Mix a love of food, a desire to help others with a passion to learn more about nutrition and you’ve got the three key attributes Nutrition Coaches have in common.
The need for Nutrition Coaches is set to rise in coming years. According to Job Outlook Australia, future growth for nutrition professionals is strong. We’ve already seen an uplift in job ads for these types of roles. But what do Nutrition Coaches actually do?
Nutrition Coaches help people reach their health and wellness goals through nutrition. They are change makers and guide clients to shift their mindset, routines and habits. They analyse clients’ eating patterns and diet diaries, prescribe meal plans, help clients interpret food labels and facilitate behaviour change for long term health. Nutrition Coaches know where to find the latest nutrition research, national guidelines and studies and how to translate them into practice.
Experts in weight management
Nutrition Coaches are also experts in weight management. They know all about the science of weight loss, behavioural solutions and popular diets such as keto, intermittent fasting, vegan, detox, and commercial weight loss programs. Evaluating these diets and explaining features to clients is all part of the day-to-day work of a Nutrition Coach.
There is no point knowing about the science of nutrition, the macro and micronutrients without also having a solid understanding of the psychology of eating – why people over or under eat and what to do about it. That’s why Nutrition Coaches are also masters of behaviour change. Daily questions faced include: What are the barriers to change? Are clients ready to put in the work? How can I instil long-lasting habit changes?
Not only do Nutrition Coaches work one-one with clients, they can also:
- Work in a holistic wellness centre or a gym with allied health professionals
- Offer a meal and menu planning service to companies or individuals
- Develop recipes for resorts and eBooks to sell online
- Run supermarket tours to help clients identify healthy options
- Work on a health retreat
- Design recipe boxes/books
- Run corporate health wellbeing programs
- Create content for social media
Graduates of the course are showcasing their new skills in many ways. These include:
- Nikki runs nutrition challenges
- Sarah runs 30 day nutrition bootcamps
- Raquel launched a new podcast, The Female Health Show
- Aleks helps existing fitness clients by providing face to face nutrition coaching
- Michaela writes health and nutrition blog articles
- Jeni started up a new business in nutrition coaching and offers online nutrition consultations
- Sophie Guidolin became a fitness and nutrition influencer
- Rhyse, pro Thai boxer inspires others to achieve their goals
- Simone runs 6-week body-mind challenges
- Amy runs group nutrition workshops, Healthy longevity
How much can a Nutrition Coach charge for their services?
Here’s an idea of what Nutrition Coaches’ rates are. Of course, this depends on the target market, location and what packages are offered.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial nutrition consultation (1 hr) | $110 – $130 |
| Follow up nutrition consultations (30 mins) | $60 – $80 |
| Personal Training (1 hr) If also have fitness qualifications | $80-$100 |
| Social cooking classes (2 hr) | $400 (e.g. $40 pp for 10 people) |
| Private shopping tours (1 hr) | $90 |
| Nutrition workshop | $400+ (e.g. $40 pp for 10 people) |
| Nutrition introduction seminars (1 per month) (30 mins) | Free to advertise business |
The career opportunities are endless. Graduates can advertise their services under the following titles:
- Nutrition Coach
- Weight Management Consultant
- Corporate Nutrition Consultant
- Health and Food Coach
- Nutrition Advisor
- Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach™ (If also hold a fitness qualification)
Find out more about our fully online Nutrition Coach course to build and deepen your nutrition knowledge.
