist?
- there are many types: Long Term Care , Critical Care/Hospital, private practice, school, food service, in patient, out patient, sports - all are very different environments!
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritonist?
- I do think it is worth it - there is always more learning to do and helping people is so rewarding; but I will say it can be a very moderate salary job for an immense amount of work
Updated
TJ’s Answer
See my answers after each lines
1. What profession did you choose? Why? [Physics, because I was good at it and it is an excellent foundation for any major]
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? [4 years in college, 2 years for Master, and 4 years for PhD]
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? [University research facult member]
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field? [Case dependent. if you are good at STEM, physics wil give you a strong foundation. I do not suggest to continue physics in graduate school, unless you really like it and want to have a professorship or research in physics as your lifelong career. Choose a marketable major in your graduate school]
5. Were you in a college program? [in a top school]
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? [No]
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field? [Yes, most time I stand out]
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? [No, great work is done lonely as usual]
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? [No, but that's purely born lucky]
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? [Creative thinking. BTW, I have published 2 books on this topic]
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist? [I'm not in this profession]
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist? [Have no idea]
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritonist? [I really don't know. In general, as in the incoming ChatGPT era, any IQ heavily involved jobs will be in danger, jobs having high survivability will be the ones that require high EQ and/or high creativity]
1. What profession did you choose? Why? [Physics, because I was good at it and it is an excellent foundation for any major]
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? [4 years in college, 2 years for Master, and 4 years for PhD]
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? [University research facult member]
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field? [Case dependent. if you are good at STEM, physics wil give you a strong foundation. I do not suggest to continue physics in graduate school, unless you really like it and want to have a professorship or research in physics as your lifelong career. Choose a marketable major in your graduate school]
5. Were you in a college program? [in a top school]
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? [No]
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field? [Yes, most time I stand out]
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? [No, great work is done lonely as usual]
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? [No, but that's purely born lucky]
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? [Creative thinking. BTW, I have published 2 books on this topic]
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist? [I'm not in this profession]
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist? [Have no idea]
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritonist? [I really don't know. In general, as in the incoming ChatGPT era, any IQ heavily involved jobs will be in danger, jobs having high survivability will be the ones that require high EQ and/or high creativity]
Updated
Mary Carol’s Answer
1. What profession did you choose? I'm a registered dietitian. It combines my interests in food and health.
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? A bachelor's degree is required, which generally takes 4 years. An internship is also required, which varies in length.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? I worked as a nurse's aide to get healthcare experience, and then I worked in hospita food service and in the diet office under the supervision of a dietitian.
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field? It is not necessary, but if you want to go into research or teaching at the college level, you may need a PhD.
5. Were you in a college program? Yes, as the University of Illinois.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? I completed my degree in 4 consecutive years but know many people who went back to school later in life to become a dietitian.
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field? Yes, in my part time work at a hospital. It is harder to shadow these days with privacy rules.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? I was in the Food and Nutrition Clun in College
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? There are alot of required science courses and some of them were pretty rough. My classmates were mostly pre-med students so the competition was also tough.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? Communication and working with people, as well as the business aspects of healthcare and learning to be a good leader.
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist? It's incredibly practical since everyone needs to eat!
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist? Many work in hospitals or healthcare settings, but there are lots of other options as well.
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritonist? Yes! I've been a dietitian for almost 40 years and have found it to be a very rewarding career!
2. How many years of college did you need to go through? A bachelor's degree is required, which generally takes 4 years. An internship is also required, which varies in length.
3. What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? I worked as a nurse's aide to get healthcare experience, and then I worked in hospita food service and in the diet office under the supervision of a dietitian.
4. How can I decide if I should earn a PH.D. in this field? It is not necessary, but if you want to go into research or teaching at the college level, you may need a PhD.
5. Were you in a college program? Yes, as the University of Illinois.
6. Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? I completed my degree in 4 consecutive years but know many people who went back to school later in life to become a dietitian.
7. Did you shadow another professional in this field? Yes, in my part time work at a hospital. It is harder to shadow these days with privacy rules.
8. Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? I was in the Food and Nutrition Clun in College
9. Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? There are alot of required science courses and some of them were pretty rough. My classmates were mostly pre-med students so the competition was also tough.
10. What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? Communication and working with people, as well as the business aspects of healthcare and learning to be a good leader.
11. What benefits did you receive working as a nutritionist? It's incredibly practical since everyone needs to eat!
12. What is the work environment like for a nutritionist? Many work in hospitals or healthcare settings, but there are lots of other options as well.
13. In your opinion did you think it was worth it to become a nutritonist? Yes! I've been a dietitian for almost 40 years and have found it to be a very rewarding career!
Thank you so much!
Lisset