ASK BONNIE for May 2000

Question:

I am trying to make a decision between 2 careers, one being a nutritionist, so I'm wondering if you can give me some insight into your career. If you would be so kind - please tell me what a typical work day is like.

Answer:  (These are excerpts from a student's interview with Bonnie Minsky)

What do people in your field actually spend the day doing? Are you mostly at your desk/computer? Mostly in the lab? Mostly talking to clients? Describe to me your typical day.

Get up at 6am to work on e-mail answers to client questions, menus for school districts, speaking engagement outlines, and my next book. From 9am 5pm, I counsel anywhere between 6-12 clients per day with a one hour break and return client phone calls/emails/faxes. I am usually at my desk, never in a lab.

How do you stay updated in your field?

Through seminars, health/nutrition journals, health related/nutritional research, Internet.

What is fun about working at your job?

Almost everything, but especially seeing success from my clients.

Your clients learn from you how to lead a healthy lifestyle among other things. Do you feel that you learn something from your clients as well? What might some of those lessons be?

Yes, how to be a good listener and to empower them to take charge of their health.

Do you promote healthy eating to the public? If so, how? (ex. Pamphlets, lectures, TV programs, etc.)

I have done hundreds of seminars and radio/TV programs for the public, schools, businesses, and other health professionals.

What types of personal qualities must one have to do this work successfully or enjoy working in this field?

Compassion, intelligence, being a good listener, and having a sense of humor.

What undergraduate courses are required or would you recommend for a student interested in this field?

There are specific courses that must be completed for State Licensing (I'm on the Board and co-authored the IL Licensing law, but I also recommend more counseling courses; one is not enough).

What kinds of extracurricular experiences do you think would enhance an interested student's understanding of this field?

Current biochemical research.

What do you think is a good way to try to get some experiences in this field while I am still an undergraduate?

Working for a self-employed licensed dietitian or nutrition counselor.

What trends do you think will reshape your field in the next 5 to 10 years? What do you think is a good way to prepare for those changes?

Cracking the human genome will open up myriad possibilities for prevention. Much more evaluation on the Internet - I have already planned a 5 year business protocol and have a website.

Overall, do you enjoy what you do?

Love it (even on very stressful days).

What advice do you have for students interested in this type of work?

Most of what you learn in undergraduate college in this field is outdated or not based on facts; you will learn far more from your clients when in practice or from graduate training and/or research in the field; this is a burgeoning field and is very exciting; we are still in the infancy of understanding this totally.

Have a happy, healthy day!

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