Scope of Practice for Nutrition Professionals

These guidelines describe specific scope of practice parameters for nutrition professionals, including how to provide nutrition education and coaching without crossing into restricted medical practice. It helps board certified nutrition professionals keep their services aligned with state and federal regulations.

Nutrition Professionals:

  • Provide guidance to individuals, families, and groups on improving diet, lifestyle, and nutritional mindset to enhance overall health.

  • Collaborate with licensed health providers to assist individuals with diagnosed illnesses by identifying biochemical imbalances and toxicities affecting their health.

  • Offer advice and support grounded in evidence-based and holistic principles.

Licensed Health Providers (MD, ND, DO, DC, RN, etc.):

  • Partner with nutrition professionals to educate patients about the benefits of whole foods, lifestyle changes, and appropriate supplementation.

  • May also independently provide these services.

Offerings by Nutrition Professionals

General Offerings:

  • Conduct diet and lifestyle evaluations

  • Teach healthy eating habits

  • Lead shopping tours

  • Teach healthy meal planning for the family

  • Suggest lifestyle improvements

  • Support healthy stress responses

  • Discuss meal strategies to improve health, energy, body weight, and spirit

  • Conduct wellness and holistic nutrition classes

  • Advise on basic wellness supplementation

Therapeutic Offerings:

  • Conduct initial intake assessments

  • Recommend therapeutic menus and nutrients

  • Research specific health issues

  • Provide follow-up support

  • Review lab assessments

  • Summarize case findings

  • Offer personalized recommendations

  • Educate health professionals and the public

  • Consult with other practitioners

ANWPB Nutrition Professionals vs. Registered Dietitians

Similarities:

  • Both focus on food-based, science-based approaches.

  • Both work in community and clinical settings.

Differences:

  • ANWPB Nutrition Professionals advocate for whole, organic, chemical-free food.

  • Registered Dietitians (RDs) often follow the USDA’s MyPlate guidelines, though increasing numbers are adopting a more holistic approach.

  • ANWPB Nutrition Professionals develop individualized programs based on biochemical individuality.

  • RDs may use standardized guidelines from associations like the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association.

  • Many states license RDs to practice Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), while non-RD ANWPB Nutrition Professionals cannot practice MNT.

Role and Responsibilities

ANWPB Nutrition Professionals:

  • Provide unbiased health and nutrition information to the community.

  • Educate the public on the vast benefits of eating fresh, unprocessed foods from a wide variety of sources, both plant and animal-based.

  • Emphasize the importance of quality nutritional products for managing chronic nutritional deficiencies and toxicities related to lifestyle and environmental factors.

ANWPB Nutrition Professionals DO:

  • Promote active lifestyles

  • Teach healthy eating

ANWPB Nutrition Professionals DO NOT:

  • Make unproven health claims

  • Diagnose, prevent, treat, cure, prescribe, manage, or heal diseases

  • Use unproven devices, assessments, or therapies

  • Practice Medical Nutrition Therapy for the treatment or management of diseases

  • Misrepresent their training

  • Rely on network marketing or product sales over individual client education

Key Features

  • Emphasis on fresh, natural foods

  • Client-centered approach rather than method or product-based

  • Commitment to the highest standards of accountability and integrity

  • Use of informed consent and full disclosure forms

  • Educational focus

  • Referral to doctors for medical conditions

  • Adherence to ANWPB Nutrition Professional ethics and standards