Common sense?

Since I've finished my dietetic internship and entered the "real world" of dietetics, I've entered a world where dietitians are looked down upon. Where the regular guy walking down the street can call himself a nutritionist because he watches Dr. Oz on a daily basis.  Where people turn down professional nutrition advice because they "know what to eat, they just choose not to".

To illustrate my point, here is a 100% true story. I was calling around to local gyms to offer nutrition services/build partnerships, and I called one "gym" in particular (I won't disclose the name; it was an in-home training with the self proclaimed Strongest Man of 2005). A middle-aged scatchy voice man answered the phone and I politely went in with my script. He interrupted me and proceeded to claim that he was a nutritionist, as well, and he DID NOT need my help. Now, I'm usually pretty mild-mannered, but living with Alex has gotten me more into trolling people if I think it's appropriate. "Where did you go to school?" I asked him. "Oh, uh, online.". Hmm. Next question. "Where did you do your dietetic internship?" "I didn't have to." Uh-huh, sure. "Well then how...." Click. He had hung up on me. I was pretty enraged. This man was advertising to his clients that he was something - something I had spent 5 years of my life dedicated to obtaining - and he was taking clients away from me! What if I went around town saying I was a doctor?? When did dietetics and nutrition become so commonplace that people think they can just fake knowing it?

The problem here is certainly multifaceted. On one hand, we as consumers are constantly bombarded with messages from products claiming this is healthy, that is healthy, this is NOT healthy. It's almost like sensory overload when you are at a grocery store. With all of this information, it's easy to see why some people may think that they know what is considered healthy, they just choose not to eat it. But there is more to the story. Sure, an apple is healthy. Lettuce is healthy. Beans are good for you. Can you survive on just apples, lettuce and beans? You would be missing out on key amino acids, vitamins, phytonutrients. Sure, we say eat a diverse diet of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. But what if you are an athlete? What if you are an aging woman who wants to preserve bone and lean body mass? What if you are obese and trying to lose weight? Each of these situations calls for a different ratio of foods to give a different composition of macronutrients; an individualized approach that can only be mastered by a Registered Dietitian.

Another reason why dietitians are often pushed under the rug is that a majority of people don't know how specialized our training is. Sure, we can help with weight loss or lean muscle gain, but we also take multiple courses in medical nutrition therapy for chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, renal failure, Crohn's Disease, Celiac Disease, etc. We do much more than tell people to eat healthy and eat less.


And yet I think back to previous clients, those who saw no nutritional deficit in consuming multiple liters of regular soda on a daily basis or eating cookies for breakfast. They were truly shocked to learn that these items had a lot of calories and added sugars and would most likely cause weight gain in the long run. Or I think to the female athletes during my thesis research in college, and how they intrinsicly valued a thin appearance over performance and therefore would purposefully restric caloric intake. It was mind blowing to find out that eating more calories, specifically bioavailable protein and complex carbohydrates, would be beneficial on training or competition days.

So after hours of pondering the question, "Is nutrition really just common sense? Or did I spend my 5 years in school wisely?", I am confident that nutrition is so much more than what you see in commercials. It's more than recommending you to limit your fat intake if you have heart disease. We are more than educators, we are counselors and motivators. We are leaders who are not judgemental and who are compassionate and empathetic. Best yet, we hold you accountable - which is often a large part of the battle.

I know you think you know everything about nutrition. And maybe you do. But, if I had to guess, I'd say you have a little sumthin sumthin to learn. That's why I suggest you follow this blog, and get in touch with your local dietitian if you have any nutrition concerns. With our country having SUCH a high obesity rate, it's mind-blowing that people aren't knocking down the doors of dietitians for advice and accountability.

Oh, and just for the record, Dr. Oz is NOT a dietitian. Or a "nutritionist". Most doctors only get 1 or 2 courses in nutrition during their medical school training...and that's for doctors.Who knows how much Dr. Oz, who comes from the planet Crazy Pants, has actually studied nutrition. I actually might start a side-kick blog to this one entitled, "Dr. Oz = Crazy" where I prove his mind-blowing nutrition theories completely inaccurate.