Meet Emily Parent, MFCS, RD, LD, who is an incredible supermarket dietitian with Coborn’s Inc., working at their corporate level. She had a passion for nutrition and grocery shopping and found the perfect way to incorporate both into her daily job. Being able to help over 10,000 employees along with all their customers’ needs is an amazing opportunity and Emily enjoys every moment of it. Check out her career path. - Sarah

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
As a student athlete, I was always intrigued with how I could fuel my body to perform at its highest level. After taking an online nutrition class in high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in nutrition and found out that I could do that by becoming a Registered Dietitian!

Your Job Title?
Health and Wellness Strategy Manager

Company you are with now?
Coborn’s Inc.

Website:
Dietitian’s Corner

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
A typical day is anything but in the world of retail! My role has evolved over the last 5 years and while I used to work with our guests every day, now I spend my time developing our company’s health and wellness strategy. Although I spend much more time on the phone and on my computer, I love that I get to help lead our company’s vision of ‘inspiring healthy living’ by working with our wellness committee. Our committee promotes wellness to our over 10,000 employees through activities and challenges, implementation of well-being policies, and offering health and wellness resources. I also work on our external health and wellness strategy by utilizing our Shopper Marketing Guide to partner with vendors on our nutrition-focused activations which can be found on a variety of platforms including social media, TV segments, e-commerce and in-store.

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
I’ve always loved grocery shopping, even as a kid. When I learned that I could mesh my two loves—nutrition and grocery shopping—into a career I searched for opportunities in the upper Midwest after I passed my RD exam. Soon after, I joined the small team of two other RDs at Coborn’s Inc. Although I started off as an in-store dietitian, I’ve been able to develop my role over the years and now I am a corporate dietitian focusing on health and wellness strategy for both our employees and our guests.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I was born with the innate love for wellness and helping people. As many dietitians are, I am highly organized and live by my schedule. All that being said, working in retail has allowed me to thrive in my passion for wellness, but has taught me the importance of flexibility and being able to ‘go with the flow.’ Without a background in business, I have been able to develop my business and negotiation skills over the years that I have spent with Coborn’s. I find this a highly valuable skill regardless of a Dietitian’s area of practice!

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Find something you love to do and take advantage of opportunities in that space to turn it into a career. I knew I loved grocery shopping and nutrition and jumped at the opportunity to turn it into my career. As our dietitian program was still developing when I joined the team, I was able to suggest new projects and develop programs from the ground up. While many of them failed, several stuck and have been important in helping me grow my responsibilities, gain respect with colleagues, and receive promotions.

Take advantage of opportunities, don’t be afraid to try something new and fail, and ask for what you deserve!

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what
would it be?
Homemade Chai Tea Lattes