Note: This is the first in a series of blogs about Registered Dietitians to coincide with the American Dietetic Association's Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo. Check back each day during the conference for a different post highlighting the work of dietitians.
By: Sarah Alligood, RD, MPH Date: 10/17/09
According to the International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2009 Food and Health Survey, nearly half of Americans feel that food and health information is confusing and conflicting. With advice coming from a wide variety of sources, it can be hard to know who to trust. Who are the nutrition experts after all?
Meet the Registered Dietitian (RD). An RD is a food and nutrition expert who has completed a credentialing process, including years of education, training, passing a national exam, and continuing professional education requirements.
What Makes an RD?
1. Education – A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, food science, dietetics, foodservice, or a related subject area approved by the American Dietetic Association’s (ADA) Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE)
2. Internship – A 6-12 month program with hands-on rotations in clinical, community, counseling, and food service settings. This requires a minimum of 1200 supervised practice hours.
3. Certification – Just like lawyers and nurses, a national credentialing exam must be passed to earn the RD credential
What Do RDs Do?
Dietitians are trained in patient consultation, teaching, research, writing, public policy, food safety, and a whole host of other areas. They work with individuals and communities to motivate dietary changes and improve health, whether in a hospital, school, athletic program, retirement home, restaurant, health department, government agency, etc. Check out our Food Insight article on Opportunities in Food Safety and Nutrition: Where There’s Food, There’s a Profession. And the next time you’re searching for the real dirt about nutrition, refer to an expert dietitian for the right information. Find your local dietitian today!