How to Become a Nutritionist and Work at Home
The field of nutrition is a busy one. For professionals specializing in nutrition, this means a booming market and many work opportunities, including those for working at home. Nutritionists help patients lose or gain weight, help change their diets for health reasons and help those who simply want to eat better. They also work alongside doctors to help people with eating disorders.
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Instructions
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Education
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Enroll in college classes or pursue a university degree, if you want a full recognition or certification that allows you to work in any nutritional and dietary fields, including consulting for hospitals, schools or government associations. You will cover courses such as Nutritional Therapeutics, Clinical Biochemistry, Food Science, Global & Ecological Issues and Contemporary Nutrition: Public Health. Many programs, especially at the master's level, also cover business and community education.
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Opt for a nutritional certification if you don't have the time or willingness to go for a full degree. Most certifications are based on classes or workshops taken over the course of several months (or sometimes weeks) and cover the essentials of the field. This includes basic information such as the foundation of a healthy diet, body composition, sports nutrition, weight management and behavioral change modifications. Certifications often concentrate on practical applications of diet into clients' lives, while degrees explore how nutrition works at the chemical level.
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Look for an online certification if you have the knowledge but need a paper that confirms it. For those who have been working in a related field, such as fitness or sports, nutritional aspects are, more than likely, part of the everyday workday. A short, to-the-point workshop such as the ones offered online by many schools is an excellent way to cement that basic knowledge and add something to your resume and your credibility as a professional.
Work
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Set up your home office. The equipment you need depends on what type of work you'll be doing, but, at a minimum, you will need a computer with Internet access, a desk and chairs and a suitable space where you can meet clients if your work is done directly with the public. You will also need some type of nutrition software like DietMatePro, which will allow you to monitor patients, track their food intake and create individualized diet plans.
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Decide on a field. Most nutritionists work out of an office, although what you are allowed to do depends on the laws and regulations of your state and whether you are legally entitled to offer medical advice or simply counsel clients on general diet habits. If you hold just a nutritional certification, you may be able to pair up with a fitness trainer or specialist to offer clients a complete package. If you plan on offering medical advice, you will likely need to be licensed by your state and pass a board examination (only available to those who have a degree in the field).
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Set up a consulting business online, which can be managed easily from a home office. This is one of the latest crazes in the field of nutritional and fitness consulting. Through either a website or an email service, you can help clients stay in line with their diet regimen or offer general nutritional advice to those who are looking to improve their eating habits or break out of a rut when it comes to their lifestyle.
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Become a representative for a nutritional line of supplements. For many, this is the perfect way to stay within the law and still provide advice and help to those who need nutritional guidance. As a representative, you may have to sell products directly to the public, such as in the case of working with multi-level marketing companies or act as a middleman for a warehouse distribution company, in which case you will probably be selling to shops and organizations. This can be easily done from home through online retail, or by mail using advertising and campaign management.
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Tips & Warnings
When setting up a home office, make sure the room is away from family traffic and allows for privacy. A separate entry is ideal.
As a nutritionist, you are not allowed to provide medical advice and could face serious legal problems if you act as a doctor or consultant.
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Resources
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