n etwork - Nutrition Entrepreneurs

Vol ume 1
I s s ue 3
The
Nutrition
ntrepreneurs
E
TWORK
Fal l 2015
STUDENT NEWSLETTER
Finding Your
NUTRITION NICHE
Welcome to the third installment of
The NEtwork, Nutrition
Entrepreneurs' student newsletter!
Whether you are a new or seasoned
NEDPG member, I hope that this
publication will serve as
a source of inspiration
and motivation to
finding your nutrition
niche in the field of
dietetics.
volleyball, cricket, or professional
hotdog eating dietitian. Whatever
your "schtick", the idea is to take your
passions and combine them into your
personal nutrition niche.
Once you know what
inspires you, next you
must get out there and let
everyone know! Don't be
afraid to toot your own
horn and brand yourself
What is a "nutrition
as the guru for your
niche"? The first word
niche. You have the
that comes to mind is
ability to create your
KRISTINA TODINI
"passion." Those of us in
own path, and there are
DIETETIC
INTERN
the dietetics profession
so many exciting
NAPA
STATE
HOSPITAL
share a common one:
possibilities available-if
food and nutrition. Finding your
you're willing to go out and find
niche involves going beyond
them!
nutrition and tapping into your other
This issue is chock full of great
interests, knowledge, and
advice and inspiration to get the
experiences to set yourself apart. Do
wheels turning for your amazing
you love working with pregnant
future career. The NEtwork
mothers? Your niche can be nutrition
contributors and I hope that it will
in pregnancy. Are you interested in a
spark ideas to help you discover your
specific sport? You can be the next
hidden nutrition niche!
Calling all #NEStudents!
ARE YOU ATTENING FNCE® ?
Check out @NEDPG on Twitter for all
updates about Nutrition Entrepreneur events.
We hope to see you there!
HAVE YOU JOINED
NUTRITION ENTREPRENEURS'
STUDENT ELECTRONIC
MAILING LIST?
SIGN UP ON NEDPG.ORG TO
STAY IN THE KNOW!
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE 1
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
KRISTINA TODINI
PAGE 2
STUDENT SUCCESS CORNER
COURTNEY WOO
PAGE 3
THE 5 LIST
WILLIAM BROWN
PAGE 4
FOCUS ON INTERNSHIPS
CARLY BOSSERT
PAGE 5
THE PULSE ON FOOD TRENDS
AMANDA VAUGHN
PAGE 6
ENTREPRENEUR LESSONS
NANCY SIDNAM
PAGE 7
SECOND CAREER DIETITIANS
KATHY GARVEY
PAGE 8
KEEPING AN OPEN MIND
TAWNIE KROLL
PAGE 9
FIND YOUR PASSION
OLIVIA BAKER
PAGE 10
MAINTAIN YOUR BLOG VISION
TARA CONDELL
STUDENT & RDN SUCCESS CORNER
How To Find Your
Nutrition Niche
We have the wonderful world of dietetics and nutrition at our fingertips.
There are endless opportunities that extend beyond the desk:
professional/collegiate sports dietitians, brand ambassadors, cook book
authors, professional speakers, and more. With an abundance of options,
how do we go about finding our best fit in the field?
Think of dietetic career opportunities and niches like a self-serve yogurt
shop. Before purchasing your frozen treat, you are likely to sample a few
COURTNEY WOO, RDN
(2, 3, 4, or more) flavors before choosing the winner. The same goes for
nutrition jobs and experiences ? you will never know whether or not you
are passionate about a rare disease, blogging, or overseas work if you do not give these opportunities
a test run first.
Trying something new may be daunting, but remember you are not alone in your search. Many have
come before you and have successfully found their places in the dietetic world. Connect with other
registered dietitian nutritionists who have established themselves in the area of interest. They may be
able to give you more specific advice in order to get started in your career. If you are looking for
general helpful advice, here is what some Nutrition Entrepreneur DPG professionals have to say
about finding your nutrition niche:
WHITNEY WRIGHT MS, RD
@NOURISHEDAVENUE
ELENA PARAVANTES, RDN
@GREEKDIET
Try everything to see what you like, say
YES to new opportunities, don't be
afraid to fail you can always try again!
