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Jobs in Nutrition, Sports Nutritionist Jobs
By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: March 12th, 2010
Nutrition writer or editor— Whether working freelance, on commission, for a magazine, newspaper or professional journal, there are many opportunities for nutrition writers to explain these difficult concepts to an information-hungry public.
Medical food service 
director—Hospitals and clinics don’t just serve whatever patients want to eat. Finding a balance between what the doctor ordered and what will entice a patient to consume the vital calories, vitamins and minerals is a job for someone with a nutrition background.
Food product development scientist—Did you ever wonder why breakfast cereals are so packed with vitamins? It’s not because wheat and corn typically carry iron, zinc, vitamins B and C. Food companies are always looking for ways to tout their healthy credentials by maximizing the nutrition in their products without compromising flavor, shelf life or appearance.
Nutritional researcher—with a nutrition science degree under their belt, these scientists help conduct the research that other nutritionists and health professionals use to help their own clients.
Health education teacher—Higher degrees or teaching certificates are generally required to be a teacher, but work can be found in schools, universities and public health offices.
Licensed medical professional—A degree in nutrition science can be a starting point for another degree, such as dentistry, nursing, medicine or physician assistant, that can lead to long-term, rewarding careers in the healthcare field.
Sports nutritionist/personal trainer—The combination of coaching a person to exercise and eat right is unbeatable. Personal trainers may meet their clients at the gym or even at home, where they can advise them on their meal planning, grocery shopping and food preparation. Some athletes have special dietary needs (pre-marathon carbo loading, anyone?) while many others just want to gain muscle in the right areas. Helping professional athletes, weekend warriors and those just concerned about their appearance make the most of the proteins, fats and carbohydrates in their diets is a perfect complement to helping them stretch, work out, and avoid injuries.
Nutritional products sales representative—Supplements are big business, and being knowledgable about what they do and how to combine them with food and beverages is critical to helping customers safely get the most out of these products.
Sales rep for pharmaceutical company—Pharmaceutical sales reps often find themselves talking with doctors or other healthcare professionals, trying to convince them to stock their items. The stronger a nutritionist’s knowledge is about the effects of a product on patient’s digestive and other systems and the more convincingly they can answer the questions posed by the medical professionals, the more likely the product will get their thumbs up.
Caterer—The focus on eating healthier has even extended to areas where people once splurged thoughtlessly. Health-conscious organizations may prefer to put their money where their mouth is and hire a catering company that understands how to prepare healthy food for the masses. Of course, the food must be appetizing as well, and it is the job of the nutritionist to work with the chef and cooks to identify meals that are economical, full of vitamins, and appealing to the palate.
Private nutrition consultant—States have different requirements, and certifications are available for clinical nutritionists.
Clinical dietitian—in a hospital, a clinical dietitian may work with medical staff to identify patients suffering from malnourishment or lack of vitamins, offer them counseling and work with doctors, nurses and kitchen staff to provide the patients with the diets that will help restore their health.
Entrepreneur (restaurateur, chef or restaurant manager)—While many other skills are required to own or run a risky business like a restaurant, the rewards are plenty. Having a strong background in nutrition can help to build a healthy menu that can keep the waiting line running out the door each night.