A career as a dietitian nutritionist offers much more opportunity than the known traditional clinical or community job as a dietitian. If fact, more alternative opportunities continue to open up for dietitians, as full-time, part-time or side gigs.

Want to know the Best Alternative Jobs for a Dietitian? Read on to learn about all the potential career paths a dietitian can take. The unique dietitian job opportunities are abundant.

Alternative Dietitian Jobs vs Freelance Dietitian Jobs vs Dietitian Side Hustles

You might be wondering what is the difference between an alternative job compared to a freelance job or a dietitian side hustle.

As a definition, Alternative jobs are often jobs where you are working for another company. An example might be working as a Worksite Wellness Dietitian for an established company, which can be considered an alternative or non-traditional dietitian job.

Freelancing Dietitian Jobs can be considered full-time work where you are providing a service for a variety of other clients. An example would be as a freelance writer, putting in 30-40 hours/week with your writing business. Freelance nutrition writing is also an alternative dietitian job!

Side hustles are more likely considered to be part-time work, as a side gig to your other work, in the off hours. Maybe you work on the weekends or after hours developing and marketing your extra work. An example would be developing and marketing digital goods, like a 3-week postpartum menu planner to boost breastmilk volume that you sell on Etsy, RD2RD Marketplace, your Blog, or your website.

Side hustles and freelance work can be combined with your regular job to bring in extra money, to foster your creativity with supervision or approval.

List of the Best Alternative Jobs for a Dietitian

Here is an extensive list of different jobs outside of the general clinical dietitian setting.

• Advisory committees such as Dietary Guidelines
• Alternative & complimentary therapist
• Author of cookbooks
• Author of eBooks
• Author of nutrition-related books
• Business communications
• Case Manager
• Chef
• Children educator
• Clinical manager for medical sales companies
• Commodity organization
• Consultant for nutraceutical companies
• Consultant or educator for organizations
• Cooking show host - online or media
• Corporate dietitian for large companies
• Corporate test kitchens developer for recipes
• Corporate wellness program developer
• Correctional foodservice
• Counselor with developmental disabilities, psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, and eating disorders
• Culinary nutritionist
• Developer of websites and apps
• Diabetes care coordinator or educator
• Dietitian at a gym or health club
• Director for professional and advocacy relations
• Director of health promotion and education
• Director of program development for promotional materials
• Educator for physicians, nurses, dentists, and other health care professionals
• Equipment manufacturer
• Expert panelist
• FODMAP dietitian and other gut health-related specialties
• Food demo host
• Food editor for books and magazines
• Food regulation
• Food safety specialist for airlines, hospitals, and other government organizations
• Food scientist
• Food service
• Food stylist for print and commercials
• Freelance writer and author
• Functional nutritionist
• Ghost writer
• Government affairs such as regulatory and Congressional
• Grant writing
• Grocery store tours and presentations
• Health & wellness coach
• Home care
• Industrial ingredients sales
• Internet radio show host
• Manager of sales representatives for products
• Marketing director
• Medical sales
• Non-profit organizations such as Meals on Wheels
• Nutraceutical developer
• Nutrition communications from translating research articles into consumer-ready language for print work or online work
• Nutrition policy developer
• Online group weight management counselor
• Online/virtual consultant/counselor/coach
• Outpatient counselor
• Pediatric nutrition
• Pharmaceutical representative
• Private practice counselor
• Professional speaker
• Professor at a university or college
• Public health
• Public relations
• Recipe developer
• Research & development for food products
• Researcher for athletes & popular sports supplements
• Researcher for studies
• Restaurant consultant for menu labeling or recipe analysis
• Restaurant owner
• Sales representative for food-related products
• School lunch
• Social media dietitian for companies
• Social media influencer
• Sports nutritionist for private clients
• Sports nutritionist for professional sports teams, collegiate sports teams, and sports organizations
• Supermarket dietitian
• Sustainable food and water system development
• Technology development such as online program development
• Trade associations
• Trade shows representative
• Trainer for medical sales companies
• Video developer
• Webinar host
• Writer & editor of nutrition education materials
• Writer/author for health and wellness website and print materials

10 Best Freelance Jobs for Dietitians

Freelance work as a dietitian can enhance your career by adding specific skillsets and professional development. Freelance jobs provide flexibility and freedom to your schedule.

