FIVE CAREERS FOR ONLINE MASTER OF NUTRITION GRADUATES

Master of Nutrition Careers

• Nutritionists for Weight Loss
• Child Nutritionists
• Dietitian
• Food Service Manager
• Journalist

With a degree in nutritional science, you'll have the knowledge and credentials to work in a variety of fields involved with food and nutrition as well as health. You can work testing food or nutritional products or be the one creating nutrition products. Nutrition careers focus on providing healthy guidance to others.

Nutritionists for Weight Loss

There are many places where a graduating nutritionist can work. With the rising obesity levels across the U.S., there are clinics and hospitals that are more focused than ever on nutrition and providing patients with an overall treatment plan for their weight. In fact, bariatric clinics are rising too. In one of these settings, the nutritionist will help the patient identify problem eating patterns and help them disrupt the pattern with healthy eating plans. The nutritionist in this environment will work long-term with patients who have successes and failures. They have to be determined to help even if the patient falters.

Child Nutritionists

Children need guidance when it comes to healthy eating. A child nutritionist will work with children and adolescents to help them optimize their health. While they are there to help the child, the nutritionist will be working with the entire family including the parents to find a solution to any problems. Along with obesity in children, there are other conditions like juvenile diabetes that require a nutritionist's guidance. The child nutritionist can work in clinics, hospitals or school districts. It requires more than a degree to work with children since they need guidance and patience as they deal with changes.

Dietitian

A dietitian will work with patients to develop a special diet based on the limits of their conditions. The patients could have an illness like diabetes or intestinal conditions that make eating problematic. Within the framework of the patient's condition, the dietitian will create a meal plan for the patient to follow. The dietitian can work in a hospital setting or a clinic where he or she will consult with patients regarding their plan as well as follow up on the success or failure of that plan and make adjustments.

Food Service Manager

Many establishments with food services will hire a food service manager to oversee their operations. While they won't get into the kitchen to cook, they'll hire and train the employees who work within the kitchen. They are the ones who usually order food from valued suppliers and make sure inventory is stocked properly. Food safety in the preparation of the meals is paramount to the food service manager.

Journalist

A nutritional journalist takes their expertise in another direction. While some like to work one-on-one with individual patients in a clinical setting, a journalist takes their knowledge to a larger audience. They'll write for publications concerned with weight loss, nutrition and healthy living. If you want to head into this career path, it helps to have a minor in journalism in your educational background. There are very highly regarding magazines, newspapers and websites that are always looking for articles in different writing styles. A nutritional journalist's pay will vary based on whether you are working for one publication or freelancing.

Nutrition careers vary by the interests of the graduating student. A nutrition degree doesn't mean you have to be a certain type of nutritionist. The work is varied and will depend on your focus and interest.

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