To be sure you are always getting accurate, credible and safe nutrition advice, your go-to expert should always be a Registered Dietitian.
From the media to magazines to articles and books, nutrition advice is everywhere. Unfortunately, not everyone is a credible nutrition expert.
Becoming a Registered Dietitian is a time-consuming, challenging process that involves obtaining the proper education and experience through approved, accredited programs.
After completing coursework approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the next step is to apply to an accredited dietetic internship. Dietetic internships are extremely competitive and immediate acceptance is not easy (~50% acceptance rate). Internships are usually unpaid, and require tuition. Upon acceptance, 1200 hours of supervised practice in the areas of community nutrition, food service and clinical nutrition must be fulfilled before being eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian exam. The last step to earning the Registered Dietician (RD) credential is passing the RD exam. Once you pass the exam, you have earned the national RD credential. You are then eligible for state-issued licensure.
Because nutrition is a popular (and passionate) topic, offering nutritional advice requires no education or professional training. In other words, there are countless unqualified individuals giving nutrition advice - often charging for services, selling products and unethically diagnosing and treating health and medical conditions. Just because someone achieved significant weight loss, overcame an eating disorder or achieved athletic success by changing his/her diet, this does not allow this person to help you with your nutritional needs and struggles. No matter the circumstance(s), always research the credentials of your nutrition source to determine if they are a true professional.
Happy RD day to all those who went the extra mile, climbed the mountain and refused to take the easy path in route to becoming a qualified nutrition expert.
Here are a few of my most popular blog posts detailing my 3-year dietetic journey which I pursued after earning a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology: