Thursday, September 30, 2010

It’s smart to eat right

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A child cannot learn on an empty stomach, educators agree, and school districts across the country have implemented nutrition programs to make sure every student has ample opportunity to learn, and to be healthy.

“If you don’t eat well, and you aren’t healthy, then it does impact how you learn,” said Eileen Haraminac, Michigan State University Extension educator in food and nutrition. “It impacts your cognitive ability, your brain function, your ability to listen, to retain information, to just be alert. There are tests and studies that have been done that show children that eat breakfast, for example, have a better capacity for learning in the morning than those who don’t. And if they eat a lunch, then it carries them through the day.”

Thomas Moline, superintendent for Royal Oak Schools, has been working with Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital on Project Healthy Schools in concert with Dr. Paul Ehrmann, founder of the Children’s Health Initiative Program.

“The obesity pandemic has spread across our nation in the past 10 years,” Moline said. September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

For the past few years, students in Royal Oak have been receiving instruction on how to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and how to make wise choices regarding personal nutrition.

“I take it as seriously as I do the core curriculum of instruction in our school system,” Moline said.

Likewise, students in L’Anse Creuse Public Schools are not only learning about the importance of good food choices, they’re seeing healthy options presented to them in the cafeteria.

Read more about nutritionist programs on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

How to Get Nutritionist Career Training

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Nutritionists work in many different fields. There are personal nutritionists who work with individuals on lifestyle changes and proper nutrition. A nutritionist is also valuable to certain businesses, hospitals and schools. You can get nutritionist career training in many parts of the country, and the need for qualified nutritionists is growing.

  • Start early by taking health science courses in high school. These courses are a good way to ease you into some of the basic knowledge you need when you get nutritionist career training. It is also a good idea to talk to career counselors in your high school, college or university about what courses and certifications they offer.
  • Research what your state's requirements are regarding the qualifications you need as a nutritionist in that state. These differ from state to state, and if you move and wish to practice elsewhere, you'll need to know what to expect in your area.
  • Apply for the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education's bachelor's or master's degree. They award these advanced degrees to individuals who wish to work in the public sector, conduct research or work in the health care field.
  • Find an accredited internship in your field of interest to get nutritionist career training. Many internship hours need to be logged before you can fully practice on your own.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Nutritionist

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Nutritionists are very similar to dietitians, in that they use the principles of nutrition to help people maintain their health and form and promote healthy eating habits. They may also plan menus and oversee kitchens and cafeterias in schools, hospitals, and businesses, or work one-on-one with clients in order to help them meet personal weight and/or nutritional goals.

Nutritionists mainly work in medical centers, clinics, colleges and universities, schools, public health centers, business and industry, or in private practice. They may also work for whole foods or supplement companies, or put their knowledge to work through writing books and manuals about nutrition. The outlook for this career is good, as it will grow at an average rate comparable to other occupations. The need for clinical-based nutritionists will likely decrease, however, and those with private practices will increase. Most nutritionists work a regular work week, but many, such as those employed in hospitals or by foodservice industries, may work weekends and/or unusual hours. Nutritionists can earn anywhere from $1,800 to 4,000 per month, depending on experience and type of employment.

Read more about nutritionist work on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Monday, September 27, 2010

How to Earn a Nutritionist Degree

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The health and fitness craze is creating a demand for people with nutritionist degrees. Specialized diet or nutritionist programs can help a person become a nutritionist.

A nutritionist degree can open the door to a rewarding job and a recession proof career. This is mainly due to the fact that the demand for people with nutritionist training is increasing because more people than ever before are interested in learning how to eat healthy and stay fit. As people become more health conscious, they are looking for professionals to help them come up with nutritious diet plans that meet their individual needs.

Nutritionist Programs for Students

Students interested in learning how to become a nutritionist should enroll in a college program that is approved by the American Dietetic Association's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. Nutritionist programs that have this accreditation meet the required educational guidelines to offer students the courses they will need in order to earn nutritionist degrees. This accreditation helps give students the assurance that they are getting a quality education.

Students are required to have bachelor's degree in foods and nutrition, food service systems, dietetics, or a related subject area (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition). Nutritionist training also includes lessons on how to organize menus, evaluate case studies, and have the opportunity to practice cooking. Students are also required to take a pre-nutrition class to learn the basics of health care.

Read more about nutritionist education on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Area schools' nutrition gets passing grade

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The ongoing war on childhood obesity has not been missed by Bonnie Graves.

Northwestern School Corp.'s food director knows all too well the balancing act between creating meals that are healthy, stay within budget allotments and are pleasing to children.

Northwestern, like most public and non-profit private schools, takes part in the National School Lunch Program run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Schools that participate in that program get cash subsidies and donated commodities for each meal they serve.

School lunches must meet the applicable recommendations of the 1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans -- no more than 30 percent of someone's calories can come from fat, and less than 10 percent must come from saturated fat; foods low in cholesterol, with plenty of variety of fruits and vegetables. The guidelines also require school lunches to provide one-third of the recommended dietary allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories.

"Personally, I try to serve things that they like to eat and still stay in the nutritional standards, because you'll have more kids buying more lunch, which means more money," said Graves.

She said she thinks of the operation as any restaurant would -- if you don't serve tasty food, the customers won't want to eat it.

Still, in her 20 years in the industry, she's seen a lot of changes -- mainly in the amount of fat and salt served in the food.

But St. Joseph Hospital nutritionist Jennifer Jones says there's still a ways to go.

"It's great that [the children] are being provided two meals a day, but what if it's poor-quality food?" Jones said the sample meals provided to the Department of Education were fairly standard at all schools in the area, though Tipton Community Schools seemed to be a head above the others with more variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and frozen rather than canned products.

Read more about nutritionist school on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Saturday, September 25, 2010

How Do I Choose the Best Nutritionist Courses?

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There are three items to consider when looking for the best nutritionist courses: accreditation, faculty, and job placement opportunities. Nutritionist courses are available from universities, community, and career colleges. These courses can be classified into two groups: undergraduate and post-graduate. The undergraduate courses are designed for people who are currently registered in a nutritionist program at either the college or the university level. The post-graduate programs are designed for health services professionals, such as nurses, doctors, and nutritionists.

The best nutritionist courses are targeted to the appropriate audience and provide detailed information on the impact of nutrition on health. Undergraduate courses are not usually available to people who are not registered in a program. However, graduate courses are widely available and often meet the continuing educational requirements of many health services professionals. These courses are often quite detailed, providing information on the latest research developments in this field.

Read more about nutritionist courses on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Friday, September 24, 2010

Check out the best health and nutrition websites online

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Numerous healthcare professionals and nutritionists have specific websites that they trust for validated, fact-checked information on the latest studies, government reports, and health information sites. How do you know which sites have information that you follow to primary sources, research results, studies, and government reports on health and nutrition? Where do you go for information on what foods have the highest or lowest amounts of a specific nutrient you want to research?

Search the Resource Central Database. Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services operates a small resource room for people experiencing all forms of hardships. See the Resource Central at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services .

If you wanted to find out how much magnesium is in coconut water, for example, you might go to the Magnesium Content of Foods site. Or if you wanted to find out how much copper is in oysters, you could check out the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. The interface allows simple searches for food ingredients by entering keywords or the Nutrient Database Number. You can search by Nutrient Data - Nutrient Lists - Search result from the USDA.

In Sacramento, there are food sites for information and health sites. For example, check out the site for the Sacramento food database: articles, Sacramento food database News. Or check the site for Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information. See Nutrition Data's patent-pending Estimated Glycemic Load™ (eGL) that's available for every food in the database as well as custom foods and recipes.

Read more about online nutritionists on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Thursday, September 23, 2010

How to become a nutritionist

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Nutritionists study and interpret a client or patient’s eating habits, and then develop a nutrition plan for the client, with the goal of avoiding illness and disease through dietary changes. As Americans become more health conscious, demand for nutritionists may increase, making this an attractive career choice for many.  Since many nutritionists work as independent contractors, it's important to treat your new career as a business right from the start; to learn how to run a successful smal business, I recommend you take a look at the handy guide Small Business Kick Start Action Plan.

So how do you get started on becoming a nutritionist?

  1. Do your research. This is an important first step no matter what career you are considering. Talk to dieteticians and nutritionists in your area. Ask them about the pros and cons of becoming a nutritionist, so that you can decide if this career is right for you. Also ask about the educational path they took to begin their career, and suggestions of local schools offering strong nutrition programs. 
  2. Get a 4-year degree. Ask yourself, "What degree do I need to become a nutritionist?" As you'll see, there are many accredited nutrition degree programs from which you can choose. These programs require knowledge in biology, mathematics, and health, as well as more specific coursework in food science and nutrition topics. Many of these programs require an internship component, which can easily turn a 4 year degree into a 5 year degree, so keep this in mind when planning your career path.

Read more about certified nutritionist on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Nutritionist Career

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He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician. ~ Chinese Proverb

So often we hear about the importance of eating right and paying attention to the nutritional aspect of the food we consume on a daily basis. Nutrition is a crucial aspect of our overall health and hence cannot be neglected at any cost. Nutrition is about eating the right quantity of quality food at the right time. The fact that people have been neglecting their own dietary and nutritional requirements has led to the emergence of a group of professionals in the field of nutrition. If you are fascinated by the subject of nutrition and wish to pursue a career in this field, here is all the information that will help you.

