Nutrition Entrepreneurs - Winter 2018

Ventures Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

The Fork in the Road: Don’t Look Sideways at Others; Look at Yourself Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LD Chair When I look back at my entrepreneurial life, I’ve taken the beaten path, not the paved one. My business as a sole proprietor and consultant is small compared to the business you may be building, but it works for me. I don’t have employees nor partner with anyone, I work part-time to full-time with varied contracts, varied hours and a varied salary.

I live in a small town. For me, working on my passion - writing and research - is what naturally led me to where I wanted to be.

As a mother of three, I made the choice early on that I would stay home with my children while they were young, and found work that was flexible to work around their schedules.

That was my primary goal. Not money, or status, but having the flexibility to spend time with my children, while still working in my chosen field. During this time, I wrote for my local paper, offered lectures to the local college’s health and athletic departments, worked flexible hours in long-term care, and taught online college nutrition classes. All (mostly) from the comfort of my home.

My recommendation is to step “out of the box of competition and comparison,” and make decisions based on your values and priorities.

Sometimes I see colleagues trying to copy someone else’s path, but as an entrepreneur, this strategy doesn’t usually work.

Be you. We all have a different set of wants and needs, both in our personal lives and in business. Let the answers to these questions drive your decisions.

nnWhat do I want or need most? Do I need a certain dollar amount to survive?

Do I need to spend more time on my home life? Do I need more education or training? Am I willing to sacrifice monetary benefits for flexibility? nnDo I have a timeline? Is there a deadline?

Do I have to earn a certain amount of money in a certain time? Can I invest now, cut back on hours later, then come back? nnWill making a sacrifice now lead to more benefits later? Sometimes a change can be scary. It’s a risk, and sometimes you can’t always see what the end result will be. nnWhat am I really good at? Just because something is hot or trendy doesn’t mean you should do it, especially if it’s not natural or easy for you.

Stick with what you excel at.

I’m so glad you are here and can enjoy the ride with your fellow entrepreneurs at NEDPG!

Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN, is the owner of Rust Nutrition Services, and blogs at Chew the Facts. She’s written a few books and works as a nutrition communications consultant. Her passion is fact-finding and translating nutrition data into well-reasoned dietary advice, so people can enjoy eating for good health. As an adventurous mom of three sons, she considers herself a boy expert.

She’s been there, done that, and is almost done with that.

If you call and say “let’s go,” she’s ready, especially if it’s to hop a plane to her happy place in Venice, Florida.

Winter 2018 Volume XXXV Number 3 Beyond Private Practice: Outside-the-Box Entrepreneurial Paths for Dietitians

In This Issue: The Fork in the Road: Don’t Look Sideways at Others; Look at Yourself �� 1 In Hindsight ���������������������������������������������������� 2 Yes, I’m a Dietitian, But… �������������������������� 3 Hiring Help Made Easy in 5 Steps ���������� 4 Who is Outside Your Box? ������������������������� 5 Members on the Move ������������������������������ 6 Do it Afraid, Remember it’s Not About You, and Give Away Your Gifts ���������������� 7 Oh, the Possibilities! ������������������������������������ 8 Just Start: Get Involved, Take That First Step and Keep Moving Forward ��������������8 My Journey To Become An Outside-theBox Entrepreneur ������������������������������������������ 9 Reinventing Yourself: Start Where You Are and Follow Your North Star ������������10 Wellness Dietitians in Non-Wellness Settings ����������������������������������������������������������10 Outside the Box, Inside the Spotlight! 11 Customizing Accounting Software for Your Private Practice ��������������������������������12 Look Inside, So You Can Think Outside ����������������������������������������������������������13 Outside the Box: Finding the Peanut Butter to Your Jelly ������������������������������������14 Using Private Practice as a Launching Path to Creating Multiple Revenue Streams ����������������������������������������������������������15 The Ultimate Influencer ��������������������������16 Product Reviews ����������������������������������������17 Work for Yourself Serving Many Companies: The Field of Employee Wellness ���������������������������������������������������������18 Beyond Private Practice: Outsidethe-Box, Entrepreneurial Paths for Dietitians ������������������������������������������������������19 Mini Meetings ����������������������������Back Cover

Ventures EDITOR Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT

INCOMING EDITOR Julie Harrington, RD

EDITORIAL BOARD, 2017-2018 Kristina Todini, RDN Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT Elana Natker, MS, RD Lauri Egan, RDN, CPT Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN The newsletter pertains to the Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and reproduction rights are reserved. Publication of an advertisement in the Ventures newsletter should not be considered as an endorsement of the product or advertiser by the DPG. Viewpoints and statements in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect policies and/or positions of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. © 2017 Nutrition Entrepreneurs.

All rights reserved.

WE WELCOME INPUT FROM OUR MEMBERS. PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR: Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT NewsletterEditor@NEdpg.org

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In Hindsight…

Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE Newsletter Editor When I first decided to become a dietitian, to be completely honest, I didn’t really understand what a dietitian does.

I knew I liked food. I knew I liked helping people. And I knew dietitians helped people with food.

1. Research other dietitians – Get out there and spend some time researching other dietitians in the media, private practice or consulting. Check out LinkedIn, which has more professional information than other social media. Ask dietitians you already know if they know any RDNs pursuing interesting new paths.

Going through my nutrition education and dietetics internship, I wasn’t really exposed to outside-the-box entrepreneurial paths. As I started on a very traditional dietetics career, I knew I wanted something else, I just didn’t know how to make it happen. Sound familiar?

2. Ask about internships – If you’d like to learn the behind-the-scenes work, reach out to dietitians in outside-the-box careers and ask to intern or shadow. Offer to do administrative or social media work, which there’s always plenty of, in return.

This issue is all about giving you the confidence to break the mold and pursue an outside-the-box entrepreneurial path in dietetics. As a private practice dietitian/ blogger/writer/speaker, I’ve been able to create a business that fulfills my professional needs for connection and creativity. But without a tried-and-true path to follow, that meant learning a lot through failure.

That said, I only wish I started on this path sooner! In hindsight, here are some of the things I wish I did as a student, intern and early in my dietetics career.

3. Get active in NEDPG – I owe much of where I’m at today to friendships and connections with other dietitians. Get active and engage with NEDPG through monthly Twitter chats, asking and answering questions on the listserv and attending webinars.

4. Take advantage of elective rotations – If you’re a dietetics intern, take advantage of your elective rotation by working with a dietitian in private practice, media or another outside-the-box entrepreneurial path. Even if it’s not what you decide to do, you’ll see what it takes to run a successful business.

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ADDRESS CHANGES AND MISSING ISSUES If you have a change of address, please contact the Academy with your new address information. If you missed an issue, email Lauri Egan at NEadmin@NEdpg.org

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Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE, CLT, is the private practice dietitian behind rachaelhartleynutrition.com. It's her passion to help others rediscover the joy of eating. She finds her joy in travel, and dreams of one day taking a year off to explore and eat her way through the world.

