What Is A Nutrition Coach: What They Do & How Do I Become One?

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. 

"First and foremost, coaches are here to facilitate the optimization of a current condition, vision, or goal," says Tania Marchand, a mindbodygreen functional nutrition training alum, life coach, and entrepreneur. "Not to 'repair' something that might be broken or diseased but to prevent, maintain, and hold someone accountable to their best standard." Nutrition coaches consider each client on an individual level and assess the internal and external factors that might contribute to or hinder their optimal health.

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."

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.

Nutrition coaches and health coaches share one mutual goal: educating and helping others lead better, healthier lives. They both seek to engage with individuals dynamically, to maximize their well-being and create sustainable life-transforming, behavioral shifts. Nutrition coaches, however, tend to place a greater emphasis on food and nutrition science as the powerful thread weaving together every other aspect of a person's health.

Finding a nutrition coaching program that suits your needs is well worth your time, research, and health-centric enthusiasm. Coaching certification curricula can vary in length, cost, content, and completion requirements, among other things. Here are a few pivotal elements to seek out in a solid nutrition coaching program:

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.

The path to becoming an accomplished nutrition coach involves a never-ending desire to learn, grow, and help others thrive along the way. Whether you're drawn to becoming a nutrition coach or merely curious about this powerful field, embarking upon this journey can be a life-fulfilling experience for both yourself and those around you.