Let's Celebrate Registered Dietitian Day

By , SparkPeople Blogger
The month of March is designated each year as National Nutrition Month and sponsored by The American Dietetic Association. Registered Dietitian Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 10 this year. The purpose of the day is to help inform the public about the ways Registered Dietitians serve as the experts "who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living."

I thought this would be a great time to give a "shout out" to our wonderful Registered Dietitian, Becky Hand, and provide helpful information about the dietetics profession.

After completing my Bachelors of Science degree in food and nutrition back in 1988, I started a practical experience internship at a nearby hospital. It was during one of my community nutrition rotations that I first met SparkPeople Registered Dietitian Becky Hand. Becky was the director of the Diary and Nutrition Council, Mideast where I spent two weeks learning how to share the message of good nutrition to the public. Anyone that has heard Becky speak at one of our Spark Your Life Conventions will likely agree that Becky has an infectious way of getting people excited about healthy eating. She had the same energy, excitement and enthusiasm back in the spring of 1989 as well. Whether she was talking to schoolchildren or answering questions for the local news station, Becky has always been able to capture her audience while sharing a basic nutritional truth or strategy for weight management success.

Registered Dietitians work in a variety of settings to provide nutrition education and assist with medical nutritional therapy where necessary. A process is required to ensure Registered Dietitian's are qualified to serve as experts in the field of food and nutrition. Those eligible for registration must:

  • have a minimum of a bachelor's degree (although many RD's have advanced degrees) from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association. Bachelor programs include a variety of study in subjects ranging from food and nutrition science, foodservice systems management, business courses, written and spoken communication to chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, anatomy, and physiology.
     
  • complete a CADE-accredited supervised practice program. Practice programs or internships may be combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Most commonly, a post graduation practice program internship must be applied for and accepted into and typically runs between six and twelve months in length covering experiences in health-care, food service and community nutrition.
     
  • pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic registration (CDR) after successful completion of the supervised practice program.
     
  • continue professional education (75 hours every five years) to maintain registration status.
In addition to RD credentials, many states also have regulatory laws such as licensure for nutritional professionals as well. Some states do refer to their Registered Dietitians as Nutritionists, but it is important to note that not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. It is important to ask about someone's credentials that you are working with when they refer to themselves as nutritionists since the definition and requirements for the term vary state to state.

Registered Dietitians like Becky are the best source of practical, affordable, and accurate nutrition information and are committed to helping people enjoy healthy lives. If you or someone in your family believes you could benefit from personal education and intervention from a Registered Dietitian in your area, go to www.eatright.org and click on the "Find a Registered Dietitian" link in the upper right hand corner.

Thank you Becky for serving as an inspirational SparkPeople Registered Dietitian but also for being a mentor for me and many other professionals that you have inspired during your career.

Have you or someone in your family ever worked directly with a Registered Dietitian?