Culinary Nutritionist Jobs Outside of Restaurants: Where Could I Work?
Written by Kristen Rohrer, Nutrition/Arts & Sciences Faculty at the Culinary Institute of Virginia
In light of our current convenience culture and our on-the-go American lifestyle, coupled with increased work hours, stress, lack of downtime, family obligations, and hectic day-to-day pursuits, our health continues to pay the price. More than ever, Virginians are faced with heart disease, diabetes, extreme allergies and diseases once thought to be reserved for the elderly. In light of the current shortages in healthcare workers paired with the astronomical numbers of people diagnosed with chronic disease, the time has come to harness a chef’s skills in order to address some of these major problems.
This is vitally important in light of new research highlighting lifestyle as a major determinant in the progression as well as prevention of chronic disease. Roughly 200,000 people in Hampton Roads die annually of chronic disease. Food may be the problem, but culinary nutritionists can use it to create solutions.
What do Culinary Nutritionists Do?
While a culinary nutritionist can undoubtedly thrive in the kitchen, they also have the ability to showcase their expertise in many nontraditional settings. The beauty of this innovative field is that chefs can find themselves working far beyond the reaches of a traditional culinary setting, including a plethora of options in healthcare like hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, corporate wellness, schools, community centers, private clinics with dietitians, addiction centers, or literally anywhere that serves food.
According to the latest Virginia census information, by the year 2030, one in five people living in Hampton Roads will be 65 or older. These projected statistics can account for the uptrend of job opportunities in long-term care facilities, making a certified dietary manager one of the fastest growing jobs for culinary nutritionists in this area. These new trends are the driving force behind the birth of this field, allowing the culinarian to extend professional talents beyond the kitchen and into collaborative opportunities as part of the healthcare team, where they are desperately needed to help make lasting changes in an aging and needy populace.
Food: The Universal Language
As humans, we need food as fuel and no one knows this better than a chef. While the latest food crazes have included elective diets like Veganism or gluten-free choices. Many people require therapeutic diets to speak to specific deficiencies induced by diseases, conditions, medications and environmental exposures.
Culinary nutritionists not only learn how to fuel the proper pathways with the nutrients these pathways require, but they also learn the scientific evidence from the latest research in food science regarding cooking techniques that boost or hinder absorption and ways to increase nutrient content without sacrificing flavor.
Culinary nutritionists have the unique skillset to break common misconceptions that healthy food is bland and tasteless. They do this by creating indulgent and decadent dishes that both heal and appeal to every sense. However, proper execution of this process begins with one-on-one interaction with patients, identifying their likes and dislikes, understanding medication-induced deficiencies and spending time listening.
All of these aspects are extremely distinct to the culinary nutritionist who can then take these findings to the kitchen and create amazing, nourishing dishes that surpass expectations while awakening the restoration process inside the body. This is one of the most important and far-reaching professions in our modern society because the culinary nutritionist is able to execute delicious meals, but they also provide educational lifestyle support so patients can start making changes and seeing optimal results. This is the only true way to sustain health and break the current reactive cycle of disease treatment, management, and mortality.
Tips for Specialty Jobs Within the Culinary Field
The best tip for all culinary nutritionists is to harness the vast differences between hearing and active listening when it comes to creating meal solutions. Active listening requires full attention to detail, and the ability to notice issues that may exist below the surface.
As a personal chef, it is vital to know your client’s likes and dislikes, but also their needs as well as lifestyle factors that may affect their utilization of the foods you create. An entrepreneurial spirit is vital for private counseling but the best aspect of this field is the flexibility and collaboration it provides across multiple professions.
Do you have a passion for inspiring others to change their life starting with the foods they eat? If so, then the Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts and Applied Nutrition degree through ECPI University’s Culinary Institute of Virginia can set you up to take your place in the explosive new field of culinary nutrition. Contact a friendly and knowledgeable admissions representative today to ignite your career and become a dynamic and integral part of culinary healthcare!
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Nutrition - Associate’s
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