Yes, I’m a Dietitian, But… Elana Natker Chair Elect As a second-career dietitian, I find myself throwing out caveats when people ask me what I do. I always start with “I’m a dietitian,” which almost always elicits the response, “Oh, I need to talk to you!” I find myself now saying, “I’m a dietitian, but I don’t work with individuals.” I’ll get a confused look in return, so then I add, “I work with companies, not people.” Again, a perplexed look.

I explain that companies, such as the food brands you see on store shelves, do research and reformulations and other “corporate-y” things, but that they need help getting the word out to consumers. I help them bridge that gap by teaming up companies with consumer influencers - dietitians, naturally - who understand both the food science and what motivates consumers to modify their behaviors or try something new. As a PR person and entrepreneur, I understand the business need for such partnerships and, as an RD, I feel strongly that it needs to be dietitians specifically who deliver those messages.

Once I explain what I do, people’s expressions go from confused to amazement. “Wow, that’s so cool,” they say.

Even better: “Companies really need that.”

I agree.

Elana Natker, MS, RD, is the owner of Sage Leaf Communications, LLC, a nutrition communications agency which also includes the Sage Nutrition Network of dietitians active in media and social media. When she isn't working, running, playing with her kids or on a date with her husband, you can find her dreaming up the next best pizza topping or kneading dough for fresh bread.

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Hiring Help

Made Easy in Marjorie Geiser, MBA, RD, BCC President, MEG Enterprises, Inc.

As nutrition entrepreneurs grow their businesses, in order to expand beyond a “job replacement” business and into a thriving enterprise, where they make good money and have a life, they must bring on a team.

Hiring help provides them with the means of saving money and making more money.

Most Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) don’t know how to get started. As a result, one of two things happens: either they just keep putting off hiring help, leading to feeling extremely overwhelmed. Or, they hire without putting enough logical thought and planning into it, which leads to poor outcomes, frustration and a decrease in confidence about growing your business.

With a little advanced planning, you can hire the right people with confidence and success.

First, let’s address the objections many RDNs voice when considering hiring help. I have had conversations with many practitioners who work seven days a week, over 10 hours per day. They’re overwhelmed, a spouse is mad at them all the time and they think perhaps the answer is to just close it all down and get a job. Yet, when I suggest they consider hiring help, suddenly these problems seem inconsequential. No way can they hire help. And then the excuses pop up.

Let’s see if YOU voice any of these: nnYou can’t afford it nnYou don’t know who to trust nnYou have to do it all nnNo one else would be as precise (or fill in the word) as you are nnYou don’t know what you need

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5Steps CEU Article: CEU quiz at NEdpg.org.

Login and go to the Members Newsletter area.

Resist hiring and you will limit the potential for growth, because one person (you) can only do so much. Never mind actually having a life.

to five activities you don’t want to do.

Ask yourself this question: “If I could only delegate ONE thing, what would that be?”

STEP 1: Start With What You Do

STEP 3: Develop your Hiring Criteria

Keep a pad of paper next to you for at least a week or use your smartphone, and record EVERYTHING you do. This includes revenue-generating activities (seeing clients, speaking to audiences, presenting webinars, etc.) and non-revenue-generating activities (bookkeeping, posting your blogs, social media posts, etc). Include phone calls, emails, scheduling clients and billing insurance.

If you do it, it goes down on that pad.

STEP 2: Manage Your List Now put all those activities into categories.

Highlight the revenue-generating activities – those you’ll probably continue to do yourself.

Second, star the activities you really like doing. You may love to write. You may love creating new programs or presentations.

Next, circle the activities you hate, are not good at or that take a lot of time for you.

Examples may include updating your website, posting your blogs, writing social media messages, bookkeeping, calling clients to remind them of their appointments and submitting claims to insurance. Some of these activities may use up several hours a week of your time. For example, if you took two hours a week to post your blogs, that’s eight hours a month. Those eight hours could be spent seeing clients, writing new programs or even spending more time with your family or friends.

It’s now time to prioritize. If you’re just starting, simply prioritize the top three

There are three important things to consider when setting criteria for hiring.

What form is your help going to take?

Do you want to hire an intern or student?

Many professionals start their teams this way, and that intern or student advances into a more substantial role as she/he progresses in education. Naturally, this is the most affordable option, but it’s also potentially the least permanent or stable.

Often it involves more training from you, too.

Do you want someone to come physically into your office? Some practitioners share a receptionist with others in their complexes.

But if you have a small space or work out of your home, perhaps you’d rather have a virtual assistant (known as a “VA”).

The final option is to hire someone for the long-term. This is someone who will grow with your business.

What are their strengths?

If you’re looking for someone to publish your blogs and update your website, you want to find someone who specializes in blog publishing and website updates, not someone who specializes in video.

Do you want someone who is an excellent writer, is a marketing expert or who knows Instagram really well? Perhaps you want someone who has excellent customer service skills or who knows your shopping cart.

What type of person/company are they?

Consider who this person or company will be. How do you want to communicate with them? When I was writing my book, “Just Jump,” the first cover designer I worked with refused to talk on the phone. I quickly realized I like to talk to people. Does it matter what country they’re from? Do you want a big company or a solo-preneur ? The advantage of a solo company is the personalized service you get. The advantage of a larger company is you have a team so if someone goes on vacation, it doesn’t impact your business.

STEP 4: Set Your Budget Most everyone can afford what they value.

Before you decide you can’t afford to hire someone, think of what else you spend money on in your business. Sit down and look at your finances and ask yourself what you could afford on a regular basis.

If you’re at the stage where you are so busy that you don’t know which end is up, yet say you can’t afford to hire anyone, then it’s time to do an annual analysis of all your expenses. The first year I did this for my business, I ended up saving $75/ month just on one expense alone.

STEP 5: Prepare for the Interview The three things you want to be crystal clear on before conversations are: 1. The tasks, projects or jobs you’d like the person to take over; 2. What you would like the person to start with; 3. The type of person you’re looking for.

These will help you answer the question, “Whom should you hire?”

To find people, ask colleagues, use social media, and talk to other business owners.

If you’re looking for a VA, there are several VA organizations you can check out.

Find at least two people to talk to. If you only talk to one, you have nothing with which to compare. Three is even better.

Create a little cheat sheet that has the strengths, qualities and specific tasks you’d like them to do. Your mind will go blank when you start talking, so this will bring you back on point.You’ll want to include these questions:

nnWhat does the person charge? nnHow does she/he charge? nnIs there a minimum number of hours/month? nnHow long does it take to complete specific tasks? nnHow does the person keep track of his/her time? nnWill the person charge to learn your platform?

It’s important to compare apples to apples.

Create a test project or task to see if the person is actually a good fit for you.

This is also a great strategy for interns. I know many RDNs are hesitant to share login info with someone they’re not sure about, but you can change your login info and change it back after the “test.”

Discuss how the person communicates.

We use a project management site where everyone involved in particular projects could see and work on those projects together.

Finally, most, but not all, will provide you with a Statement of Work (SOW) when you first start working together. I had one with my social media VA but never did from my administrative assistant.

Now you’re ready for those interviews.

Remember that you do not have to make a decision with the candidate on the spot.

