Happy National RD Day!

Yes, there is such a thing as National Registered Dietitian Day and it happens to be March 10th. I hope everyone was able to hug an RD today and thank them for loving people and food so much.

So I thought for today I'd explain a little about what an RD really is and what we do. I remember when I was searching for dietetics program it sometimes felt that there was an exclusive club which RDs belonged to, and somehow no one else seemed to really understand how to join.

Registered Dietitians are your food and nutrition experts. But, there's a big difference between dietitians and nutritionists. You know how all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares?? Some RDs may refer to themselves as nutritionists, but it can't always go vice versa. Only those who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) are RDs. Although the legal definition of a "nutritionist" may vary by state, in many states one may refer to themselves as a "nutritionist" no matter their educational or training background.

So how do RDs get to be so smart?
We learn, a lot...a whole lot. Most earn a bachelor's or master's degree from a program approved by the ADA with courses in biology, chemistry, food science, business, etc. We then participate in an approved and supervised internship and sit for the ADA's exam. Once we become RDs, there's still continuing education requirements that must be completed because (as you know) nutrition is an ever-changing science.

RDs are employed in hospitals, private practice, fitness centers, health agencies, community clinics, schools, supermarkets, businesses, and so many more places.

That's a little about us. I hope it clears up some mystery as to the secret Registered Dietitian club!

Check out the American Dietetic Association's Top 10 Reasons to Consult an RD

And I hope you think of me with every healthy bite you take today. :)