r/dietetics • u/Alternative_Eye1157 • 1d ago

Chef to RD?

Hey all, I’m about to start my internship in Ontario, Canada. I previously went to culinary school and then decided I wanted to advance to something more academic that was still centred on food, and I settled on nutrition. I have really enjoyed developing my knowledge base around nutrition and it’s been a fun challenge. I love the math involved in clinical. However, I’m feeling a little intimidated by the internship - I worry that I won’t be very good at client counseling. I’ve always been a hands-on person and am more passionate about helping people learn that way as well.

I’m curious whether any RDs here were previously chefs or had culinary training? If so, where do you work now and what did that pathway look like for you? My dream is to start my own meal preparation service, and offer affordable cooking/food skills lessons on the side, particularly for kids.

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u/Brilliant-Spring9835 1d ago

10+ years of culinary experience, just finished my internship and I am now an administrative RD at a women’s/children’s hospital with a food prep business on the side!

You will probably really enjoy your administration placement, my day to day looks like developing recipes, creating nutrition information, managing inventory ect. Very food centric, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I was also fearful of my counselling placement and ended up loving it, I hope to eventually move into counselling, you will do fine- cooks have to think fast and make a lot of educated decisions on the fly, just like counselling! It’s like a recipe you get to modify

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u/Alternative_Eye1157 5m ago

Thank you so much! This really put my mind at ease

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u/Pea_schooter 1d ago

I worked in the restaurant industry for about 2-3 years before starting to study, and continued working part-time in the industry for as long as I could during the studies. 

The internships we're fine and I wouldn't worry about the soft skills you think you're missing. Keep in mind that all of your classmates will also not have those soft skills, and that you'll be developing during the internship and long after you've graduated as well.

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u/Alternative_Eye1157 4m ago

Thank you!