CHERYL STRACHAN, RD
@SWEETSPOTRD
KRISTEN GRADNEY, RD
@KGRADNEYRD
Go with what you're passionate about.
Focus. Be unique. We're so fortunate to
have freedom to follow our hearts.
GEORGIE FEAR, RD
@GEORGIEFEARRD
Follow your passion & <3- the rest
will fall into place.
If you are living it then it is
your passion and niche
KRISTY HEGNER, MPH, RD
@CHOCOLATESLOPES
Try different ones on until one
fits so well you don't want to take
it off. Same as jeans!
LAUREN ANTONUCCI, RDN
@NUTRITIONENERGY
Find something you know
well & are passionate about
Follow what you love/ your passions,
the rest will fall into place :)
CATHY MAZENAC, RDN
@CMAZENACRDE
Recognize your passions. Build them into a
nutrition practice. Use all of your talents writing photography people skills.
NICKI BRIGGS MS, RD
@NICKIBRIGGS
Don't be afraid to try new things, and
say yes to unexpected opportunities
-- even if they scare you.
EMILY COPE MS, RDN
@RDNMOMMMY
Whatever it is you want to do (blog,
website, etc) start now!! And over time
you will find your niche naturally!!
THE 5 LIST
5 COMMON NETWORKING MISTAKES &
HOW TO AVOID MAKING THEM
WILLIAM BROWN
DIETETIC INTERN
INGALLS HOSPITAL
Here we are in our third edition of the newsletter. If you have been
following along, you have spent a few months finding what
Twitter : @WilliamZolton
inspires you. You have reached out to dietitians with awesome
jobs, collaborated with fellow students, and even networked like a pro at a recent conference. Now comes the turning
point in your career: finding your niche. Everything in the nutrition world is so cool, how on earth do you choose just
one specialization? Below are 5 strategies to help move you into your professional niche.
1
DON'T GET FRUSTRATED
?I haven?t failed, I have simply found 10,000 ways that won?t work."
While Thomas Edison may not have been describing his experience in finding a niche in nutrition, his
words can comfort us as we find our way. Throughout college, especially in my earlier years, I hadn?t the
faintest idea of where my career was going to take me. While I have had a plethora of fantastic experiences
I may not have found my niche yet. Knowing this, I think on Edison?s words knowing that I have slowly
but surely found career paths that aren?t for me. There are some people who find their calling in life at 18,
others not until they are 65. You may not find it today, or tomorrow, but it will be out there for you.
2
ALLOW EXPECT CHANGE
3
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
Life has this annoying habit of getting in the way of our plans. While we may get stuck thinking about
how we want the next few months or years to play out, remember that the only constant you can expect in
your life is change. Always welcome new experiences as opportunities, not roadblocks. You didn?t join
NEDPG because you wanted a blanket of consistency to surround you for the rest of your life. The
marine?s mantra fits this strategy: improvise, adapt, and overcome. Exercise your ability to be flexible and
resourceful by utilizing your strong decision-making skills.
Just because you thought you would enjoy it when you read about it in class last semester doesn?t mean
it is going to be your life?s work. Maybe you are like me and think clinical work sounds boring, but will
you really know until you experience it? Of course not! Get excited about what the world offers you. Do
I expect my career to be in a hospital? No, but I can?t say for certain until I have exhausted all learning
opportunities available during my DI this fall. My favorite quote from Eleanor Roosevelt is: ?Do one
thing every day that scares you." If you take every opportunity as a learning opportunity, you will have
everything to gain from the experience.
4
NEVER SETTLE
5
CONTINUE TO NETWORK
That being said, always be on guard for complacency. A good job for our parents meant a decent, livable
wage and benefits that support their whole family. Personal preference and happiness didn?t factor into
the equation, and now a 2014 study shows that 1 in 5 Americans are unhappy with their job. Feeling
bored in your studies or at work? Expand your horizon and take an online course for free from leading
colleges and universities.
Finally, here is the strategy to keep thinking outside the box and ward off complacency. Just because you
landed your first job, dietetic internship, or have lost common interests with your professional network
doesn?t mean you need to cut them off and start from scratch. Keep up with friends and colleagues,
because you never know when new opportunities will come knocking.
