SubscribeSubscribe Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.
Right Arrow Button IconLeft Arrow Button Iconeducation
Right Arrow Button IconLeft Arrow Button IconCareer Hub
Right Arrow Button IconLess than 10% of us eat enough fruits and vegetables. By becoming a nutrition coach, you can help others change their eating habits

Want to become a nutrition coach? By following these 4 steps, you can help others eat healthier

By
Preston ForePreston Fore
Preston ForePreston Fore
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
By
Preston ForePreston Fore
Preston ForePreston Fore
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
May 16, 2024 at 2:01 PM UTC
Woman places vegetables in a bowl while a phone records on a tripod.
Middle age women is blogging for her wellness lifestyle channel about healthy balanced living in the kitchen of her home. Creating video content for social media with phone camera on a tripod.Getty Images

Do you eat enough fruit and vegetables? The odds are pretty slim that you do.

According to the CDC, fewer than 1 in 10 children and adults eat sufficient vegetables every day, and fewer than 1 in 7 adults eat enough fruit. 

Advertisement

UNC's Online Master of Public Health Program

UNC's Online MPH: Full-Time and Part-Time Options. GRE Not Required.

Advance your public health career with UNC's online Master of Public Health program. Learn more.

Learn More
UNC's Online Master of Public Health Program
Learn More

Dietitians and nutritionists hope these numbers will soon change for the better—and so do their clients. The demand for the field is rising, with an expected growth of 7% between 2022 and 2032, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, with avoidable diseases and conditions like diabetes and hypertension also on the rise, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics believes even more experts are needed to help Americans eat healthier.

If assisting others in setting and reaching nutrition goals, then becoming a nutrition coach may be a career hat for you. While it is important to keep in mind that nutrition coaching is an unregulated field and it is inadvisable for you to provide any sort of medically-related advice to clients, pairing nutrition coach knowledge with a health coach certification or personal trainer certification is a common choice.

If you follow these 4 tips, you may be on your way to becoming a nutrition coach:

  1. Do your research and figure out your purpose
  2. Complete a certification program
  3. Consider further education
  4. Keep up with the trends

Do your research and figure out your purpose

Before you possibly spend several hundred or thousands of dollars learning the ins-and-outs of nutrition, take some time for discovery. Watch informational videos on YouTube or TikTok about the world of nutrition, what a nutrition coach does on a daily basis, and what sort of advice they can give clients. During this process, write down what strikes you as fascinating and really see if you can picture yourself in the shoes of a nutrition coach.

Shaina Painter, MS, CNS, and nutritionist at Being Health says one of the most important pieces of advice for any aspiring nutritionist is to simply figure out your goals—and early. This includes who you would like to serve, what sort of job would you like to have, and why do you want to go into the field?

By figuring out the answers to these questions, it will be easier to discern exactly which pathway you should take. The good news is that enrolling in a foundational certification program is one way to learn the basics and provide a direct way to figure out if you truly enjoy the profession.

SPONSORED PARTNER

International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)

ISSA Certified Nutritionist

Price$529–$629 Limited time offer: Save $250 using code NT250
Program length5+ weeks
Advertiser Disclosure
View offer

at Issa

Pros

  • Financing options
  • Lending partnerships

Cons

  • No scholarship opportunities

Pros

  • Online student community
  • Synchronous learning aspects
  • Career support services

Cons

  • No mobile app
View offer

at Issa

Complete a certification program

If you know nutrition is something that fascinates you, and you are eager to learn more about the subject, then completing a certification is a great pathway toward gaining nutrition skills without a degree. Fortune has done some of the tedious work for you and ranked the best nutritionist certifications—denoting programs based on their strong suit, whether that be business development, clinical skill training, or affordability. 

If you are interested in a namesake nutrition coach program—which is not much different than a simple nutritionist certification offered by many organizations—those exist, too. The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), for example, has a self-paced program that can be completed in as little as one month and costs about $629.  

With a certification, someone may have the experience to help individuals with their overall wellness and accountability, like weight loss, explains Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, owner of Entirely Nourished. 

“There’s a lot of holistic nutrition certifications out there, and they really look at body, mind and spirit and try to bring that all together,” she says—adding that those without the proper licensure should stray away from giving medical advice or helping those with medical conditions.

Consider further education

Don’t be fooled. While anyone can call themselves a nutritionist or nutritionist coach, in most states individuals are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree (or even a master’s or PhD) plus clinical training hours in order to become a state licensed nutritionist (the title may also depend on the state). As a result, going down a more traditional educational pathway can be especially useful. 

Pro tip

Check your state’s licensure rules before considering a career as a nutritionist. Every state has different regulations when it comes to who can become a nutritionist, including age, education, and training hour requirements. For states with strict guidelines, you could get into legal troubles for using an improper title.