Tell the person you are talking to several people to make sure you choose the right fit. The candidate will appreciate that. If you do choose the right person, she/he could be with you for years and years.

Hiring is a big step. Too many RDNs wait too long to hire help, thinking they can do it all, do it all better or can’t afford it.

They find themselves running ragged, not making much money and having no life. Not only will hiring help provide you with the opportunity to make more money but it will SAVE you money. Not to mention give you your life back.

Marjorie Geiser is president of MEG Enterprises, Inc., which helps health professionals around the world develop focus, clarity and planning to build a six-figure business, working three days a week. Today she is semi-retired, taking just two clients per year by application, only.

She is the author of Just Jump: The No-Fear Business Start-up Guide for Health and Fitness Professionals.

Outside Who is Your Box? Jennifer Watson, MS, RD Website Coordinator Stepping outside our comfort zone is hard, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. As you explore new paths as a nutrition entrepreneur, remember that the NE DPG website has many ways for you to connect with dietitians in your current and future fields of practice.

The Member Directory at NEdpg.org is a great place to start. You can sort the directory by state to find nutrition entrepreneurs who live near you, or you can focus on specific practice areas such as wellness/prevention, school nutrition or oncology. Clicking on the specific member name provides contact information, such as email address, phone number and mailing address.

Another way to connect with NE members in a new or unique practice area is a mini-meeting. Mini-meetings are a way for NE members to connect faceto-face and share ideas on a local level.

Mini-meetings are posted in the Meetings & Events section of the NE DPG website.

If there is no mini-meeting scheduled in your area, you can host one yourself.

You can find detailed information about how to plan, announce and host a minimeeting in the Mini-Meetings section of the Members area.

Check out NEdpg.org for more information on how you can expand or rework your career “box.”

“I'm only here for the food.”At least that's what Jennifer Watson, MS, RD, would say. Jennifer has traveled the world trying exotic and delicious foods including roasted guinea pig in Ecuador and a donut-wrapped hot dog in Korea. Jennifer is an adventurous eater and can't wait to tell you about (and share her pictures from) her latest trip to an ethnic market, food truck or farm-to-table cafe.

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Members

on the Move

Elyse Resch, MS, RDN, CEDRD, FAND, coauthor of Intuitive Eating, is excited to announce the publication of the new Intuitive Eating Workbook. As a standalone book, it clearly teaches each of the Intuitive Eating principles, as well as offering some thought-provoking exercises. For readers of Intuitive Eating, it will take them to a new level of understanding. It can also be used by professionals working with individual clients, in groups and for workshops and presentations.

Judith “Judes” Scharman, MS, RDN, LD, owner and blogger at FoodsWithJudes.com, authored a new e-book, Lean Body, Smart Life! Her book is a no-nonsense approach to making small changes toward health and happiness in today’s go-go-go world. The book has an accompanying app to track Judes’s “12 Fixes.”

There is an RDN affiliate program and its 12-Fix Lean Life Plan to use as a base for any wellness opportunity. Book an affiliate program at FoodsWithJudes.com.

Digna I. Cassens, MHA, RDN, CLT, FAND, had an incredible 2017.

She became a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and published four new books: Food for Group Homes, Simplified Diets and Nutrition Guide, Orientation

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and Training for Cooks in LTC and Dining Services Education & Training Manual. Her 5th book, Spice it Up with Robust Flavor, is scheduled for publication in November. Join Digna at Nutritionmanagementsystems.org and flavorfulfortifiedfood.com.

Kathryn Russell, MS, RDN, FAND, is excited to announce the launch of her e-course, Brain Boost. This sciencebased, online course is designed to enable participants to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by optimizing their brain health. This course features educational modules, live video chats and private group access. Learn more at brainfoodrdn.com.

Emma Fogt, MBA, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, spent last summer cooking at Wayne Art Center directing the Kids Culinary Summer Art Camp. Attended by boys and girls, ages 8-14, the kitchen heated up NE Student Caitlin with three sessions a Corcoran, cooking at day, 180 classes and Wayne Art Center Kids Culinary Camp 2017 over 720 recipes! This program sizzled because of the skills of two professional chefs, two paid dietetic interns and dozens of student volunteers. Special thanks to NE student, Caitlin Corcoran, for all her talent, shown here cooking at Wayne Art Center Kids Culinary Camp 2017!

Beverly Price, RD, MA, E-RYT 200, C-IAYT, CEDRD-S, recently sold her comprehensive eating disorder treatment center to a private company.

Independently, through her new Healthcare Consulting business, she announces her Mindfulness-Based Yoga Therapy Training Program in Eating Disorders - an International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) Specialty Training affiliated with Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. Beverly also has available her CEU manual, Private Practice, Getting that Jump Start.

Beverlysprice.com.

Judy Simon, MS, RDN, CD, CHES, founder of Mind Body Nutrition, PLLC, and creator of Food for Fertility™, was awarded the Community Practice Award for Excellence by the Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (WSAND) for her contributions in reproductive nutrition. She presented Nutrition Challenges for Women with Diabetes at the WSAND meeting. She was an invited speaker at the Seattle Gynecology Annual Meeting in September 2017, and presented on Lifestyle Management of PCOS. Jacqueline B. Marcus, MS, RDN, LDN, CNS, FADA, FAND, has achieved the 2017 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Medallion Award. This award is bestowed to Academy members for recognition of lifetime contributions to nutrition and dietetics and to the Academy. Members are selected based on their dedication to high standards of the profession through active participation, leadership and devotion to serving others in dietetics and allied health fields. Jacqueline was nominated by Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG. Jennifer McGurk, RDN, CDN, CDE, CEDRD, is excited to announce another launch of her e-course, Pursuing Private Practice Masterclass. The e-course is all about how to start and grow your own business, with access to a private Facebook group for discussions and support. The course provides eight CEU credits, and includes PowerPoint lectures, handouts and a workbook to create your own business plan for success. Details can be found at pursuingprivatepractice.com.

Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, CDN, CSCS, received the New York Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Media Excellence Award for 2017, for her consistent and active involvement in the promotion of sciencebased nutrition through the media. Recipients of the Media Excellence Award cover current issues and concerns with balance and perspective, are scientifically accurate, present nutrition information creatively and reach a wide audience.

Mary Purdy, MS, RDN, successfully launched her web series and podcast, Mary's Nutrition Show: Where Humor Meets Health, in the spring.

She offers weekly content, edu-tainment on a variety of nutrition and lifestyle topics. marypurdy.com.

Cindy Kleckner, RDN, LD, FAND, spoke at the National Medical Association’s 2017 Annual Conference and Scientific Assembly in Philadelphia. The Plenary Session featured presentations from physicians about diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, including Kleckner’s lecture, Food as Medicine: The DASH Difference. A culinary expert specializing in cardiovascular, weight management and sports nutrition, she contributed nutrition chapters for Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper's Overcoming Hypertension, Preventing Osteoporosis, The New Aerobics for Women, and co-authored DASH Diet For Dummies.

