As a dietitian, we have a lot of working options. The idea of working from home is attractive because it has so many benefits. But working from home has some obvious (and not so obvious) challenges, as well.

Both Sarah and Stacey work from home, so we can give you excellent first-hand insight as dietitians.

Here's the full scoop on Virtual Dietitian Jobs and Work From Home Dietitian Job opportunities for the new future of dietetics.

Why Work From Home

If we back up a bit and ask whey we would even work from home, having a variety of income options as dietitians is important. If you are raising a family, it might not be an option to working in an office or a facility.

Where you live might also dictate your outside work options. And then there is the idea that you might work outside of the home during the day and then continue working on a side hustle at home in the evening!

Benefits of Working from Home as a Dietitian

There are lots of benefits of working from home. Here's a list of a few reasons why working from home as a dietitian has awesome perks.

1. Create the workspace of your dreams - Whether you want a quiet space, or a standing desk, or an "office" close to a bathroom (if you are a big tea drinker like me, that matters!), creating a workspace at home that you thrive in is all in your control.
2. Easy commute - When you work from home, you get an obvious minimal commute. This can save you a lot in car expenses, time, and time away from family or friends.
3. Work from anywhere - When we say work from home, "home" could be anywhere! As long as you have a telephone, a computer, and Internet access for most jobs, you would work at the beach, on the slopes, in the woods, or when visiting a new city.
4. Less micromanagement - You might possibly benefit from being your own boss, being in control of how you spend your work time, but also from less micromanagement from your boss.
5. Flexibility - Flexibility in how you spend your time. If you are taking care of family members or raising a family, being able to be in charge of the hours you work matters. As long as you make good on your deliverables then when you work during the day is up to you.

Challenges of Working from Home as a Dietitian

Of course we need to mention the challenges of working from home. Here are just a few:

1. Do you have the daily discipline? - When you start working from home you'll notice that your energy level is so high! Hopefully this lasts. But honestly, it can be a struggle some days. Some weeks. No one is looking over your shoulder to make sure you are working. Soon you notice that laundry is piling up. Dinner needs to get planned. Other household chores can creep into your work day. It takes discipline to stay focused. Setting daily and weekly goals really helps. We both can say that from experience! Staying focused to keep up with deadlines is a must.
2. No co-workers to interact with - This is my number one challenge with working from home. I really miss the office life when I worked in a hospital and in research. Loneliness from lack of professional interactions is real. I try to schedule calls with someone in my profession all the time.

But Sarah and Stacey still love working from home. Here are some work from home dietitian job ideas. Do you have one to share?

10 Work From Home Dietitian Jobs

Virtual dietitian jobs and dietitian jobs that allow you to work from home and are common in the dietetic industry. Here are several types of jobs to consider as a full-time or part-time opportunity.

1. Telehealth Nutrition Provider - Providing Medical Nutrition Therapy via telehealth, as a Private practice Dietitian or working with another medical group, will continue in popularity. This article related to practicing across state lines can help.
2. Nutrition Course Creator. Consumers want expert nutrition information specific to their unique needs, such as menu planning for toddlers. But they might want to consume that information as a guided course or membership plan. Dietitians can create courses for niche populations from their home.
3. Virtual Nutrition Coach. Remote/virtual wellness coaching is a reimbursable benefit with insurance companies. Dietitians can work from home by counseling clients online or by telephone. Companies such as, Livongo, Vida, Omada, and Noom, all offer virtual coaching positions.
4. Freelance Writer. Become a writer for magazines, online publications, or websites. Companies hire dietitians to write content for their products, websites, and other print media. You can even write for yourself by writing a book or cookbook. Here's an affiliate link to a course on how to become a freelance nutrition writer*.
5. Blogger/Influencer. Bloggers and influencers can make lots of money and this can be a full-time job. Start your own blog or work for someone else’s. Many successful bloggers hire content writers and other people to assist with production, too. Bloggers also use their social media platforms to promote their content. Influencers on social media get paid through sponsorship opportunities.
6. Recipe Developer. Cooking delicious recipes daily can be the norm if you are a recipe developer. Work for a product/company you enjoy consuming so you can make tasty delights all day long.
7. Food Photographer/Stylist. Yes – people do get paid for food photography. Many influencers have gained their popularity because of their incredible food photos.
8. Social Media Manager. Social media is essential for business. Companies hire dietitians to provide content for their social media platforms. In addition, dietitians hire other dietitians to run their own branded social media sites.
   
