That's what I use to tell people when they asked about my future career. Little did I know that anyone can claim to be a "nutritionist" just by reading some diet books or taking a nutrition class.
I heard the words "Dietitian", "RD" and "Dietitian Nutritionist" when I started my Nutrition and Dietetics program at Loma Linda University. I realized I have been using a less credible label. So you don't make the same mistake I did, I am going to tell you the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist.
I would also like to make one thing clear:
All dietitians are nutritionists but all nutritionists are not dietitians.
Credibility
According to the dictionary, credibility is "the quality of being accepted as true, real or honest". We read articles and watch videos about nutrition, but we don't know where the source is coming from. There are so many diets and weight loss programs out there, but who is right? Make sure that the source you are reading is credible. The most credible, from a nutrition standpoint, would be an RD (Registered Dietitian). MD (Medical Doctors) may be seen as credible but take into consideration that in medical school only 1 nutrition class (or none at all) is usually required. So be aware of who is writing articles and giving tips about nutrition.
Education
When a nutritionist is preaching about meal plans and eating a particular diet, just keep in mind that they are NOT a nutrition professional. Perhaps they have read a few books on their own. Dietitians go to school for at least 4 years earning a Bachelors degree in nutrition. Classes include metabolism*, chemistry, food services, food science and other nutrition classes that dig deep into understanding human nutrition. Some go on to earn a masters and/or a doctorate degree in nutrition.
Practicum Hours
Dietetic students must complete 1200 hours of practice in a community, administrative, and clinical setting. Therefore dietitians have a lot of training in their field. Nutritionists don't have real life experience working under a registered professional. They aren't required to complete hours of practice like a dietitian has.
Dietetic students have to take a national exam to officially become a dietitian. Not only do they have to know about diets and weight loss, but they also have to study medical nutrition therapy, foodservice management, and much more. Many nutritionists are not registered, but might have certifications that are not recognized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (the credentialing body of RDs).
Continuing Education
Finally, dietitians must complete 75 continuing education hours every 5 years. Nutrition is constantly changing and new research comes out every year. So dietitians must be open-minded to new studies on different foods. Nutritionists usually stick to the same oats, chicken, rice, and veggies meal plan, with no further education.
Just know that anyone can claim to be a nutritionist. So before you spend $20 or $150 dollars on an online meal plan, make sure you know who you're talking to. Nutritionists can post whatever they want and honestly it's a great way to make some extra cash.
If you really would like some credible nutrition articles to read, follow an RD on your social networks!
Here are a few of my favorites on Twitter:
1. @NicoleOsinga_RD
2. @ScritchfieldRD
3. @JackieVegaRDN
4. @DietitianJeJe
5. @Ellie_Krieger
Also checkout hashtags #dietitian and #dietitiannutritionist to find more!
Proof Read by RD, JeJe Noval.
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