Jen Haugen, RDN, LD, has launched a brand-new service for busy parents and dietitian entrepreneurs to help get dinner done without guilt and stress. Jen is now offering Dinner Done Freezer Meal Kits and a Monthly Membership Club, Dietitian's Kitchen

webinars and private kitchen coaching. Jen loves inspiring families to grow in the garden, cook together at the kitchen counter and eat together around the family table. Learn more at jenhaugen.com.

Jill Nussinow, MS, RDN, gave her first cannabis education talk, The Straight Dope on Cannabis for Health, to an attentive audience at the Mother Earth News Fair in Albany, Oregon. She is currently working on her 5th book, The Straight Dope on Cannabis: A Beginner's Guide to Using Marijuana Safely and Effectively, which is due out later this year. Nussinow's recent cannabis journey began while helping medicate and stabilize her late mother who had dementia.

Do it Afraid, Remember it’s Not About You,

and Give Away Your Gifts

Abigail Joy Dougherty, RDN Director Member Services If someone would have told me I would be talking and educating people on one of my all-time favorite things – nutrition – on TV, to athletes and consumers at one of my favorite grocery stores, I would have promptly told them they were CRAZY! That said, this was NOT a glamorous journey.

A lot of tears, sweatpants (I think they call this athleisure now), procrastinating, and secondguessing myself went into getting to this point, and let’s be honest, it still happens.

There are a few quotes and tidbits I have heard along my journey that continue to give me new motivation. Here are three I’m hoping will help you too.

1. Do it afraid. Outside-the-box dietitian jobs don’t come knocking on your door.

It takes a lot of blood, sweat, tears and doing things that make you extremely uncomfortable. I can’t say how many times I’ve had to say “yes” or “no” and felt like I was making the wrong decision. In the end, there is no right or wrong, just different paths that will lead in different directions. Scary decisions and doing it afraid aren’t about right or wrong paths; it’s about different, exciting journeys.

2. It’s not about you; it’s about them. When it came to public speaking, especially on TV, I knew I always wanted to go in that direction but I was completely terrified of it. I had a business coach who would always tell me whenever I got nervous, “remember, it’s not about you; it’s about them.” Get over yourself and remember why you are here – to help people! When I think about what she said, it calms my nerves and gets me thinking about the main goal – to help others.

3. The meaning of life is to find your gift.

The purpose in life is to give it away. ~Pablo Picasso As afraid as I was to start my own business, it was scarier to think of what would happen if I didn’t give away my gifts. I realize now that my career has allowed me to be able to fulfill a deep need to help others reach their goals and inspire them to change their lives. I believe getting healthy – whatever that means for different people – can be an amazing catalyst for change. My outsidethe-box entrepreneurial path has allowed me to do just that.

So, do it afraid, remember it’s not about you, and give away those gifts!

Abigail Joy Dougherty, RDN, is a registered dietitian based in Tampa, Florida, and the founder of The Soul of Health Nutrition where she focuses on bringing joy into the world of food and nutrition. Abigail enjoys travel, her husband, peanut butter and new adventures, but not necessarily in that order.

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Oh, the Possibilities!

Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND Members Awards When nothing is sure, everything is possible - Margaret Drabble I started on the entrepreneurial path when I was a kid, hiring my sister to play “work.”

Of course, when we played “work,” I was always the boss. Now that she has her Ph.D, oddly enough, she refuses to work for me.

It might have something to do with the fact that I never paid her during her earlier employment. After completing my internship and landing my first job, I was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug again and began seeking consulting opportunities.

I would finish my full-time job by 3:00 p.m. each day and consult after hours or on the weekend. My full-time job provided stability and this great thing called “health insurance.”As more and more consulting work came my way, I had to make a decision.

Do I pursue the entrepreneurial path full-time or do I continue to keep my day job and have

a negative work-life balance? In the end, I took the leap to become my own employer.

Here are my top three entrepreneurial lessons: 1. Opportunities abound - There are opportunities for consulting work everywhere; you just have to be able to network and keep your options open. In the beginning, I wanted to explore private practice, which soon expanded to speaking, writing and media opportunities. Another referral landed me with a year-long contract doing worksite wellness. Volunteering for your local, state and national groups is important, as opportunities will arise from those connections alone.

2. Maintain flexibility - It is important to be able to roll with the changes. You never know when one contract decides they no longer need your services. It is like being at the amusement park … you are there to ride some of the rides, not just one of them over and over again. Keep your spirits up… when one door closes, another one opens.

3. Re-invent if necessary - There were opportunities I explored for awhile, such as private practice, which I later determined were not the best fit for me.

Because of the RD contacts I had made, it was easy to transfer my caseload and pursue another passion. It is okay to try something new and, a few years later, decide it’s not for you. Variety is the spice of life. As I continue on the entrepreneurial path, I always know that there will be work for me to accomplish. I don’t have a crystal ball to know what the future holds, but I know there will always be a future for our profession. Anything is possible and everyone needs to eat.

Lisa Jones, MA, RDN, LDN, FAND, is a funny speaker and stand-up comedienne. She is not just mildly amusing - she is really funny. Lisa was bitten by the comedy bug at a young age, entertaining her family at the dinner table with knockknock jokes. Soon, she discovered SNL and would memorize bits and make her siblings perform them. Today, you can find Lisa performing improvisational, sketch and stand-up comedy.

Just Start: Get Involved, Take That First Step and Keep Moving Forward Kristina Todini, RDN Director of PR & Marketing Four years ago I came home from a particularly grueling day of commuting, classes and studying and found myself wondering if all my hard work was worth it. As a second career dietitian-to-be, I had sacrificed my life-balance and free time (and a stable full-time paycheck) to return to school to become an RDN. I was burnt out and wondered if I was making the right decision, as “traditional” paths in dietetics didn’t call my name.

I remember picking up a copy of Ventures that evening and the issue was about taking a leap, making a name for yourself and paving your own path. I was so inspired by the articles I read that I immediately reached out

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to the NE Chair and told her I wanted to get involved.

To make a very long story short, I began volunteering with the NE executive committee and it ended up being the best career decision I could have made. After writing my first Ventures article about craving a non-traditional career as a dietetic intern, I was contacted by a dietitian who read my story and wanted me to come in and meet her team at a local public relations firm. I met the team, was offered a job two weeks later and began my career in communications four days after my internship ended.

All of this because I took the initiative to get involved with NE years before. Because I found something that sparked a fire in me and decided to follow through. Because I didn’t ignore that tug that told me a traditional dietetics job was not for me.

Because I decided not to pursue a “safe” job

and instead forged a new path in an unknown field. And finally, because I knew there was something bigger out there and I wasn’t going to give up until I found it.

You may be at a crossroads yourself, feeling like the traditional “dietitian mold” is not for you. You’re afraid to make the leap, go into the unknown or put yourself out there for all to see. You are afraid your idea is to “out there” or the uphill battle is too steep. You are afraid of taking that first step and afraid to start.

And I’m here to tell you one thing: just start.

Kristina Todini, RDN, is a nutrition communications and sustainability consultant at a leading agency by day, and writes about food and travel at ForkInTheRoad.co by night.