Depending on the needs of the employer, you may even be able to keep your nine-to-five job and do the freelance work after hours or on the weekends.

Another benefit for freelance work is the ability to work remotely in certain situations. Some dietitians incorporate a few of these freelance gigs to provide a hefty total combined income.

1. Nutrition Coach: Many individuals and companies want virtual nutrition coaches to assist with meal planning, nutrition program development, and more.
2. Recipe & Menu Analysis: Restaurants, corporations, hospitals, and other facilities that feed their employees are interested in having their recipes and menus analyzed for nutrient facts.
3. Recipe Development: Food companies hire dietitians to develop recipes using their products on a contractual basis.
4. Social Media Influencers: Food companies look for dietitians to promote their products through the dietitian’s social media platforms.
5. Video Development: Food companies contract dietitians to film and edit informational nutrition videos on specific topics and/or recipe videos using a specific brand ingredient.
6. Health & Fitness Writers: Magazines, blogs, and other publications are in need of nutrition writers for articles, peer reviewed journals, and blog posts. Also as a book or cookbook author, for yourself, or as a collaborator (or ghost writer but better if you can be the listed author).
7. Technology Consultant: Tech companies hire dietetic consultants on a project basis for nutrition input, app development, nutrition content development, and more.
8. Nutraceutical Formulation: Nutraceutical companies partner with dietitians to develop and formulate vitamins, herbal supplements, and meal-replacement drinks/powders.
9. Adjunct Professor: Universities, colleges, and other educational institutions hire dietitians to teach classes, develop curriculums, and provide other academic support for students. Depending on the institution, the classes can be taught in-person or virtual.
10. Corporate Wellness Contractor: Corporations contract dietitians to conduct in-house presentations, educational events, or one-on-one nutrition coaching for their employees.

Unique Jobs for a Dietitian: Career Paths from Successful Dietitians

Check out these unique dietetic career paths from fellow dietitians. They share how they started their jobs and what they love most about them.

Dietitian Job: Product Development & Founder of a Food Company

David Ingalls, MS, RD, CEO and co-founder of Zing Bars, Twitter: @zingbars

How did you start your job? Nutrition has had a profound impact on my life, fixing the chronic fatigue I had in my 20’s. Wholesome nutrition benefits everyone at any age and activity level. I co-created Zing Bars as an easy and tasty way to incorporate good nutrition into people’s everyday lives. As an RDN in private practice at the time, I couldn’t find a bar for my patients that “did it all.” Zing Bars was the answer to that problem, a source of vitality to help people get through their busy day!

What is the best part about your job? What I love most is hearing from other RDNs that they’re happy to support a product created and developed by dietitians. That is rewarding, humbling, and validating. For this reason, I also enjoy giving back to the dietetics profession via the annual Zing Nutrition Grant, in which our company strives to support RDNs with various business opportunities.

Dietitian Job: Nutrition & Technology

Minh Nguyen, MS, RD, Nutrition Outreach Lead at EatLove, Twitter: @eatloveis (work) @gastroexplorer (personal)

How did you start your job? Moving to San Francisco, I was convinced I had to work in tech, but I still wanted to utilize my dietitian background and education. I'm fortunate to have found a job that blends the two so seamlessly.

What is the best part about your job? The opportunity to continually grow and develop professionally. Learning new skills weekly!

Dietitian Job: Business & Life Coach for Dietitians

Chere Bork, MS, RDN, Founder of Savor Your Life Today, Inc., Twitter: @cherebork

How did you start your job? In 2000, I got into life coaching when I realized it was not what people were eating as what was eating them. I found myself talking more to clients about their relationships with themselves and their spouses than with food. One time, a grocery store RDN was not happy with her job and hired me. My sweet spot has been coaching RDNs ever since! I cannot believe I get paid to do what I love. I want RDNs to know people are sitting on their wallets to pay them but you’ve got to be happy to attract that.

What is the best part about your job? I get to love up dietitians. I help them get unstuck, get rid of what bugs them, and instead, attract happiness and success. I help them discover their true self and follow their passions, try new things, and take risks. The most important work in the world is to work on our happy. When you love your life, it loves you back.

Do you have more alternative job ideas? Contact us today and let us know! The opportunities are vast and prosperous!

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About the Author

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of MIJA, a superfood supplement company, and Haumea Health, a fertility wellness clinic. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.