Food itself is fascinating, but even more intriguing is what happens inside the body after a person eats. A nutritionist studies the relationship between what people eat and how that food affects their health and lifestyle. Since a person’s diet impacts everything from weight gain or loss to chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes, a nutritionist can offer beneficial advice to individuals and businesses like restaurants.
Nutritionists can pursue a broad range of online careers. As the popularity of remote work increases, anyone can acquire the education required to become a nutritionist and put that knowledge to use as a nutrition teacher, writer, lifestyle coach, consultant, or specialist.
Nutritionists become educated in their field by completing certificate or degree programs that teach how food is broken down by organs like the stomach and kidneys and how nutrients within food impact a person’s health. With that foundational knowledge, a nutritionist can choose to pursue a degree or start an online career. Keep reading to learn about five ideas for jobs in nutrition you can do online!
Article Contents
Making a Career out of Nutrition Online!
For decades, nutrition jobs have existed in restaurants, hospitals, and other brick-and-mortar settings, but the digital world has created far more opportunities for a nutritionist. Not only can the required education be completed virtually, but career opportunities for nutritionists to work remotely are in abundance. When deciding whether to make a career out of nutrition online, consider the following:
- Degrees and Certificates
- Licensing and Certification
- Preferred and Available Jobs
A nutritionist must first learn the basics about food and diet. These issues can be self-taught, but without experience, it may be difficult to turn that knowledge into a career that earns income, especially if authorities require certification or licensing to be a practicing nutritionist.
Most colleges and universities offer traditional two-year Associates’ degrees, four-year Bachelor’s degrees, or advanced Master’s or Doctorate degrees in the field of nutrition. In fact, here are some online nutrition Master’s programs! In addition to traditional college degree programs, many organizations offer certificate programs that can be completed in less than a year.
A higher level of nutrition education and practice can be achieved by becoming a dietitian. Caution must be exercised when using the title “dietitian” because there are legal implications for using it in an incorrect or misleading way. Becoming a Registered Dietitian requires an approved four-year degree, qualified internship, and successful exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
The level of education and certification required to practice as a nutritionist varies widely and depends on government requirements in the jurisdiction where the activity occurs. Once the legal requirements have been met, a nutritionist can choose any level of education or certification appropriate for a particular job.
To start a career as an online nutritionist, first consider the type of online job that most appeals to you, such as writer or consultant, and whether you want to be self-employed or work for an employer.
5 Ideas for Jobs in Nutrition You Can Do Online!
Opportunities for jobs in nutrition are in abundance, especially with the proliferation of remote employment. Professional nutritionists may decide to pursue licensing or certification to add credibility, expand employment opportunities, or comply with the law. After nutritionists have been educated and/or accredited, they can pursue a number of options to earn income in a profession they love.
- Nutrition Teacher
- Nutrition Writer
- Nutrition Coach
- Nutrition Consultant
- Licensed Dietitian
As with any job, success in an online nutrition career requires suitable personality characteristics, including professionalism and reliability. Nutritionists should seek an opportunity that utilizes their particular skill sets, such as writing or coaching, if they want to be successful and fulfilled in the long term.
The Clinical Nutrition Certification Board can certify a nutritionist with a bachelor’s degree as a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN). An advanced Master’s or Doctorate degree in nutrition is required to attain the Certified Nutrition Specialist credential from the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.
Nutritionists that conduct online business across multiple states or jurisdictions may encounter different regulations regarding practice and licensure. Great care should be taken to be sure any practice as a nutritionist adheres to any applicable governing rules.
Job postings typically specify any special certifications or licenses required, but a job description should not be considered a comprehensive description of legal requirements. Before applying for a nutrition job online, check to see what your state’s legal requirements for nutritionists are to avoid any unintended legal ramifications.
Nutrition Teacher
A good teacher can attract an eager student of any age or education level. Teaching opportunities are prevalent, especially as nutrition issues like obesity and processed food additives continue to make daily headlines. After a thorough education, nutritionists are prepared to share that knowledge and offer advice provided their practice of online nutrition teaching adheres to all governing authorities.
- College and K-12 curricula all contain some level of nutrition education, and providers now offer many of these courses to their students via an online platform
- A nutritionist may be hired as an educator on this topic after teaching requirements have been met, such as a state-certified teaching certificate
Outside of traditional graduate and undergraduate degree paths, online learning platforms have skyrocketed in popularity. Many of these consider experience as valuable as formal education, and that may be enough for a nutritionist to be hired to teach the practice and principles of nutrition to a virtual classroom.