9. PR/Marketing and Media Relations. Manage the information of an individual or an organization by promoting their key messaging to the public. Sometimes, you may have to go out into the field, but most of the work can be done from home.
10. Online Professor or Educator. An online educator or professor can teach from anywhere. Develop the syllabus, teach the lessons, and grade the assignments all from one’s own home.
11. Affiliate Marketer. So many talented dietitians have created genius courses for B2B or B2C, meaning selling courses for dietitians created by dietitians (think SEO for dietitians, or courses for the consumer (think PCOS Membership support) . Have you ever bought one? Did you find it helpful? If so, then you can actually make money by becoming an affiliate for the course and market it on your own. You can expect a typical payment rate of 20-50% (or more!). In the words of Heather Neal, "Put the time into marketing, but not in content creation.⁠" And get paid.⠀Here is my affiliate-related Dietetic Career Picks.
    
12. Virtual Worksite Wellness Lecturer. A lot of employers are looking for creative ways to reach their employees and virtual nutrition lunch-and-learn talks can be a lucrative gig. You can expect at least $100/hour or per class (or more!). Bundle that service with 1:1 counseling services virtually and you can make a good compliment to your private practice.

How to Find Work-From-Home Dietitian Jobs

Finding a virtual job is not always an easy task. We caught up with fellow dietitians who shared their top tips on finding virtual jobs.

1. Keep an open mind and explore your options. Liz Blom, RDN, Nutrition & Wellness Coach and Independent AdvoCare Distributor, recommends, “Keep an open mind and explore your options. Do not count yourself out based on self-inflicted excuses and uneducated bias. Make sure the company you are looking to work with has values that align with your own.”
2. Continue to network. Networking is a big part of meeting the right people and getting your foot in the door. Renee Brunelle, RDN, LDN, CNSC, CSP, Pediatric Nutrition Support Dietitian and Consultant, suggests “Make as many contacts as possible for you never know who will offer a position.” Network online through LinkedIn or other social media outlets in a professional manner. You can also join dietetic practice groups through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in order to meet more people within your desired field.
3. Tap into LinkedIn Connections. If you are thinking about worksite wellness or corporate wellness, reach out to corporate Wellness Coordinators or Managers on LinkedIn and make a connection. You can also work with corporate wellness brokers (also search for on LinkedIn) who can act as your "agent" to connect you with small to medium-sized companies wanting to offer nutrition counseling to their employees. Everyone wins!

Top Tips on How to Stay Focused When Working From Home

Staying focused while working from home as a dietitian can be a challenge. Top dietitians share their tips how they successfully work from home.

1. “Set aside specific work hours” to stay on track, advocates Blom.
2. “Have a checklist of everything you hope to accomplish for the day and stick to it,” instructs Brunelle.
3. “Keep the end result in mind and work backwards by setting SMART goals” so you get the job done even when life happens, advises Blom.
4. “Use a home office that is quiet and does not contain a television or children” to distract you, counsels Brunelle.
5. The best tip from Blom is to “always have passion in everything you do. When you put effort into your work, whether small or large, you’ll be more driven, focused, and your purpose will be fueled.”

Do you have any good tips for working from home as a dietitian? We would love to learn how you succeed. Contact us here.

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About the Authors

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.

Stacey Dunn-Emke, MS, RDN, is the Founder Owner of NutritionJobs and an established dietetic career expert. She helps steer dietetic and nutrition professionals to a successful job search process with the top-ranked dietetic job board platform, NUTRITIONJOBS. Stacey is the author of The Dietetic Resume Guide and numerous dietetic career action-ables. She gives the tools to create a modern standout dietetic resume to land that job interview, help with job interview prep, and with creating All-Star LinkedIn profiles. Stacey has interviewed and hired many dietitians and in running NutritionJobs since 2000, she has reviewed thousands of dietetic resumes. She works closely with dietetic hiring managers and recruiters to know what standout resume elements land a job interview.

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