You can find her trekking the mountains of South America or eating her way through Southeast Asia in her free time, and she once married her Italian waiter in Las Vegas (still together seven years later). She is the proud mother of two demon cats.

My Journey To Become An Outside-the-Box Entrepreneur Toby Amidor, MS, RD Specialty Group Leader - Authors/Writers When I was attending New York University studying to become a dietitian, I thought I could only work in a clinical hospital or community living setting or open a private practice. I never imagined the doors that were going to open up or that I would be one of the first dietitians to go through them. Today I feel blessed to be able to bring nutrition information to millions of people through various media outlets including cookbooks, online and print writing, television appearances and much more. I often get asked how I landed on my path filled with outside-the-box experiences. I wanted to share the top five things that I have been doing religiously in my years that have helped.

1. Be available 24/7 Being an entrepreneur isn’t a 9-to-5 job.

Although I do make it a habit to take time for myself, I also make sure if an editor requests a quick turnaround or needs a speedy response to be available.

breathe nutrition, and all my clients know how passionate I am about any project I am working on.

5. Share the wealth Being part of the media, I have many opportunities to highlight other RDNs and showcase their talents. I often quote RDNs in my articles or interview them when a new book is released. I am confident in the information that is disseminated by RDNs and when we work together, our voice is stronger.

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, authored The Greek Yogurt Kitchen , and her latest book, The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook . She is also the contributor to numerous national publications including FoodNetwork.com, Healthyeats, US News Eat + Run and MensFitness.com. On her off time, she can be found on the tennis courts or kicking butt in a U.S. Tennis Association match. How does she balance work, three kids and tennis? It's all about careful planning.

2. Respond quickly to opportunities I respond to job opportunities, editors and television opportunities very quickly.

I have found that if I wait even a little too long, the offer can go to someone else rather quickly. Even if you respond, “I am absolutely interested; let me review and get back to you when I am at my desk,”you are more likely to secure an opportunity than waiting to respond.

3. Be confident in your expertise RDNs are the experts, but you need to make others know this too. When I worked as a nutrition advisor in the fitness department for a large chain store, the editor knew if I didn’t review all nutrition information in advance, I would email her right away when it would go live. I wouldn’t stand for any misinformation and was known as the expert because I showcased my confidence regularly.

4. Let your passion ooze I am 1000% dedicated to the field of nutrition, and it oozes out of me. I live and

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Reinventing Yourself: Start Where You Are and Follow Your North Star Ellen Albertson, PhD, RDN, CD Specialty Group Leader - Coaches ell me, what is it T you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

- Mary Oliver As someone whose career has taken many diverse paths – outpatient nutritionist, freelance journalist, cookbook author, product spokesperson, certified personal fitness trainer, health and wellness coach and psychologist – I’ve learned a lot about reinventing yourself and doing what you love. Here are some of the keys to stepping outside the box and designing your life.

Start where you are Don’t put change on hold because you’re scared. Waiting won’t make fear recede so dream big, forge ahead and take small, consistent steps from where you are right now towards your goals.

Ask deep questions

Ask for assistance

What are your strengths, passions and core values? What do you love to do? What inspires you? Keep asking these questions.

The answers are your North Star and will illuminate your path. Follow the light … let it guide your small, positive steps forward.

You are not alone! Designing a career you love and reinventing yourself is a collaborative process. Be open to feedback and new ideas from others. You don’t have to agree, but you do have to listen. Don’t forget to engage with other nutrition entrepreneurs. Chances are there’s another RDN who's doing what you are thinking about pursuing and is happy to support you.

Don’t reinvent the wheel unless you have to.

Get curious Take the time to notice what sets your heart on fire and triggers your fascination. Curiosity stimulates the mind to learn new things and think in different ways, opening unexplored pathways to creativity and success. Try new things and see where they lead. A curious mind is a powerful, successful mind.

Cultivate opportunities Look outside your current business and mindset and notice what is happening around you. Is there a new product, niche, group or service that’s rapidly expanding and needs your skills? It’s easier to market to emerging businesses than established ones so ... target market potentially new opportunities. They may not even realize how much they need your services. Show them!

There is an infinite number of entrepreneurial paths that you can take to serve society and yourself. Take a chance, get curious, get started, cultivate your opportunities and reap the rewards.

Ellen Albertson, PhD, RDN, CD, CHWC, is a dietitian by day, Reiki Master by night and a PhD psychologist and certified WellCoach® on call in her spare time. You can find Ellen at DrEllenAlbertson.com where she inspires, coaches and empowers RDNs and other professional women to achieve their personal and career goals while enhancing their health, wealth and happiness. A former celebrity chef (aka half of The Cooking Couple™) and cookbook author, Ellen now cooks on all four burners with her co-author husband for two teenagers and Sizzle, her aqua-phobic, Portuguese water dog.

Wellness Dietitians in Non-Wellness Settings Caroline Susie, RDN Specialty Group Leader - Corporate Wellness While the term or idea of a “wellness dietitian” might be a new concept to some, RDNs have been in the wellness arena for decades. The role of dietitians in wellness traditionally includes being responsible for developing, implementing and managing wellness programming for businesses. Programing can include health initiatives, challenges, screening events and coordinating health fairs. In addition to programming, many RDNs also act as health coaches working with employees, one on one, utilizing many tools in our RDN tool kit such as motivational interviewing, weight management counseling and more.

But, as you know, it’s a big world out there and many in our profession continue to push forward and think outside of the box. Below are some career paths of RDNs who are in the field of wellness:

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Dietitian - Consulting Began career: In research at Vanderbilt with a focus on first-generation fitness devices (five years)

Dietitian - Sales Began career: inpatient and outpatient positions in a healthcare center.

Mid-career: Corporate wellness - coaching center for a subsidiary of BCBS (Blue Cross Blue Shield) for eight years. Responsibilities include telephonic and onsite coaches, clinical content team and the training department.

Mid-career: Wellness for Emory University and Georgia Pacific coupled with working as a diabetes educator in a private practice and consulted for an insulin pump company as a clinical manager, combining both clinical care with sales.

Current role: Vendor in corporate wellness Joined Change Healthcare to work in a direct sales role, then joined major consulting firm.

Current role: Sales - In the digital therapeutics space, worked for Omada Health, Noom and currently Vida Health.

Dietitian - Wellness Began career: inpatient RD for a long-term acute care hospital.

I hope these career-path stories inspire you to think outside of the wellness box! Want to learn more? Get active on the NE Corporate Health EML (Electronic Mailing List).

Mid-career: Outpatient dietitian: cardiology practice which had a worksite wellness clinic.

Current role: Corporate wellness: Wellness coordinator for oil and gas company.

Caroline Susie, RDN, "Have passport, will travel." I have a passion to see the world! Not counting any country twice, I have visited 23 countries and counting. I love experiencing local food speciality cuisine when I travel and will NEVER pass up on a cooking or cocktail-making class.

My tagline says it all, "Dietitian by day, foodie by night."

Outside the Box,

Inside the Spotlight!