FOCUS ON:
INTERNSHIPS
Entrepreneurship, Leadership, & Business
in Supervised Practice
Becoming a leader in the field of dietetics begins with the right internship. Each issue
of The NEtwork features supervised practice programs with a focus on leadership and
business so that you can make informed decisions about your future.
CARLY BOSSERT
BS NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
?Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that
impact lasts in your absence.? -Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY?NORMAL, IL
Illinois State University?s dietetic internship is a 21-month experience offered with a Master?s in
family and consumer sciences with a concentration on leadership and project management. This
concentration involves utilizing community events and programs for true hands-on experience. To
help bridge the gap of knowledge and application, students reflect and journal the leadership styles of
their preceptors after each of their rotations. Illinois State?s Dietetic Internship Director, Dr. Julie
Schumacher EdD, RD, LDN, believes that ?this journaling allows students to see how all types of
leadership styles may fit various work environments and allows them to reflect how their own
leadership style was shaped from their experiences.? There are various community programs where
students will have the chance to enhance and sharpen their leadership skills, while simultaneously
managing a nutrition program. Many of these programs include working on a community garden or a
fruit and vegetable program on campus, which is an award-winning program providing weekly bags of
fresh produce to participants similar to that of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). ?Each year
a couple interns manage our program?s community garden,? says Dr. Schumacher. ?Students develop
their leadership skills by planning the garden, recruiting and managing garden volunteers and making
connections in the community to donate the produce to food banks and shelters.? Students also have
the chance to manage all areas of the program and enhance their leadership skills in program
promotion, managing volunteers, purchasing, as well as social media presence. Creativity is a huge
plus in this internship as students are always encouraged develop a new project to lead. ?The on-going
projects that we have were all originally created by interns and have grown into community projects
and/or programs,? says Dr. Schumacher. ?No matter what area of dietetics you work in, leadership is
important. When you take initiative and work to make a difference? .you become a leader.?
For more information visit: http://fcs.illinoisstate.edu/dietetic-internship/
THE PULSE ON FOOD & NUTRITION TRENDS
CO FFEE FL O U R?
AMANDA VAUGHN
DIETETICS STUDENT
POINT LOMA NAZARENE
Coffee? ..a complex carb? Look out future dietitians! The plant responsible for your
morning pick-me-up is about to take on a whole new realm! The idea sparked in 2013 when
a band of food scientists, sustainability experts, and former Starbucks entrepreneur Daniel
Belliveau figured out how to turn a harvest byproduct into a marketable food substance.
AKA: Coffee Flour!
Here?s the lowdown: Each coffee bean is
derived from a fruit called the coffee cherry,
pictured to the right. When the beans are
harvested, the fleshly nutrient rich part of the
fruit is stripped off, leaving farmers with a
coffee ?pulp? that is usually just discarded. But
with a little manipulation to the typical milling
process, this pulp can be dried and extracted
into a highly sustainable nutrition superstar.
One ounce of coffee flour contains more
potassium than a banana! Moreover, it?s rich in fiber, protein, iron, and antioxidants.
While only certain privileged chefs have been granted the opportunity to experiment with
the product, it?s set to hit the commercial market sometime this year. Belliveau suggest
replacing 25-30% of the flour in baked good recipes to increase the nutritional profile and
add a pleasant flavor. And don't fear if you cant stand the bitter taste of Java! The flavor is
more reminiscent of ?dried plums and cherries with tobacco notes,? according to Belliveau.
Chefs and food scientists are already experimenting with the
flours use in gluten free baked goods and pasta. Apparently, the
high fiber content (55% more than most gluten free flours)
makes it a perfect contribution because the absorption of excess
moisture allows for a better rise.
Other innovative ideas include using it to create a special kind
of chocolate, protein powder, and even fish sauce. While the
product is still in the tweaking stage, you can stay abreast of
the latest new and availability updates by visiting
CoffeeFlour.com.
COFFEE...A
COMPLEX
CARB???
LESSONS FROM A WANNABE ENTREPRENEUR:
Finding Your Focus
Whether you feel excited or overwhelmed by the idea of starting a
nutrition business, you?re not alone. The possibilities are truly endless
today. So, in a field as broad as ours, how do you even begin to figure
out what your focus should be?
