March is National Nutrition Month and today is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day. We thought we’d take this opportunity to let you know what sets us apart from other health and wellness professionals as the food and nutrition experts 💁🏻♀️.
There are VERY specific requirements to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and keep that credential.
🎓 Graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program
🏥 Supervised practice requirement of at least 1000 hours at an accredited internship program
📝 Pass a national exam to earn the RDN credential
✔️ Meet requirements to obtain a license to practice in our state
📖 Stay up to date in dietetics through continuing education requirements
Some dietitians then go on to specialize in a particular area of nutrition and may earn a board-certified specialty like weight management or sports dietetics. These require a certain number of practice hours in that specialty area and passing an additional exam.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are taught to evaluate scientific research and engage in evidence-based practice rather than promoting the latest fad diet trend. We are taught about nutrition requirements for specific health conditions and how to evaluate a person's full medical, social and cultural history to help people develop nutrition plans personalized to them. We are also required to abide by a Code of Ethics with core values of customer focus, integrity, innovation, social responsibility and diversity.
When you see someone who is a nutritionist or coach, they may be absolutely fantastic and just what you are looking for. However, there is no standardization or title protection for these - meaning anyone can call themselves these titles regardless of their education or experience. And there really isn't any organization responsible for "governing" them.
We’d like to give a shout out to all the amazing dietitians we have been lucky enough to learn from and work with! If you have a dietitian in your life, be sure to show them a little 💚 today!