Denice Ferko-Adams, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND Specialty Group Leader - Speakers & Media When I started consulting, I knew I could demand higher fees for group programs. While attending a health professional conference at University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Kelly Brownell presented on weight-loss contests. At the time, I was helping to establish an eating disorder center.

After he spoke, I raised my hand and told him that I did not agree with this concept because it would reinforce yo-yo dieting.

He thanked me for my comments and encouraged me to be more open-minded.

The fitness center director for a Fortune 200 company was sitting near me. The next week, she invited me to meet to discuss leading a weight-loss contest for her company with 4,000 employees. I reminded her that I didn’t believe in contests but would meet. I planned the program content to target yo-yo dieters and we both expected 50 people to join.

At the rally to promote the contest, imagine our shock when over 300 people attended!

Yes, I was nervous but also excited to see this tremendous turnout. My immediate thought was how long would it take me to counsel 300 people through one-on-one sessions?

We enrolled 499 people, which meant I had to present three times each week doing back-to-back presentations. After two weeks, I was asked to work with the cafeteria on a campaign. I also created a software-tracking program to track points. My program results: 88% completed the program with an average weight loss of eight pounds/person for the eight-week program.

the very end of the segment. My phone did not stop ringing for years with other companies asking, “Can you do that program at our worksite?”

The result was I had inadvertently created a new career path. Soon, I was leading year-round, integrated health campaigns, done properly, for multiple companies nationally.

If I never raised my hand to ask Dr. Brownell a question, if I never opened my mind to consider how a “bad contest” could be done correctly, and if I feared speaking to large groups or the media, my entire career path would have changed. Isn’t it time for you to drop the negative thoughts, step out of the box and jump into the spotlight? You just might create a new career path, too!

Denice Ferko-Adams, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND, is passionate about health. With over 25 years of corporate wellness program management leadership, wellnesspress.com, she enjoys presenting to professionals and consumers and doing live cooking demos on local television.

Denice enjoys spending time with family, hiking with her rescue dogs, biking, traveling, cooking new recipes and of course eating.

At the end, I invited the local news station to feature the fitness center director, participants and cafeteria staff. I had a 10-second spot at

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Customizing Accounting Software for Your Private Practice Karen Kiver Patalano, MBA, RD, LDN, CDE, NHA Specialty Group Leader - Private Practice Accounting is important if you are an entrepreneur.

I often hear from dietitians that they use a spreadsheet to keep their books, which does not provide you with the information you need to be a successful entrepreneur.

Customizing your accounting software for your private practice would provide you a way to track your accounts receivable, profit and loss, and would make your accountant very happy at the end of the year.

What Accounting Software Shall I Use? I can personally recommend Quickbooks as I have been using the software for over 10 years. It has a package that you can download onto your computer, which it refers to as the desktop system and it also offers an online version. I use the downloaded desktop system so I can keep both of my

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companies in the same version of Quickbooks versus the online version, which requires a monthly fee for each company/dietitian.

pay or copay from the dropdowns. Be sure to create an invoice for both the insurance payment and the copay.

Setting Up Your Accounting System for Your Private Practice

Ready to Get Paid

Once you install your accounting package, set up the Chart of Accounts. This section can be populated with the names of the insurance companies, copay, private pay and deductible. Then set up the “items” option under lists. This is where you can add the insurance companies and their respective payment amounts.

Your First Patient You are now ready to add your patient’s name in the customer field along with the insurance company copay amount.

Ready to Invoice Just open the invoice, choose the patient name and the insurance company, private

Once you receive payment, go to “receive payments” and from the dropdowns choose the patient’s name and the insurance company. The outstanding invoice will populate so you can enter the amount paid and the payment method.

Choose where you want your funds deposited, hit “save” and you are done!

Karen Kiver Patalano, MBA, RD, LDN, CDE, NHA, is the owner of KaiZenRD EMR. She has been running a successful software company and private practice since 2004. Karen is passionate about helping other dietitians initiate and grow successful private practices. She loves to run competitively, and trail running is where she solves most of her most difficult intellectual challenges.

Look Inside, So You Can Think Erin E. Healy, MS, RDN, LDN Specialty Group Leader - Second Career Dietitians

Outside

As a former White House staffer and political appointee at the Pentagon, becoming a dietitian (let alone a nutrition entrepreneur) was out of the ordinary. Initially, some considered my career move to be creative and outside the box, while others thought I was out of my mind. One friend’s comment summed up everyone’s surprise when he said, “I didn’t know you liked food.” It’s true that during those hectic years, I attended my share of rubber-chicken dinners and probably consumed more than my share of caffeine. I never have, nor will I ever, claim to be a foodie. What I am, though, is an expert on me. By that I mean, I know my strengths and my weaknesses. I know what motivates me and what deters me. I know myself, inside and out.

When my fast-paced career in Washington, D.C. came to a halt, I took the time to stop and listen. I gave myself permission to explore new interests. It wasn’t easy.

After living a somewhat disciplined life, I struggled with letting my thoughts wander. So, I tried adding a little structure to my mental meandering. I asked myself one simple question. What do I want to read about? Since I no longer needed to scour the media for stories on the President’s domestic agenda or overseas military operations, the sky was the limit. I started paying attention to the headlines that caught my eye in the supermarket check-out line and the bookstore magazine aisle. I noted the blogs and websites that I visited most frequently. Eventually a pattern emerged. I was drawn to health and wellness and the role nutrition plays in preventive care. After several arduous years of graduate school and the addition of a few letters after my name, here I am.

Fortunately, the dietetics profession is a big umbrella. As we head into our second century, there is room for everyone. You can be a foodie or a non-foodie. You can be a techie, an author, a researcher, a communicator or anything in between. You can even combine a passion for healthy living and a love for service members, like me. I’m able to advise military clients by providing my unique blend of experience, knowledge and passion. What’s your unique blend? If you’re not sure, take the time to stop and listen. To think outside the box, you may need to look inside first.

Erin E. Healy, MS, RDN, LDN, is a former spokesperson for the President of the United States and communications advisor at the Pentagon turned dietitian. She competes in U.S. Tennis Association matches and is often joined on the practice court by the best four-legged ball retriever, her dog, Honor.

Erin also loves to travel. To date, she has visited 49 states. Aloha, Hawaii!

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Outside the Box: Finding the Peanut Butter to Your Jelly Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT Specialty Group Leader - Technology & Social Media As a card-carrying RD (or RD-to-be), your career sandwich already has some substance.

But are you hungry for more? Ask yourself: what’s my jelly?

Having approached the dietitian pathway from the fitness angle, and with a background in beauty, aesthetics were my jelly. Taking the long road to becoming a nutrition professional - let’s be honest, this RD thing takes some time - added much-needed heft to my knowledge base, allowing me to expand my offerings to clients. Whereas prior to becoming a dietitian I was very clear in defining boundaries as far as what I could

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and could not offer to clients, I’m now a onestop shop for all their “look good, feel even better” needs. Workouts? No problem. Meal planning? You got it. Skincare solutions and where to buy the best athleisure? I’m your gal.