To be honest, I knew what my niche was very early on as a nutrition
student. I had a passion for wellness and a deep desire to educate
and empower teenage girls. For various reasons this calling came
NANCY SIDNAM, MS, RDN
to me more than I went searching for it, but there were still plenty
FOUNDER, THE WELLIE PROJECT
WWW. THEWELLIEPROJECT.OM
of questions I answered along the way.
Four Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. What is my passion?
2. Who is the audience I want to speak to?
3. What is the message I want to share?
4. What need can I ser ve?
It?s okay if you don?t have an answer to each of these questions yet. In fact, I?ll even argue that
NOT having an answer to one or two of them can give you an advantage. It allows you to be
flexible in figuring out what works best, rather than trying to force together pieces that might not
fit. For example, I knew my passion (wellness), my audience (teen girls), and my message (take
charge of your health). That left me with the last question, which was one I had no idea how to
answer: what did teen girls NEED in order to be able to take charge of their health through
wellness?
I certainly had my guesses but preferred to find out for sure, so I went to a place where every
teenage girl can be found: Instagram. After observing, interacting, sharing content, and gathering
feedback, I learned pretty quickly what they needed: Easy snack
ideas. Reminders to love themselves. Tips on balancing life and
managing stress. A space where their voices could be heard and they
" Be flexible in
could connect with each other. And the list goes on. As I learned, I
figur ing out what
adjusted my course, and I had no idea if any of it was working until
wor ks best, r ather than
they finally started to validate my efforts through comments, tags,
tr ying to force together
reposts, and messages.
Of course this was just my experience, and I?m sure the story of
every entrepreneur has a unique beginning. There are an endless
number of business possibilities out there, and there are an endless
number of ways to discover which one is right for you. But reflecting
on these questions now will certainly give you a jump-start!
pieces that might not
fit."
NEW SPECIALTY GROUP!
Second Career Dietitians
Changing careers can be daunting, no matter what your stage in life. I
certainly felt that when I began my new path towards dietetics two and a half
years ago. My first career in business development was exciting and
fulfilling, but I knew a career in dietetics was the right fit for me. As I
entered the DPD program at the University of Alabama via their Distance
Education option, thoughts of doubt began creeping in. Would I be the only
career switcher in my program? Would any of my skills be transferrable to
my new career? Was all that effort spent earning my MBA and working to
climb the corporate ladder wasted?
My worries were assuaged when I joined the Distance Student Dietetic
KATHY GARVEY, MBA
DIETETIC INTERN
Association at Alabama. There were many career changers in the program and
SODEXO
everyone was extremely supportive of one another. I was not alone! I still had
no clear idea of what my niche in dietetics would be and how, if at all, my skill set from the previous
career could help me achieve success. When I heard there was a new specialty group within Nutrition
Entrepreneurs, the Second Career Dietitians, I was thrilled.
Second Career Dietitians offers support and networking opportunities for second career dietitians and
second career dietetics students. We are a fast-growing group with over 70 members who bring to
dietetics a wealth of experience from previous careers such as IT consulting, business management and
development, entrepreneurship, teaching, nursing, sales, and counseling. Our first webinar, Quick Start
Guide to Second Career Dietetics, was held in June. We offer exciting learning opportunities featuring
successful second career presenters each month at our Monthly Phone Chats. We?ve had NE stars such as
Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, Lesli Koskela, MBA, RDN, LDN, and Rebecca Scritchfield, MA, RDN, HFS
share their wisdom with our group during monthly chats.
The Second Career Dietitian group is thrilled to be co-hosting an event at FNCE with the Coaching
Specialty Group. Through our Building Skills in a Flash event, successful and experienced second career
dietitians will share their most valuable tips from their area of expertise. Six specific skill sets will be
represented and attendees can rotate through, exploring industries, gaining knowledge, and networking at
each round. Please consider joining us on Sunday, October 4th at 7pm at the Omni Hotel in Nashville for
this exciting event. While I am still trying to pinpoint my future niche in dietetics, I now have a road map
and a support network to help me navigate thanks to the Second Career Dietitians. I feel certain I will be
able to translate those skills from my first career into my dietetics career and ultimately achieve success.