Who are dietitians/ nutritionists ?

Dietitians are essentially people who study the science of food with regards to its breakdown in terms of nutritional elements and determine the optimum dietary recommendations for people according to their unique individual requirements.

Are nutritionists and dietitians one and the same?

No. Although it is a common misunderstanding that a nutritionist and a dietitian are one and the same, there is a major difference between being a nutritionist and being a dietitian.

What is the difference ?

A dietitian is essentially a person who has educational qualification in the field of nutrition and dietetics and has been accredited by the national / international dietetics association. The dietitians are not only authorized to advise people on nutrition-related matters, but have undergone clinical training which authorizes them to modify diets in order to treat disease conditions like diabetes, gastro-intestinal diseases, food allergies or even heart diseases. On the other hand a nutritionist is a non-accredited title that loosely encompasses nutrition scientists and self-professed nutrition advisers.

Read more about nutritionist career on www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Nutritionist License: Becoming a Specialist

In order to become a nutritionist, one has to first obtain a bachelor's degree and then to get a nutritionist licensure. The areas in which one is recommended to get a bachelor's degree to profess as a nutritionist are represented by: dietetics, food service systems management, foods and nutrition.

To prepare for a license in nutrition, a student has to attend courses that cover aspects related to foods, institution management, chemistry, nutrition, biochemistry, physiology and microbiology. Those who are interested in becoming nutritionists have also to take courses in mathematics and communications.

Since in 2008, in the USA there were over 270 bachelor's degree programs and other 18 master's degree ones approved by the American Dietetic Association's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education, the basis for acquiring expertise for nutritionist licensure is more than ensured.

In the States, there are 46 states and jurisdictions that have laws governing dietetics. Of these 46, 33 require license in nutrition, 12 demand statutory certification, and 1 requires registration. Each state has its own specific requirements. 
nutritionist licenseThis is why the candidates for the license have to first determine in which state they want to profess in order to meet the specific requirements.

Only people who have passed the nutritionist license exam can work as nutritionists in states that require licensure. In those who ask statutory certification, there is no need for licensure, but the use of occupational titles is limited. Persons without licensure can practice as nutritionists, but cannot use certain titles. The least restrictive form that allows persons to practice as a nutritionist is registration.

Also useful for a person interested in passing the license exam is to obtain a certification from the Commissions on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. This institute gives a certain credential (that of Registered Dietician) to those who take an exam after completing academic coursework and a supervised internship. Once they obtain the registered Dietician status, the nutritionists have to maintain it by completing at least 75 credit hours in continuing education classes taken every 5 years.

Therefore, a nutritionist career requires a lot of training, education and continuous updating of knowledge. Getting a nutritionist license is just the beginning. 

Read more: www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Nutritionist Job Description

The nutritionist is the expert that is solving various problems on a healthy nutrition. This is how a job description for a nutrition looks. Nutritionists are working generally in public health services, and are cooperating with medical specialists in order to ensure a balanced and healing nutrition according to the latest medical breakthroughs in this field.
A nutrition job description can be done by comparison with that of a dietician. His work is very close to that of the dietitian and the two roles may overlap very slightly. The fundamental difference between nutritionist and dietician is that nutritionist deals with healthy people in order to prevent disease, while the dietician work focuses on therapeutic activities for individuals already suffering from problems related to diet, or which may be helped by recommending them a specific diet.
Job duties:
  • determine the serving of meals for patients, depending on their health and their needs
  • nutritionist job description
  • oversees the preparation and accuracy of the rules of hygiene during food serving
  • inform the patients about possible changes of the menu during the treatment at home
  • can work in large catering companies to monitor the compliance of the rules for a balanced nutrition
A nutrition job description often includes control of the catering establishments, monitoring compliance with food standards, preparing menus, calculating energy and biological value of the food. The nutritionists can work in health centers, hospitals, sanatoriums and spas, in kindergartens and in schools, in public and private organizations of public catering, in charity, in research institutes and consulting firms. They can also be employed in the major food manufacturing companies and in journalism.
In terms of equipment used by nutritionists can talk about verbal expression, written documents, computerized technology, special tables with calories and biological properties of specific kinds of food.
Requirements for practicing this profession would be: secondary education or university, specializing in medicine, biology, nutrition, pharmacy or chemistry, patience and ability for team work.
Read more about here: www.howtobecomeanutritionist.org.