A nutritional consultant helps clients determine their dietary needs and develops a plan to meet those needs. They must have good communication skills and knowledge of fad diets and their potential harm. They also educate clients on cooking and supplements. A bachelor’s degree in dietetics or nutrition is recommended.
A nutritional consultant specializes in dietary requirements. Their duties include continuing education regarding new research, communicating with clients and working with nutritionists. In most cases, a nutritional consultant assists in determining each client’s nutritional needs and developing a dietary regimen that meets those needs. A nutrition consultant’s work environment may include a health facility, a seniors’ facility, or a group home. Additionally, the consultant may operate a single proprietary business and work with an individual client base.
Successful consultants know how to find clients. Whether that means sending out resumes to potential employers or maintaining a private client base, he or she must have good communication skills. The ability to show nutritional knowledge is a key task when it comes to finding and protecting customers.
The basic duty of a nutritional consultant is to guide clients in dietary intake. This involves finding out about the client’s typical diet, activity levels, and medical history. Clients with diabetes, high blood pressure, or other medical conditions need specialized diets, which the consultant helps them design and adhere to. Adjustments are made for weight, age and medical status.
A consultant typically meets with the client and takes notes. He or she reviews the notes and develops a plan for the client to follow. The consultant must also have knowledge about various fad diets and their effectiveness. In addition, it is important to have and share with the client knowledge of the possible harm caused by fad diets.
Lifestyle and personality contribute to a client’s ability or inability to stick to a nutrition plan. This makes it important for the nutritional consultant to read people accurately. If the action plan starts to fail, the consultant must be able to find out why it is difficult for the client to follow and make adjustments.
Education is another duty of a nutritional consultant. Teaching clients how to cook for diabetes or reduce high blood pressure through diet is an example of what he or she can do. Local health facilities offer classes for patients. These classes are usually taught by the consultant.
In addition to learning how the human body processes and utilizes nutrients, the consultant must be able to use this knowledge to develop client plans. How medications and herbs affect the diet is also something the consultant understands. He or she offers guidance to the client on which supplements to include in the daily diet.
The typical work week for nutritional consultants is 40 hours and can include evenings and weekends. Some consultants help clients prepare their meals for several days to educate them about portion control. A bachelor’s degree in dietetics or nutrition provides the consultant with additional training and experience.
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