A Nutritionist is an expert in food science and nutrition. Their goal is to help their patients or clients improve their lives through dietary changes.  

Depending on the context they work in, Nutritionists may do any of the following: 

• Provide direction on healthy living and appropriate nutrition. 
• Implement meal plans in care homes, hospitals, schools, or daycares.  
• Research and develop recipes based on dietary restrictions or intolerances such as allergies or diabetes.  
• Instruct clients about food science and nutrition principles so they can make appropriate choices. 
• Research and teach other food industry colleagues about their area of specialization. 
• Work with other health professionals to develop a treatment plan that includes nutrition, such as working with mental health professionals to treat eating disorders. 

Many Nutritionists also see private clients, either as their full-time job or part-time. If that is the case, they often spend some of their time working on the administrative side of owning a private practice, such as bookkeeping or marketing.  

Average Day of a Nutritionist

Since Nutritionists work in such varied settings, they do not have one typical day. However, their days are usually split between client consultations and administrative duties, mainly patient charting and record-keeping.  

For Clinical Nutritionists, client consultations include looking through a patient's file, their physician's notes, and their lab tests. Then they meet with the patient and assess their medical, social, emotional, and nutritional situation. They are looking to get a profile of the patient and what they need in terms of nutrition. They also provide nutrition support for patients that require tube feedings.  

Community Nutritionists may work with students in school or some other non-medical setting. They also provide one-on-one consultations with students, and they are especially keeping an eye out for eating disorders. However, they may also work with people with allergies or with athletes.

In short, while Nutritionists are often associated with meal plans and food diaries, this is only a small part of the scope of their work. They work in various settings and help all kinds of different people reach different nutritional goals.