Description
Provide individualized nutrition counseling and education to promote health, support disease prevention or management, and improve eating behaviors. Assess client needs, develop and monitor personalized meal and behavior plans, and collaborate with healthcare providers, referring for medical nutrition therapy when needed.
- • Conduct comprehensive intake assessments of diet, health history, medications, lifestyle, and goals.
- • Assess nutritional needs and restrictions to develop personalized nutrition and behavior-change plans.
- • Use motivational interviewing and coaching techniques to support sustainable habit change.
- • Set SMART goals with clients and create actionable meal plans and shopping strategies.
- • Provide education on nutrition principles, label reading, portion control, and mindful eating.
- • Counsel individuals and groups on healthy eating patterns across the lifespan and cultures.
- • Review client food journals, biometrics, and feedback to monitor progress and adjust plans.
- • Coordinate care and communicate with physicians, RDNs, and other providers about client needs.
- • Refer clients to registered dietitians or medical professionals for conditions requiring medical nutrition therapy.
- • Provide guidance for special diets (e.g., low sodium, gluten-free, low FODMAP) within scope of practice.
- • Incorporate cultural, religious, and personal preferences into nutrition plans.
- • Educate clients on safe food handling, allergy awareness, and foodborne illness prevention.
- • Develop and deliver group classes, workshops, and webinars on nutrition topics.
- • Create evidence-based educational materials, handouts, and digital resources.
- • Stay current with nutrition research and guidelines and apply them to counseling.
- • Utilize EHRs or practice management systems to document sessions and outcomes.
- • Maintain client confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and applicable regulations.
- • Track program metrics and client outcomes to evaluate effectiveness and quality improvement.
- • Participate in community outreach, screenings, and wellness events.
- • Review available lab results and anthropometric data to inform recommendations, in coordination with providers.
- • Provide recipe ideas, meal prep tips, and grocery lists tailored to client goals and budgets.
- • Recommend reputable apps and tools for meal planning, tracking, and behavior support.
- • Screen for disordered eating or psychosocial concerns and refer to appropriate specialists when indicated.
- • Offer telehealth and in-person counseling and manage scheduling and follow-ups.
- • Coordinate diet counseling services across programs or locations as needed.
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Healthcare & Human Services
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
