While some people go into holistic nutrition with a clear path in mind, others may not yet have a vision for what to do with their education.
The Nutrition Therapy Institute’s Nutrition Therapist Master Certification can give you the education needed for many different types of career paths. There is an option that suits your style, desire and skills just waiting for you if you put in the work to make it happen.
There are many types of jobs in holistic nutrition depending on the type of experience you want to have and who you want to work with. They may also affect the number of hours you’re working and how much you make. Whether you own your own business or work for someone else, and if you work in person or from home can also be based on the type of work you choose.
Running Your Own Holistic Nutrition Business
Private Practice in Nutrition Therapy
Easily the most common direction NTI grads go is to start their own practice offering nutrition therapy for clients.
The NTMC program is a great way to prepare for helping clients make nutritional choices for themselves and their families. This can include providing guidance for support of optimal wellness for adults, children, athletes, hormones, weight loss, blood glucose management, and much more.
Probably the hardest parts of this avenue are finding clients and going about it on your own – email campaigns, newsletters, social media and word of mouth are some of the most common ways to get your messaging heard. The benefits of this option include making your own schedule and choosing a focus that appeals to you.
All private practices are unique and each one can look very different. Some grads see clients in person, either in an office, home or even the clients’ home. Others work with people online.
But a private practice doesn’t mean you have to work completely alone. There are still options for collaboration, referrals and partnerships if this is what you’re looking for. This can be for specific clients, events and whatever else you want to work on with others.
Contract or Freelance Nutrition Writer
As an expert in the field of holistic nutrition, you can be a resource for other people. And one skill that always seems in demand, (yes, even with AI as competition) is writing.
While there are plenty of contract writers available, very few already have the knowledge and expertise that a Nutrition Therapist Master has. Someone needing these services won’t be required to explain the foundations of nutrition and health.
What does this look like?
Blog and newsletter writing is a focus that professional clients are often in need of because they take time and require a certain level of knowledge.
Social media writing doesn’t have these same requirements but are often in demand because of how often they must be posted, taking much more time than clients want to invest. That can be where you come in.
Framing yourself as an expert can allow you to write for publications and websites that need content and will pay for your skill set, both in nutrition and writing.
Employment in Holistic Nutrition
Working for a Holistic-Minded Practitioner
It is fortunate that a growing number of health practitioners see the upsides of running a holistic practice. And while many of them are gaining this knowledge themselves, there are even more who want to outsource nutrition therapy to others within their practice.
Whether it’s a doctor, naturopath, chiropractor or other healthcare provider, there are practices that are looking to hire Nutrition Therapist Masters for their patients.
They see the benefits in their practice and for their patients because they are offering services that not all doctors have and an increasing amount of their patients want.
The hardest part is finding this type of position. But once you do, you have built-in clients. How you get paid with this type of work can vary since some providers may include your services in their fees and others may charge extra.
You may receive a salary or you may get a percentage of what’s collected, depending on what you arrange.
Working for a Grocery Store
Companies like Natural Grocers (which is based in Colorado but with locations in more than 20 states) can be a wonderful place for Nutrition Therapist Masters to work.
Natural foods grocery stores may offer services to their customers that include nutrition therapy because it aligns with the company mission and can even help them sell certain products.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has long offered sessions and events provided by their “nutritional health coaches,” who are employees of the company. The Nutrition Therapy Institute is proud of the number of graduates who have gone on to work in this capacity.
These positions are competitive but Nutrition Therapist Masters can be a great match and the positions can come with great benefits.
Working in Supplements
Here’s a secret: Supplement companies love Nutrition Therapist Masters!
Because NTMs receive education that is science-based, supplement companies know that they will have the foundation to work in sales, marketing, product development, education and content.
These types of jobs can have stability and benefits, and many of these types of positions can be virtual or flexible.
The Sky’s the Limit for Nutrition Therapist Masters
These are some of the most common jobs and careers that NTMs have gone into. But it is by no means a complete list.
One of the wonderful aspects of the Nutrition Therapy Institute’s certification is that you can use it in combination with whatever skills and interests you have.
These can include:
- Research: Data-minded? Many companies look for candidates who know how to delve into research in order to uncover facts needed for studies and more.
- Podcasts: Now more than ever, people are getting their information (and of course entertainment) from podcasts. And nutrition podcasts have a big following.
- Private chef: Both families and individuals are so busy these days. But it doesn’t mean they don’t care about eating healthy. Through guidance and helping hands, being a private chef assists people in eating the way they wish they could.
- Restaurant consultant: Restaurants, bakeries, breweries, assisted living facilities. Anywhere that makes food, you may find people who are looking to find ways to improve the nutrition of the food they offer.
- Public speaking: The impact you can have when speaking to groups about nutrition therapy is outstanding. Small businesses, corporations, events and retreats all want to improve people’s lives and many are willing to pay.
Whether you’ve seen something here that you’re interested in pursuing or you’ve got your own ideas of what to do with a Nutrition Therapist Master Certification from Nutrition Therapy Institute, the next step is to make it happen.
And that can’t begin until you apply to the program. Not ready to commit? You can attend a one-hour informational webinar to learn more about what to expect from the program.
About the author: Maya Strausberg earned her Master Nutrition Therapist certification from NTI before starting her nutrition therapy private practice. She now offers writing and editing services for nutritionists and other health practitioners around the world through her business, Family Tree Nutrition.
Images
- Photo by George Milton
- Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
- Image by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay
