Culinary Nutrition Jobs: Where Could I Work in my Field?
By Kristen Rohrer, Culinary Institute of Virginia Nutrition and Arts & Sciences Faculty Member
There are just over 1,100 culinary nutritionists in the world today, spanning 43 countries worldwide all with the same unifying ambition: to create nourishing and delicious meals that combat disease and promote health in a society that is extremely hungry for a health revolution.
Because of these statistics, many different corporations are jumping on the nutrition bandwagon and looking for that next great professional source that can not only recommend life-giving and healing foods, but actually prepare them in ways that promote recovery and restoration. Sound good? It gets even better because upon graduation as a culinary nutritionist, you will stand out to a substantial number of businesses all on the lookout for your expertise.
Businesses on the Hunt for Health
Nowadays, people in our society are ready to take the next step towards health through nutrition, but they are confused on where to begin. Every day, it seems like more and more conflicting nutrition information surfaces in some context or another. Business owners from obvious fields, like restaurants and the healthcare arena, are seeking out culinary nutritionists to make these connections.
But one of the most amazing aspects about this area of study is that it is extremely versatile and can fit into even less obvious, but vitally important fields. Fields like corporate health and wellness, school-based nutrition in both the public and private sector, and any other area where there is an emerging population of health conscious people. They all need the guidance and expertise that culinary nutritionists can provide.
Rest assured that healthy employees cost companies much less money, so lots of businesses are hiring personal chefs and certified dietary managers to overhaul current menus and create nutrient-dense options in order to invest in prevention and long-term sustainability. The great news is that businesses are breaking the mold by allowing these professionals to get out of the kitchen and showcase their skills by conducting one-on-one cooking demonstrations and nutrition education sessions on healthy cooking techniques.
At the same time, nutritionists along with registered dietitians are partnering with culinary nutritionists to not only have input on specialty meal plans, but also to show people how to create amazing and wholesome foods that taste great too.
The Perfect Choice for Entrepreneurs
How does it sound to create your own schedule that revolves around your life and priorities while at the same time, having a career that allows you to make a dramatic and beneficial difference in the lives of others? If this sounds like a dream job to you, culinary nutrition may be the best choice to make it happen, especially for people who consider themselves driven entrepreneurs who love making connections with others.
Beyond a personal chef, culinary nutritionists can take the professional skills from the kitchen and transform food to meet the individual needs of their clients and families while also working in individual settings to be sure people are on the right track to reaching their goals. Another desirable advantage that culinary nutritionists have over the rest of the entrepreneurial crowd is the nutritional backing from a stout, scientifically-based curriculum that allows them to utilize even remote means to educate clients.
Work Environments for the Culinary Nutritionist
Because this field is so versatile, the professional environment may vary from one job to another. It can depend on the overall mission of the company, the role the culinary nutritionist may play in that field, and the colleagues that may be in collaboration.
For instance, in a healthcare setting, the culinary nutritionist may work as a certified dietary manager in charge of a specific kitchen while consulting with nutritionists or dietitians on food-based needs. Some facilities may be fast-paced like the restaurant industry, or the demand may be slower, like with personal chefs working one-on-one with a client, allowing you to perfect the art of your craft. Either way, the choice is yours regarding the environment that is most reflective of your dream job.
What Can You do Now to Get the Job of Your Dreams?
Networking with healthcare practitioners can take culinary nutritionists extremely far, especially because many of these patients require specific menu planning and execution for optimal success. Some of these opportunities include connecting with weight loss clinics, chiropractors who utilize nutrition and wellness, doctor's offices, special needs facilities for children and adults, or even retirement communities.
An Associate of Applied Science Degree in Culinary Arts and Applied Nutrition can help you stand out in the nutrition world and make you a viable candidate for the job of your choice in a number of fields. Contact a friendly admissions representative from ECPI University's Culinary Institute of Virginia today to discuss your options. As a culinary nutritionist, the sky is the limit with possibilities and you may just have the power to transform health with your own two hands!
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Nutrition - Associate’s
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.