How to Become a Nutritionist

If you have a passion for health and wellbeing, a career as a nutritionist or nutrition coach could be the right choice for you. So what exactly is a nutritionist and how do you go about becoming one?

What is a Nutritionist?

Nutritionists are specialists in diet and food science and they use scientific evidence around food to offer nutritional advice to their clients to support their wellbeing. This could be anything from advice on which supplements to take to support certain areas of health or creating bespoke meal plans to help clients meet their nutritional goals. Some nutritionists will further specialise in a specific field, such as sports nutrition or weight loss or support clients with specific health and nutritional needs, such as those living with conditions like diabetes, for example.

Qualifications

There is no set route to becoming a nutritionist or nutrition coach but it’s a good idea to gain recognised qualifications before you begin your career in nutrition. Most successful nutritionists will have a higher education qualification in nutrition, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree, which allows them to join the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), which is maintained by the Association for Nutrition (AfN).

If attending or returning to higher education full-time isn’t possible, you can also undertake courses online that allow you to complete segments of a syllabus to become a qualified nutritionist.

What is the difference between dietitians and nutritionists? Dietitians are healthcare professionals with specialised education and clinical training in dietetics, often working in clinical settings, while nutritionists generally focus on broader aspects of nutrition and wellness, with varying levels of formal education and diverse practice settings. One potential benefit of being a nutritionist rather than a dietitian is the flexibility to work in a variety of settings, including wellness centres, fitness facilities, and private practice, allowing for a broader scope of influencing individuals’ overall health and lifestyle choices.

Reaching a Client Base

When you first start out as a nutrition coach, you may want to offer your services to friends and family as this can help you to build your confidence and an initial portfolio of your work that you can show prospective clients.

You can also create professional posters using a design template to advertise your services in the local area, which you could then place in local gyms, swimming pools, community spaces and health facilities.

Marketing and Online Presence

Building an online presence is important for any business owner and that includes nutrition coaches. Ideally, you should have your own website that you can direct potential clients toward when they want to know more about you and your services.

You should also create social media accounts on at least two or three of the major platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok and start posting on these consistently to build a following. Interact and engage with people on social media in the same industry as you so that you’re not just advertising your own services all the time but also showing an interest in others and the field of nutrition.

Setting up Your Business

Once you have your qualifications and you’re ready to start work, you will need to officially set up your business and register as self-employed with HMRC. You will also need to start tracking your business income and expenses.

It’s also a good idea to create a business plan so that you know what your eventual goals are and how you plan to reach them. Think about how you’ll reach new clients and how to deliver great results so that you’ll retain existing clients. As your client base grows you may also need to consider taking on employees or engaging the services of others to help you run your nutrition coaching business.