But if you are wondering what nutrition coaches do exactly, where they work, or whether or not nutrition coaching is the right professional route for you—keep on reading. Functional nutrition coaches, specifically, take an integrated, broad-reaching view on wellness, which involves being “a fervent believer in healing yourself through food as medicine and doing the best you can to maintain and reach optimal health in every possible way,” shares Marchand. “We are knowledgeable about food, the different ways of eating, healthy cooking techniques to preserve nutrition, as well as how to make sustainable food choices. However, we also know about gut health, brain health, heart health, hormone health, elimination diets, etc.” Registered dietitians nutritionists, or RDNs, on the other hand, are board-certified, credentialed individuals who, besides providing nutrition counseling, are qualified to diagnose and work within the range of dietetics and treatment-based nutrition plans. “To be called a dietitian, you need to do specific courses and acquire a particular degree,” tells Marchand. “They follow specific protocols and guidelines to make sure everything you eat will satisfy what suits you specifically regarding those same protocols and requirements, to make sure you have all the vitamins, minerals, protein, etc., included in your diet.” Besides scholarship and education requirements, another key differentiator between nutrition coaches and RDNs is their overall approach to wellness, with the former often leaning more toward the lifestyle versus the medical end of the health care spectrum. The potential and scope of this work are pretty far-reaching. “You can work for a clinic or any medical professional in assisting their patient to follow protocols regarding their condition; to provide accountability and keep track with their health goals,” says Marchand. “You could also work for schools, wellness centers, food stores, gyms, corporations, insurance companies, restaurants, yoga studios, community centers, and supplement companies. You can have your private practice, too!” As mentioned before, taking the time to research, compare, and examine several coaching options should be nonnegotiable in anyone’s nutrition exploratory journey. Many coaches offer informative webinars or introductory calls to assess if they are a good fit for you or not—so take advantage! You can also seek recommendations in your local community or favorite health publications.