For more information or to join the Second Career Dietitians, go to
www.nedpg.org/memberpage/second-career-dietitians or join us at FNCE!
Keeping An Open Mind Can Create
Amazing Opportunities!
Many new college students have either undeclared majors or pick a
major not relevant to their true passions in life. How are we supposed to figure
out what we love doing or what we know we will excel at? For some, choosing
the road to dietetics was because a friend made you take a General Education
nutrition class, or maybe because your Grandmother had Type 2 Diabetes and
you were interested in helping others with the disease. Now you are sitting in
your Medical Nutrition Therapy class thinking, ?Dietetics is a lot more than just TAWNIE KROLL, RDN
healthy eating and food!?
It fascinating how many career outlets dietetics offers, and picking the right one specific to your
interests can be tricky. The number one advice I provide to undergraduate dietetic students is this: ?Have an
open mind.? Dietetics is not just a one-job title. There is a whole world you can explore and dive in to. For
instance, you can be a Clinical Dietitian in a hospital, Consulting Dietitian, Community Dietitian for
Women, Infants, and Children, or even become a Nutrition Entrepreneur and open up a private practice!
You have the world at your feet. With an open mind, you need to take a few steps in the direction you feel is
best for you. What motivates you? Who do you want to inspire? What is it that makes you most happy?
During my Dietetic Internship I often found myself asking these questions. I reminded myself about
keeping an open mind because I was still questioning what my nutrition
niche was. I loved every aspect about it, how could I possibly choose one
"Have
area over another? I currently working for a school district that I never
thought would be part of my life plan, but I am so grateful it is. The RD I
an open
mi nd...di et et i cs work with makes a great point about pursuing a career in dietetics in a school
district. Nancy Whalen, RD says, ?Exploring less typical careers in the field
i s not just a
of dietetics, such as working in school nutrition, utilizes an RDN?s diverse
one job
training in a wide variety of areas (food service management, clinical
nutrition, nutrition education and preventative medicine). Opening oneself to
t i t l e."
the many career options dietetics presents helps you to focus on the bigger
picture of health and wellness.?
Maintaining an open mind is a necessity in both dietetics and in life. Life is a journey of living and
learning wonderful new things. Chere Bork, MS, RDN once told me, ?When you fall in love with what you
do, you fall in love with your life.? Many times as a dietetic student you may feel frustrated or confused
with what direction you want to pursue. Try to find something you are deeply passionate about. Make a
vision board with your life mission and goals to encourage an open mind. When you have an open mind
you will allow yourself to attract opportunities and you will be more likely to pursue those opportunities. I
could have said, ?Oh, school foodservice is not for me.? However, I have landed an amazing job and could
not be more happy or thankful for the road ahead. If we go through life never trying something, we will
never know if we like it or if it will work out. Explore all of your opportunities in dietetics a little further
than your comfort zone and you will be surprised with what falls in your lap!
FIND YOUR PASSION
THROUGH VOLUNTEERING!
With all of the different opportunities available to
nutrition professionals, have you ever wondered
which path is for you? Clinical, food service,
community, private practice? the options seem
endless. The key to finding your passion and career
path lies in something that your professors and
mentors encourage you to do: volunteer! Although
dietetics students are busy juggling tough
coursework, part time jobs, and other obligations,
volunteering is worth fitting in to your schedule.
mutually
beneficial."
Even
registered
OLIVIA BAKER
dietitians with
DPD STUDENT
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
years of
experience
benefit from volunteer work, with advantages
including expanding your professional network and
opening up new job opportunities.
The first thing to look for when finding the right
Volunteer experiences can also show you what you
volunteer position is to identify
are not interested in. Getting real
BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEER WORK
an area of dietetics that you are
experience in a field through
Networking
opportunities
interested in or want to know
volunteering can give you a feel
- Giving back to your community
more about. Look for
of what the day in the life is like
- Experience in the field of nutrition
opportunities at your local
of that profession. However, not
- Discover your interests
hospital, health department,
every experience will be perfect,
- Gain new skills and expertise
school, or contact an RDN who
and that?s ok! Volunteering is
- Build rapport in the nutrition
has experience and credentials in
like a trial offer on a product. If
community
- Improve your resume
your field of interest. They can
you find that it isn?t right for you,
- Potential job opportunities
offer you a ?behind the scenes?
you shouldn?t feel obligated to
opportunity that you wouldn?t
stay with it. You should always
Looking for volunteer opportunities?