A nutritionist with an entrepreneurial spirit may try to build a student base by offering one-on-one or group classes to a variety of audiences. With a little marketing expertise, nutritionists can distinguish themselves as experts in any number of fields and provide teaching to earn income.
Nutrition Writer
Eager readers want to know more about how food impacts their body in different ways and how they can alter what they eat to improve their health. A nutritionist can write about personal experiences, case studies of other people, or the science of nutrition itself, and there is no shortage of topics to cover.
Earning income by writing about nutrition requires a great deal of self-discipline and focus, but authors of lifestyle blogs or books about food and diet have found great success marketing their writing online. To set oneself apart from other authors, it is critical to establish a unique voice or perspective that gives the reader a fresh perspective about their life and the world around them.
As with all writing, credibility is key. An online nutrition writer must be accurate in all details, which often requires continuing education to stay up to date on changing science and emerging issues. Building an audience or portfolio of clients may require growth over time, but a profitable and rewarding career might be a payout worth that investment.
Nutrition Coach
In recent years, personal coaching has skyrocketed in popularity. Traditionally career or fitness oriented, lifestyle coaching has expanded into fields of health and nutrition. A skilled nutritionist can provide paid services to clients to help them analyze what, how, and when they eat. Over time, a nutrition coach can assist someone in improving their own health through education and motivation.
- Online nutrition coaching is easily handled via any number of free online platforms such as Zoom or Skype
- Sessions can be booked and sold in as little as 15-minute increments, which adds to the flexibility of an online nutritionist’s weekly schedule
Diet and weight loss coaching are two of the most common online nutritionist topics. Individuals or small groups can hire a nutrition coach to advise them about exercise, calories, and other food facts related to obesity and overall health. You can even make your own online nutrition programs for weight loss. Nutrition coaches positively impact their clients mental and physical health by providing a structured approach to their diet and nutrition.
Nutrition Consultant
Some individuals or businesses need the occasional advice and guidance of a nutritionist but cannot afford to keep one on staff. This provides an ideal opportunity for a nutritionist that wants a job that is primarily or exclusively remote. A remote job as a nutritionist allows you to set up more flexible schedules while also being able to work from anywhere as long as you have access to the internet.
For example, a food manufacturer may need a technical review of the nutritional aspects of a new product it is considering, or a gym franchise may want nutrition information to supplement its exercise program.
A good combination of education and experience benefits nutrition consultants by enhancing their resume and portfolio of clients. References are important to attract new business, so client relationships should be handled carefully and professionally.
For maximum success in an online nutrition career, consultants can distinguish themselves by specializing in a particular field, such as nutrition guidance for optimal child development, athlete performance, or cancer recovery, among others. Holistic nutrition is another growing specialty that focuses on all-natural food remedies for health issues.
Licensed Dietitian
A licensed dietitian is a nutritionist that has achieved a special certification and is licensed to practice in a particular region or territory. Licensed dietitians provide the same online services as a nutritionist but can demand higher rates for more advanced services provided by the higher investment in education, training, and expense associated with licensure.
Depending on their educational background, licensed dietitians may qualify for consulting jobs that require advanced education or experience. There are also specific legalities licensed dietitians must heed to while practicing as a nutritionist.
- Licensing rules for dietitians are determined by governing authorities, and those rules may be different based on where a nutritionist—and any of his or her clients—lives
- Legal repercussions from practicing as a nutritionist or dietitian may be severe, so terminology must be carefully considered when describing one’s qualifications or practice
The Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics offers information to help a nutritionist determine each state’s state legal requirements for practicing nutrition. In addition to state licensure, there are certification levels for nutritionists that may be required to qualify for certain jobs or practice certain specialties.
The Academy’s Commission on Dietetic Registration issues certifications for nutritionists and dietitians, including Registered Dietitian, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and Nutrition and Dietetic Technician.
Conclusion
An online nutritionist offers a client or an employer expertise on many topics related to food and its impact on human health. This assistance can take many forms, such as one-on-one video coaching, written policy guidance, or group class instruction.
Successful online nutritionists market their unique skills to a targeted audience, brand their content in a professional and responsible way, and use their passion and expertise to help individuals and companies achieve goals related to nutrition and human health.
