A nutrition educator teaches students about the advantages of eating healthy foods and how to improve their eating habits. He usually bases the majority of the information he gives out on basic scientific facts. Emerging food and nutrition theories are also covered in his lectures. Additional topics that are regularly part of a nutrition educator’s curriculum include interesting breakthroughs in the safety and effectiveness of ingesting supplemental vitamins, minerals, and other dietary aids.
If a nutrition educator works in a clinical setting, he may have regular opportunities to participate in or observe the effects of nutrition on healthy and unhealthy people who are participating in clinical trials. He is usually allowed to question the trial administrator and apply what he learns to his own nutritional research. The educator frequently keeps track of his observations so that he can refer back to them in future trials or experiments.
A nutrition educator can work in a traditional classroom setting as well. He could be working as a food educator at a culinary school or teaching classes to aspiring dieticians, nutritionists, or food service managers at a college or trade school. Nutrition educators are hired on a contract basis some elementary and middle schools to participate in seminars and health fairs.
Nutrition educators are frequently hired long-term care facilities and retirement homes to teach their residents about the benefits of eating fresh, healthy foods. The nutrition educator frequently creates clever productions that encourage his audience to participate in food tasting and preparation to pique interest in his presentation. If the educator is asked to motivate chronically ill children to improve their eating habits, they can use this participatory approach.
A nutrition educator may conduct his own research, either in a formal or informal setting, in addition to educating people about diet and nutrition. His interest in food and nutrition may lead him to observe the eating habits of his peers or associates and write an anecdotal article for publication in a professional journal. He may also collaborate with other industry professionals to research and develop nutrition-related services and educational programs.
Being a successful nutrition educator necessitates excellent organizational skills and polished communication abilities. In most cases, the job entails managing multiple projects while also speaking to groups of people of varying ages and interests. Self-motivation and scheduling flexibility are also essential qualities for a nutrition educator.
A bachelor’s degree in nutrition or dietetics is required for this position. A minimum of one year of inpatient experience is required. Some jobs also require counseling or outpatient services experience.