Head on over to www.eatrightpro.org > show professionalism and stay
normally get in the classroom.
Leadership > Volunteering > Volunteer
Busy RDNs would usually love
true to your commitments, but
Opportunities or check out your state?s
to have a helping hand, so don?t
don?t stay with something that
chapter of The Academy for more.
be afraid to ask!
you know is not for you. Moving
on to different experiences will
Volunteer work has many
help broaden your horizons. It?s good to have
benefits, one most importantly being networking. It
different opportunities so you know what you do and
is never too early to start building a strong group of
what you do not like. Volunteer work can help you
connections that can help you jumpstart your career.
discover your nutrition niche while giving back to
?My own experiences have demonstrated that more
your community. Many volunteer opportunities are
is given back to me more than I put in,? says Rick
mutually beneficial, so lend a hand and you might
Hall, MS, RDN, FAND, a clinical professor of
find your future career! Discover mentors, create new
nutrition at Arizona State University and owner of K
friendships, grow your professional network, and see
Free Daily. ?I?ve served on two DPG executive
what you can find. There are so many different
committees? these committees have introduced me
options in the field of dietetics, so volunteering will
to other professionals across the country who are
give you an insight into your future career. Now is
eager to share resources and opportunities that are
the time to start finding your passion!
Maintaining Your Blogging Vision
Having a blog finally come into fruition after countless hours of
dreaming and planning can cause a feeling of excitement and
anxiety at the same time. As dietetic students and interns, we are
a ball of endless creative ideas and are used to doing a million
things at once. I found this to be the case when I opened a food
and restaurant blog in San Francisco that got exponentially more
popular as the months passed. I wanted to write about anything
and everything: restaurants, nutrition, weekend excursions, and
travel destinations. However, I realized it did not have a clear
vision and I needed to hone into what I really wanted to market
myself as and who I wanted my audience to be as readership
grew. My blog started as an idea on Thanksgiving Day and went
as far to being invited to a prestigious event where I was given the
opportunity to meet Chef Thomas Keller (who has been my food
idol for a decade- bucket list, check!).
TARA CONDELL
DIETETIC INTERN
JAMES J. PETERS VA HOSPITAL
Throughout my blogging adventure, I have learned a few tips to focus on within your niche as a nutrition
student:
Do not beafraid to say "no"
When your blog grows, you will have many companies e-mailing you asking to review products, write
sponsored posts, or even give a shout-out for a campaign their doing. One of the many perks of writing online
is connecting with different companies, but you want to make sure they align with your interests. If your blog
is about a whole-food lifestyle, then being sponsored by a company that makes processed foods may alienate
your target audience and disrupt the rapport you spent so much time building. If you are strictly non-GMO,
research the company in question thoroughly for due diligence.
Know your worth
As the expression goes, ?When you?re good at doing something, never do it for free." Our worth comes from
our knowledge of nutrition and it is up to us to maintain the integrity of our profession. When you first start
blogging, every opportunity that comes into your inbox will cause excitement but remember what you are
worth. Getting free energy bars or a packet of oatmeal may seem like stepping stones to bigger opportunities,
but is an item that costs two dollars really worth three to six hours of blog work? We have worked hard
through many science courses, biochemical pathways, and food service labs to shill for these companies for
free!
Becareful with advice
With so many ?nutrition experts? online, it is hard not to cringe when you see advice given by a nutritionist
whose credentials consists of a summer watching Dr. Oz. Although we have the advantage of having more
knowledge than the general population, we are not dietitians yet and we have to be careful about what advice
or information we decide to post. . Part of having the coveted RDN credential after your name means you
have earned your stripes and went through all the steps to becoming a true expert of nutrition. To empower
our profession, stick to information that is evidence-based and reference your work as often as possible!