Combining fitness with nutrition is just one way to build a tasty sandwich of a career.

Ask yourself: n Where do I come alive? The gym, any gym, is my happy place. Maybe yours is in the kitchen, behind a camera or on a microphone. Take your own pulse and consider how your passion might provide fuel for your dietetics practice. n What drew you to nutrition in the first place? Was it an interest in food culture?

A desire to make an impact on your community? Reconnect with your pre-RD self and see if your “jelly” is hiding behind the forgotten spark that ignited your career.

As a member of NE, rest assured that you have an entire team of professionals behind you who has taken the path less traveled. We’re glad to help find your jelly - just ask!

Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT, and blogger behind enjoyfoodenjoylife.com. When Nicole's not experimenting with global flavors or working on the latest glute-sculpting program, she's tuned in to late ‘70s disco-soul. Though a native New Yorker, her heart beats to The Sound of Philadelphia and lots of Teddy Pendergrass..

Using Private Practice as a Launching Path to Creating Multiple Revenue Streams Erin Palinski-Wade, RDN, CDE Mentor Services Before I became a dietitian, I knew that I always wanted to create my own business and work for myself. After completing my internship, I decided private practice was a natural fit and opened up my office only eight months after my graduation. To help build my practice and to increase my name recognition in my area, I started to reach out to the local media. After a few TV interviews, I began to receive requests for interviews for national publications and TV shows. Before long, this increase in media exposure led to an influx of clients wanting to work with me. Although business was booming, I was working long hours six days a week to keep up with the demand. As much as I loved working with my clients, I could see that I was burning out and needed to find a better balance between my personal life and my work.

As I pondered what to do about balancing my work demands while still finding time for my own needs, I started to find that it wasn’t just individuals reaching out to me for appointments anymore. Suddenly editors, event planners, PR firms and literary agents were contacting me. I was offered opportunities to write for magazines, provide keynote speeches, become a spokesperson for brands I love and even write my own book.

Before receiving these requests, I wasn’t even aware these type of opportunities were out there, let alone that I could be paid for them.

What had started off as a small mission to improve the health of those in my own community was soon transforming into something much larger. These opportunities were allowing me to spread the message of wellness to a much larger audience on a much bigger stage. At the same time, these opportunities allowed me to create multiple revenue streams that offered a much more flexible schedule and a much better work and life balance. As a mom of two, this balance means more to me than I could even describe in words. In addition to my work as an author, speaker and media source, I have now transitioned into another area of practice I had always dreamt about: an e-course that I co-launched with another dietitian to help fellow dietitians break into the media to build their own brands and businesses, create multiple revenue streams and achieve the same work-life balance that I have always strived for myself. I consider this a win-win!!

Erin Palinski-Wade, RDN, CDE, is a private practice dietitian, author and media consultant based in New Jersey. She is the co-creator of the Master the Media e-Course for dietitians masterthemedia.com.

Connect with her on Twitter @ErinPalinski.

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The Ultimate Influencer Jenna A. Bell, PhD, RD DPG Delegate and NE Policy Advocacy Leader It’s likely that every nutrition entrepreneur understands that the term “influencer” is frequently used in marketing and public relations to denote someone who impacts consumer behavior. In today’s market, influencers do their influencing in social networks, blogs, on TV, YouTube and other communication channels. RDNs are influencers in all of these areas. That said, RDNs may have the most influence in a far less glamorous, sensational or profitable avenue - in leadership positions in public health. And that’s why it’s a 2017 mega-issue in the House of Delegates (HOD).

What is the Academy doing to support RDNs in public health?

How can you get involved?

As described in the HOD backgrounder for the 2017 fall meeting, in order to promote health and disease prevention and meet public health practice needs in the next three to five years, nutrition and dietetic practitioners must be in leadership positions to sustain national policy efforts.

Now is the time to move beyond the leadership conversation to capitalize on the opportunities to serve in and advocate for influential positions. While elected local, state and federal legislators are public health influencers, the current dialogue will focus on other roles in organizations, institutions and government.

nnAdvancing Your Role as a Leader (Level 2)

Several initiatives and partnerships have been developed to support and enhance the role of RDNs in public health. Here’s a snapshot of the programs and opportunities for RDNs: nnEstablishment of the Committee for Public Health and Human Nutrition nnResources and insights available through the Public Health and Community DPG nnContinuing education nnDeveloping Your Role as a Leader (Level 1)

nnExecutive Management (Level 2) nnCertificate of Training Program: Public Health Nutrition nnAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation nnAcademy advocacy initiatives nnAlliances with a number of influential organizations nnPast HOD Backgrounders Make sure to reference the EatRightPro.org/ Reference page for information on these opportunities. As your Delegate, please reach out to me with any questions.

Jenna is a senior vice president at Pollock Communications in NYC, but works remotely in a place where people vacation, St. Petersburg, Florida. She’s done lots of cool stuff as an RD and intends to continue on that path.

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Product REVIEWS Lean Body, Smart Life: 12-Fix Plan to a Leaner, Healthier, Happier Life

Living Plate Pro: Revenue Generating RD-Curated Meal Plans

The IBS-Free FODMAP Practice Kit for RDNs

Author: Judith Scharman Draughon, MS, RDN, LD

Author: Jeanne Petrucci, MS, RD - Founder, Living Plate LLC

Date: 2017

Date:

Website: livingplate.com

Price: $29.95

Date: 2017

For the past ten years, Patsy Catsos has been a pioneer of the FODMAP diet, both for helping her patients and educating health professionals on its benefits. Patsy’s latest venture, The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook: The Proven LowFODMAP Plan for Eating Well and Feeling Great, updates her first book with the latest research, provides the rationale for the FODMAPs diet and creates a plan for eliminating and then reintroducing FODMAPs. It also contains 56 low-FODMAP recipes, which are accompanied by beautiful photographs.

September 18, 2017

Website to order: LeanBodySmartLife.com Price: $19.99 for e-book, $20.99 for softcover + e-book This newly released, interactive book is a Nutrition 101 crash-course meets wholefoods, culinary-nutrition know-how. Lean Body Smart Life is chock full of valuable tips, recipes and ideas designed to make eating healthfully tasty and feasible, no matter where you are in your life.

Available in digital format or softcover (which also includes access to the electronic version), this book guides the reader through a 12-step program. The author describes how to tackle one new “fix” a week, small steps such eating more vegetables and cutting back on sugar. She also provides just the right amount of detail and science behind why you need to eat more healthfully, get more sleep and move more, as well as how to do so on a budget.

While the book includes a handful of mouth-watering recipes, there are also numerous QR codes for additional recipes and information and a corresponding app to track your progress. This book is ideal for anyone who wishes she/he could bring their dietitian home with them.

Reviewer: Rima Kleiner, MS, RD, LDN Title: Registered Dietitian and owner of Kleiner Nutrition Address: KleinerNutrition.com

Price: Free for dietitians, $19.99 per month for clients Living Plate PRO Meal Plan Program is a gift to Registered Dietitians. For a private practice dietitian specializing in menu planning, Living Plate is a perfect supplement to the work that I do daily. I tried the 3-21 plan and the 21-day Kickstart; however, the variety of plans provide options for a wide range of potential nutrition needs.

