I met a woman at work that was very, very eager to meet me once she read my badge with my job title. In the middle of breakfast service, she proceeded to try to tell me in short segments (in between me running around from resident to resident) how she lost weight by eating no grains and how she wanted to become a nutritionist. While I absolutely welcomed her enthusiasm, I really had to bite my tongue because there were quite a few things I wanted to correct her on. So just to get it off of my chest, here it is:
5 Things Every Dietitian Would Like for You to Know
#1. I am not a nutritionist.
Fun fact: Dietitian ≠ Nutritionist. In layman's terms, they do, but if you ask any one of us, we would say dietitian. In most states the term "nutritionist" means absolutely nothing. A nutritionist does not require any certification or education. To become a dietitian, in the least, you need a few things:
- Bachelor's degree (usually in nutrition or related field)
- Complete an internship (not easy to get into and not easy to complete, usually lasts about a year)
- Pass RD exam (much like how registered nurses need to pass their qualifying exam)
- Keep up with continuing education credits to keep credentials
#2. I don't care what you ate for breakfast today.
Well, I do, kind of. I do want everyone to eat well and take care of their bodies, and I love it when people are excited about my chosen profession. I don't, however, need to hear your entire dietary history while waiting in line for coffee. There is a time and place for everything, and I would be glad to discuss your diet and health on a one-on-one basis if you would like a personal counseling session....just not while I'm running my errands or socializing with my friends and family.
#3. I am not a food Nazi.
This is a democracy. I will not tell you what you are/are not allowed to eat. Contrary to popular belief, I actually don't plan as many meals as you might think. If someone were to ask for my help with their diet, I would help them choose healthy foods and meals, but I would never give them a sheet of planned out meals for a week and tell them to eat it. #1 That doesn't help anyone learn how to eat healthy on their own. #2 It is impossible for me to know every single one of your preferences.
#4. I eat dessert.
..and chips, and fried foods, and I drink caffeinated beverages. What kind of dietitian would I be if I preached balancing healthy and unhealthy foods if I myself could not practice it? Granted, I don't eat chips every day; and I do prefer other methods of cooking over frying, but my diet is not perfect. Actually, I hope to God that everyone's diets aren't perfect. I want you to be happy and satisfied and healthy, not sad and resentful and two seconds away from a binge.
#5. I am not a chef.
To say that I love to eat and that I love to cook is definitely an understatement. However, I did not go to culinary school. I have never been taught proper cooking techniques besides what I learned in my mother's kitchen and my recipe app, and I can't keep track of every single ingredient ever discovered or made. My husband and I actually had a funny conversation about whether cumquats were vegetables or fruits today. Honest to goodness I had no idea. You who did know, though? Google. I searched "cumquats", Google asked me if I meant "kumquats", and then I learned that they are fruit. I am not a culinary encyclopedia, but I will gladly help you research whatever it is you'd like to learn.
In a nutshell, that about gives you a good summary of how dietitians work. Now you know that I'm not perfect, I don't know everything, and I am not a nutritionist lol. Hopefully, you still trust that my education and experience qualify me to continue my rants on this blog ;)