Finding a university to obtain more advanced nutrition skills is not necessarily a difficult task. Many schools have programs in subjects like dietetics, nutrition science, and food science. Plus, the coursework is oftentimes offered in an online form, allowing people with busy family schedules or existing work requirements to be able to learn on their own time. A quick search on the Internet will yield dozens of examples. The University of Arizona, the Unviersity of Alabama, and Purdue Global are just a few.

Keep up with the trends

Companies are constantly innovating new products for the grocery store shelf. Sometimes, items may be advertised as a healthy choice, such as low sugar or sodium but may have alternate ingredients—like an artificial sweetener, for example—that still may not be great for an individual’s health. For these reasons, it is important that you are aware of new products and ingredients that are hitting the shelfs and to be able to share knowledge with clients.

With nutrition being such a popular subject on social media platforms, being aware of common trends and misconceptions is also a key part of your role as a nutrition coach. Overall, being an educated and informed nutrition expert will go a long way in building trustful relationships with clients—and propel you to a long-term career in the health and wellness world.

Frequently asked questions

Do nutrition coaches make money?

Yes, nutrition coaches can make money by providing services to clients. The more educational background you have, via certifications or degrees, the more likely potential clients will trust your expertise.

Can I be a nutrition coach without a degree?

Yes, everyone can technically call themselves a nutrition coach, though it may be best to at least have a certification. In order to become a licensed nutritionist in most states, you will need a degree. 

What is the difference between a nutritionist and a nutrition coach?

Unlicensed nutritionists and nutrition coaches are largely the same. While a coach may emphasize relationships directly with clients more, they both work with wellness and accountability. If you compare the curriculum of a nutritionist versus nutrition coach certification, not many differences can be discerned.


Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs, and learn more about specific career paths.

Read more

  • If you want to find great resources to become a health coach, check out the best health coach certifications.
  • Interested in a psychology degree? Here are some of the best online masters in psychology programs you can find.
  • Want a more flexible way to earn an online master’s degree in nursing? Explore our list of the best online MSN nurse practitioner programs.
  • Choose one of the best online masters in public health programs to help you find the right school for you.
  • Our ranking of the best online masters in nursing programs can be a useful tool in your search for advanced online learning.
  • Many universities offer affordable online MSN nurse practitioner programs.
  • For those looking to learn the basics of nutrition, one of the programs in our list of the best nutritionist certifications is a great first step.
  • Fulfill your ambitions of being a personal trainer with one of the best personal trainer certification programs.
  • Advertisement

    MPH@Simmons

    Earn Your MPH Online. No GRE Required.

    MPH@Simmons is designed to give you the real-world skills you need to positively impact public health and address health inequity on a local, national, and global level.

    Visit Website
    MPH@Simmons
    Visit Website

    About the Contributors

    Preston Fore
    By Preston ForeStaff Writer, Education
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Preston Fore is a reporter at Fortune, covering education and personal finance for the Success team.

    See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
    Jasmine Suarez
    Reviewed By Jasmine SuarezSenior Staff Editor
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Jasmine Suarez was a senior editor at Fortune where she leads coverage for careers, education and finance. In the past, she’s worked for Business Insider, Adweek, Red Ventures, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and more. 

    See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

    Top Articles

    alt text
    10 free data analytics courses you can take onlineByRich GrisetApril 18, 2024
    alt text
    2024 real estate school review: AceableAgentByPreston ForeJune 24, 2024
    alt text
    The best software engineering bootcamps of 2024 to help strengthen your coding skillsByBrad Haft AND Preston ForeMay 31, 2024
    Advertisement

    MPH@GW: An Online MPH With Connections in Washington, D.C.

    No GRE Required to Apply to GW's 12-Month Online MPH

    Customize Your Degree Through Electives. Accelerated One-Year Online Program!

    Learn More
    MPH@GW: An Online MPH With Connections in Washington, D.C.
    Learn More
    Rankings
    • 100 Best Companies
    • Fortune 500
    • Global 500
    • Fortune 500 Europe
    • Most Powerful Women
    • Future 50
    • World’s Most Admired Companies
    • See All Rankings
    Sections
    • Finance
    • Leadership
    • Success
    • Tech
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Environment
    • Fortune Crypto
    • Health
    • Retail
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Newsletters
    • Magazine
    • Features
    • Commentary
    • Mpw
    • Ceo Initiative
    • Conferences
    • Personal Finance
    • Education
    Customer Support
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Single Issues For Purchase
    • International Print
    Commercial Services
    • Advertising
    • Fortune Brand Studio
    • Fortune Analytics
    • Fortune Conferences
    • Business Development
    About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Diversity And Inclusion
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map

    © 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.