All dietitians should know we do not have to pay for the service and it is a revenue-generating program. This is an impressive model that puts ownership and accountability on the client. The client pays a subscription fee, which is shared with the RD. This small fee will also enhance the amount that clients use the service.

Another useful element is the 1,000+ recipe collection. In addition, there are brief but detailed cooking videos to share, a quick way to add value to social media posts. Living Plate is a new fresh tool to enhance my practice.

Reviewer: Julie Taube, MS, RDN, LD Title: Owner, Nutrition Ventures, LLC

Author:

Patsy Catsos, MS, RDN, LD

Publisher: Harmony

The IBS Elimination Diet and Cookbook is included in Patsy’s new IBS-Free FODMAP Practice Kit for RDNs, where her deep understanding of the link between IBS and FODMAPs aims to educate fellow dietitians.

The author outlines who is a good candidate for this diet and how to implement a three-visit nutrition care plan. Each visit has clear goals for the patient and dietitian, signs and symptoms to watch for, and what to focus on during the visit. The toolkit offers three plans and concise instructions on reintroducing FODMAPS into your client’s diet depending on symptom severity, patient needs and anxiety levels. It includes over thirty-four pages of patient handouts, breaking down which foods are high or low in FODMAPS by food group, meal plans and instructions for food reintroduction. If you find yourself searching for reputable material to provide to clients or spend hours making quality handouts, this kit solves that issue.

Reviewer: Marita Radloff, RDN, LD Title: Health Promotion Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Affiliation: Robins Air Force Base

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Work for Yourself Serving Many Companies:

The Field of Employee Wellness Sarah Aubin Student Article When I started my nutrition and dietetics degree three years ago, I planned on working in an outpatient clinic upon graduation. But wow, has that plan changed! As I learned more about the field of dietetics and met various RDs, my eyes were opened to the wide range of possibilities. The person who really intrigued me was an RD who worked doing employee wellness. I was instantly hooked.

For me the concept of having the freedom to work with a variety of employees in an organization and do everything from nutrition consults to presentations and challenges seemed like a dream come true.

One that I didn’t even know I had.

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After that initial spark of interest in employee wellness, I have learned a lot and grown in my understanding of the field. I discovered the employee wellness world is much bigger with a lot of different areas. I now have completed two internships, unrelated to my degree requirements, working with employee wellness programs. These experiences have taught me many of the skills needed to properly perform but also assess a program.

More important, it has allowed me to see some of the resources that are available and how the wellness arena really works.

I discovered that there is a lot more to it than a company just hiring you to do some wellness services for their employees. There are many companies who do not want someone in-house working on wellness.

Instead it is a field with many contract positions. This adds a new element to the idea of doing employee wellness. It means that as I progress in my career, I could be serving

employees at multiple companies at the same time, making a bigger impact and being my own boss all at the same time. The ability to be an entrepreneur in this area of wellness is an exciting opportunity that is available for those who want to provide the best wellness services to various companies.

The field of employee wellness is ever growing as companies are beginning to realize the current health costs as well as the need to provide a positive work environment in order to attract skilled workers. The opportunities in this field allow motivated individuals to have more creative freedom in the area of wellness.

Sarah Aubin is in her last year of schooling in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to become a Registered Dietitian. She plans to use the skills learned in her degree to begin working in the field of employee wellness. She has a passion for helping people improve their overall health from whatever point they are at.

Beyond Private Practice: Outside-the-Box, Entrepreneurial Paths for Dietitians Beverly Price, RD, MA, E-RYT 200, C-IAYT, CERD Guest Article Even when I was in high school, I always wanted to open my own private, nutrition practice. In fact, one of my reasons for going into the field of nutrition was the vision I had of myself sitting in a posh office and counseling motivated individuals who could afford my services … and I did just that. Taking it beyond a basic private practice, I also did additional work in consulting, writing and media.

I hired staff to handle other parts of my business. However, what I did not realize at the time was that I was moving from having a job to “owning a job.” If I or my child was sick, my doors did not open that day. As I became a little smarter and began to step outside of the box, I realized that if I hired other dietitians to work for me - and created spin-off programs that did not require my presence - I could generate “passive income.” However, the thought of giving up counseling patients entirely to “oversee” my business was not what I had in mind …

I could not step fully outside of that box.

Self-employed or business owner?

A self-employed individual is generally of a service profession (physician, lawyer, dietitian) where the business depends on this person. If the self-employed individual gets sick or dies, so does the business. A business owner hires others to run the day-to-day operation of the business while the owner builds and oversees the business. The business owner may now go on to start several other businesses, as the business does not depend on him or her to “be there.” Going beyond my private practice, I eventually sold it outright to the perfect dietitian – and moved on to my next venture.

and creating organizations to pursue them.

An entrepreneur’s business creates jobs for others. An entrepreneur is someone who perceives an opportunity and creates an organization to pursue it.

My next business went beyond a private practice and into a full-service mental health counseling center, along with higher levels of eating-disorder intensive care. This required hiring, personnel management, financial strategizing and insurance battles.

Surrounding myself with those who possessed diversified skills, and creating a cream of the crop “A” team, helped us deliver tremendous patient care while collecting the majority of our receivables.

Could I go on vacation, for a length of time, and still generate income? Yes! Did I have more freedom than with my previous business? Yes! Selling this business to a private company gave me more freedom to pursue my other passions.

Beverly Price, RD, MA, E-RYT 200, C-IAYT, CEDRD-S, IAEDP, Approved Supervisor, is recognized for her mindfulness, yoga-based, eating-disorder, recovery programs, along with yoga training programs in eating disorders for professionals. She is an author and national presenter. Beverly has created, cultivated and sold various healthcare businesses. In her career, she has also consulted with healthcare entities who wish to maximize their bottom line.

The entrepreneurial process involves all the functions, activities and actions associated with perceiving opportunities

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Ventures

www.nedpg.org

Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

Rachael Hartley 1898 Calhoun St. Bldg #8 Columbia, SC 29201

NEDPG at FNCE Did you get a chance to connect with your fellow NE members at FNCEÂŽ? We held our annual networking event Sunday night, sponsored by Monash University.

NE's booth, which included a fun photo booth, was a huge hit! Thanks to all those who dropped by. NE members also got the chance to earn continuing education at the sponsored lunch and breakfast seminars hosted

by Frito-Lay, Cranberry Marketing Committee, and Dr. Schar. The new lunch session format was well-received! We're already looking forward to FNCE 2018 in Washington D.C.! Be sure to lookup #FNCE and #NEDPT on social media to check out some of the live feed from the events.

Top Left Photo: Sarah Kosyzk and Linda Eck Mills neRDing out at the photo booth.

Top Right Photo: NEDPG chair, Rosanne Rust with award winners Juliet Rodman and Whitney English Tabaie. Bottom Left Photo: The networking event brough in a big crowd!

Bottom Right Photo: NEDPG members networking Sunday night.