What does a dietitian even do?

About 7-8 years ago when I first started my journey to become a registered dietitian, I could count on one hand the amount of people who even knew what a dietitian was. Fast forward to today, and I feel that registered dietitians are more commonly known. However, you still might be thinking to yourself… What does a dietitian even do? 

Dietitians are the real food and nutrition experts. To become a Registered Dietitian (a rather grueling and competitive process back when I was in school), one must have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics, complete an almost year long 1200 hour supervised internship, pass the board exam, and then must keep up with continuing education every year to keep the credential. 

The components of the bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics consist of a large variety of classes- including food science, nutrition and genetics, physiology, food systems, management, research, counseling, equity and policy, and SO much chemistry. The krebs cycle I’m sure still haunts every dietitian out there.

Then in the internship, there are a series of several different rotations to strengthen skills. Rotations are typically in places (but certainly not limited to) the hospital, nursing homes, pediatric offices, schools, private practice, and WIC. 

So a dietitian is a health professional who not only understands food and nutrition on a microscopic level and how it works in the body, but also understands food and nutrition on a macroscopic level and how it works in societal systems. 

Dietitians are equipped to help people manage diseases and preventive care through nutrition, provide tube feedings, enhance athletic performance, diagnosing malnutrition, heal from an eating disorder, and more. 

I say all of this to emphasize how important it is if you are wanting to start your health journey and focus on food, to go with a qualified professional. Understand that nutritionists and registered dietitians are not the same thing. All dietitians are nutritionists but not all nutritionists are dietitians. The title nutritionist does not have any regulations, meaning anyone could call themselves a nutritionist. Some nutritionists do have training, maybe through a program, but there’s no saying how long the program was, if it is accredited or evidence based, what the program covers, etc. I’ve seen far too many instances where people give out inappropriate nutrition advice and cause harm. Even in medical schools, doctors receive little to no nutritional education.

I can tell you that my thoughts, perspectives, and understanding of nutrition was completely different from my first nutrition class to my last. And since nutrition is a science, it is always ever evolving! Get you a dietitian who is up to date on all the latest research.