What do experts need most?
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are the food and nutrition experts, does that knowledge guarantee their effectiveness in changing lives?
I believe without communication skills experts have limited effectiveness and that RDNs who communicate well change lives. If you want to make a difference, communication skills are essential.
How skilled are you in communication?
If you feel unsure of your nutrition communication knowledge and skills, you are not alone! Most nutrition professionals lack training in nutrition communication.
In fact, a minority of dietetics programs include a course in nutrition communication. The result is nutrition professionals with extensive expertise in food and nutrition who feel ill-equipped to communicate their knowledge.
RDNs want to impact audiences and change lives but feel ill-prepared. It is for this reason that educators and practitioners reached out to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for help.
Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide can help.
In response, Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide was developed by a team of 57 RDNs representing academia and diverse areas of practice, designed to equip all future and current RDNs with the knowledge and skills needed to communicate the science of food and nutrition with competence and confidence.
The book is packed with practical, evidence-based tips supported by the collective experience and expertise of food and nutrition professionals.
Ellie Krieger, MS, RDN, award-winning cookbook author, columnist, and television personality writes in the foreword:
“While it might seem like some people have a natural knack for communicating, no one starts out a communications expert. You get there by stepping into the ring and keeping at it, integrating the tools of the trade, and building your skills along the way. This comprehensive text, filled with the insights of the best in the business, is your trusty companion for doing so.”
Without communication skills, nutrition professionals cannot compete with the myriad of crazy claims, gimmicks, fads, and falsehoods. They struggle with creating evidence-based messages that clearly and compellingly build knowledge, shift attitudes, and change behaviors.
The public needs the expertise of RDNs, the nutrition experts, but if their messages are never heard, or are misunderstood or ignored, how can they make an impact? It’s time for the food and nutrition experts to become experts at communicating effectively.
How can I grow as a nutrition communicator?
Building nutrition communication knowledge and skills and putting Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide into practice is accomplished in three steps:
A. Assess your starting point by completing a self-assessment – what are your current nutrition communication knowledge and skills?
B. Begin with your goal in mind – determine your desired destination for communicating nutrition with excellence. Where and how do you want to improve this season?
C. Chart your course by mapping the action steps that will take you from A to B. What do you need to learn and how can you put your knowledge into practice?
Download and complete A, B, and C using “Your Journey to Communication Excellence.”
Repeat A, B, and C for continued learning and growth!
Where and how do you want to communicate more effectively?
In presentations or demonstrations? In blogs or articles? In social media posts or interviews?
Envision yourself successfully communicating with target audiences delivering clear, compelling messages that engage the audience, create interest, and inspire knowledge gains, positive attitudes, and life-changing behaviors.
Nutrition professionals who communicate well change lives.
You can grow as a nutrition communicator. Take the first step today.
“If you can’t communicate, it doesn’t matter what you know.” ~ Author Chris Gardner
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