Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Launches New Resources to Support Retail Dietitians
By Allison Yoder, MA, RDN, LD, Nutrition in Food Retail Program Development Fellow, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation has launched a series of new resources to support dietetic students, registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) new to the food industry, and advanced practitioners looking to strengthen their current careers within food retail or grow into a new role.
More details on each of the below resources from the Academy Foundation is available at www.eatrightfoundation.org/foodasmedicine.
Certificate of Training
The Excelling in the Retail Food Industry certificate of training (CoT), for which RDBA played an advisory and review role, expands upon the Supermarket Business and Industry Skills to Thrive in Retail Dietetics CoT developed in 2015 to advance the expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists practicing in food retail settings. This new 5-module, level 2 certificate of training provides 7.5 CEUs, and is available to Academy and non-Academy members for a nominal fee.
- Module 1 – Background: Health and Well-being Opportunities in Food Retail
- Module 2 – Strategy: Building a Business Case for Retail RDNs
- Module 3 – Engagement: Connecting with Customers through Branding and Marketing
- Module 4 – Execution: Developing and Evaluating Effective Programs
- Module 5 – Innovation: Identifying and Applying Consumer Trends
Curriculum for Dietetic Students and Interns
The Nutrition in Food Retail: A Curriculum for Dietetic Students and Interns is available for free download and was designed to be implemented in food retail settings, under the guidance of retail dietitian preceptors. The curriculum meets ACEND requirements and prepares graduates for careers in food retail.
The curriculum is broken down into three rotations
1. Nutrition Communications and Community Wellness;
2. Food Service and Management; and
3. Clinical with fifteen program activities, including media, merchandising and marketing, store and community events, quality and process improvement, recipe and meal development / analysis, food systems, sustainability, clinical education, supermarket tour, nutrition counseling, health screenings and more.
Program Evaluation Guide
The Food as Medicine in Retail Settings: A Comprehensive Guide to Program Evaluation is also available for free download, and was designed to be a roadmap for retail dietitians and food retailers to adopt and implement proven evaluation techniques when planning Food as Medicine programs. The guide contains program models and a framework to assist in implementing Food as Medicine programs, six food retailer case studies, and program evaluation standards providing stakeholders with an understanding of the return-on-investment, business impact, consumer influence and program strengths and improvements needed.
Printable Resources
Free printable resources are available to download from the Academy Foundation’s website:
- Infographic - Food as Medicine: Retail Nutrition Framework
- Handout - Top 10 Ways RDNs Add Value to Food Retailers
- Handout - Evaluating Food as Medicine Programs in Food Retail
