Technology provides us with so many resources using a simple Google search. This is especially the case when it comes to looking for nutrition advice. As of today (6/10/20) if you search for “nutrition advice”, Google will bring up 1,050,000,000 results.
1,050,000,000!
Just think about how much time it would take to read through all of those!
So, how do you know what information is reliable and credible? What’s the difference between a foodiologist, nutritionist, and a dietitian? Aren’t they the same?
Foodiologist:
- Made up term to describe someone who knows about food
Nutritionist:
- Typically a health coach or instagram influencer
- Can be anyone, including you
- No specialized knowledge required for this title
Dietitian:
- The most credible title out of the three
- Requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, master’s degrees required as of 2023
- Is educated in medical nutrition therapy, biology, chemistry, food science, counseling, management, food service operation, microbiology, anatomy, and many other subjects
- Must complete 1200+ hours of supervised practice through an internship program
- Must pass a national registration exam prior to practicing in a work setting
- Is required to complete 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years
- Must follow a code of ethics
- Is a protected title
While all dietitians are nutritionists, not all nutritionists are dietitians. When seeking out specific nutrition information, it is always best to look for a registered dietitian nutritionist. No matter what your nutrition concern is, they can always help guide you in the right direction.
