If you find yourself keeping track of every calorie that you put in your mouth and reading nutrition facts labels more closely than company memos, why not get paid for it? Nutrition is an exciting and growing field eager for professionals to get the word out about the benefits of a healthy diet. There are a number of national and state level certifications that have different requirements concerning particular areas of study. However, many programs have the same basic curriculum of subjects to master before becoming a nutritionist.
Chemistry
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that chemistry-related subjects are standard fare for nutritionists in training. Some people are surprised to find that nutritionists extensively study chemistry, biochemistry, and organic chemistry as part of their studies. Because nutrients like vitamins and minerals are chemical compounds, its important to be versed in such subjects if you want to understand how they affect the body.
Biology
Biology, the study of living organisms, is a necessary subject to study for those seeking a career in nutrition. A solid foundation in biology will help you understand how the human body works and why diet plays such an important role in staying healthy. Importantly, biology gives you the ability to fully understand pathophysiology, which is the study of what goes wrong within the body when nutrition-mediated diseases like cancer, diabetes, and obesity occur.
Nutrition and Foods
Obviously, anyone on a track to a nutrition career needs to know about nutrition and foods better than any other health care professional. This means extensively studying the gamut of nutrition topics. When studying, you'll learn topics as varied as vitamin metabolism, the psychology of appetite, and how culture influences food intake.
Statistics
Nutrition is a fast moving field with scientific advances happening all the time. To interpret scientific literature, a statistics background is a must. Stats will allow you to understand and interpret the results of a health-related scientific study.
Food Service
Those aiming to earn registered dietitian (RD) certification must take food service courses. Food service management is a common career patch for RDs. These courses will cover the basics of hiring, marketing, employee management, and food service delivery.
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