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.
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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:
- Do your research and figure out your purpose
- Complete a certification program
- Consider further education
- 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.
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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.
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.
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