Emily Hulse

  • RD2Be Fun

    20 Questions All Dietetics Students Get Asked

    Nutrition majors are notorious for frequently getting asked about food, health, and even poop. Here are the most commonly asked questions for an RD2BE!

    From the second senior year rolls around and you decide on your nutrition and dietetics major, you’re bound to get asked a few questions. There aren’t many people knowledgeable in the profession of dietetics, and maybe your parents are even included. By becoming an RD2BE, you’re signing up for four years of questions – some about you or the field, and some about incredibly personal topics. At first, you may feel unfit to answer these kinds of things, but you’ll be confident in your answers in no time. By the time you enter your dietetic internship, you’ll have heard them all (and will have some sound responses down). Here are the top 20 questions all dietetics students get asked.

    1. What exactly is the field of dietetics?

    2. …Oh. So you’re a nutritionist?

    4. What’s your take on the Paleo diet? Whole30? Atkins Diet?

    5. What do you even learn in your classes?

    6. Wait, you take a cooking class?

    7. How did you even hear about this profession?

    8. What kind of places will you work at when you graduate?

    9. Ok… so can I ask you about my poop?

    10. Are you judging me for getting Starbucks?

    11. …What about Chipotle?

    12. Want to cook me all my dinners from now on instead?

    13. So, are you kind of like a nurse?

    14. You know all of those fancy medical terms?

    15. Do you have a food blog I can follow?

    16. What about a foodie Instagram?

    17. Should I be taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar every morning?

    18. What about coconut oil?

    19. So, can you make me a meal plan?

    20. Why are you an RD2BE?

    Of course, some questions are out of curiosity more than selfishness, but you will always come across the person wanting free consultations. While the typical person may not know much about dietetics, you have the opportunity to share information and knowledge. The questions may get repetitive, but the field never does. Even the most straightforward question can fuel your fire for nutrition, and every question can be a beautiful thing.

    P.S. ARE YOU IN YET? Join the future dietitian newsletter to receive monthly webinar invitations, free resources, exclusive experience opportunities, and so much more!

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  • Featured, Student Life

    Staying Professional This Summer

    While summer may have been a time to relax from ages 5 through 18, it now means something different as a nutrition and dietetics student.

    Time to say goodbye to 3 months of pool party freedom and hello to building your resume, your brand, and most importantly: yourself. I know what you’re thinking; I’ve worked all year long and deserve a break! And to that, I say, of course, you do. But I believe this summer, you will kick back and relax while also driving it into high gear, RD2BE style. Here are a few of my tips for staying professional this summer.

    1. Create an online portfolio.

    If you haven’t already designed your online space, now is the time to do so! Your online portfolio is only as involved and prepared as you want it to be. Make sure to give yourself time to make it great.

    2. Volunteer.

    Chances are, there are people in need right around the corner from you. Whether you devote your time to an organization such as a soup kitchen, church group, or your old high school, or you, decide to take on more personal projects by helping out your elderly neighbor, make sure to lend a helping hand. Not only does this help your resume, but it creates a more well-rounded and experienced version of yourself. Who doesn’t want that!?

    3. Read a book.

    It doesn’t have to be a nutrition-related book. Maybe it’s that hip romance novel everyone is reading, a classic, or your old favorite. Pick up a paper book and put down your screen. You spend enough time working for a screen during the school year to last a lifetime!

    4. Listen to a podcast.

    My favorite way of doing this is to slip on my tennis shoes, put in my earbuds, and head out for a walk as my favorite podcast fills my ears. It’s relaxing and informative, and I believe we all need to get out of our headspace for a little while.

    5. Clean up your social media.

    I get it; we all have fun. Although, my idea of fun might be reading a good book and enjoying some sweet tea. But whatever your idea of fun is, make sure it remains respectable on the internet. Everyone can see your adventures as they’re posted online, so make sure you’re posting things your Mom wouldn’t mind seeing.

    6. Work.

    Ugh- boring, I know. But the good thing about working over the summer is saving money. And that’s something we all need to do! Think of it as an investment in your future dietetic internship (and maybe for that purse you’ve been eyeing all year).

    7. Do your research.

    Maybe your next step is beginning a DPD program, heading off to your dietetic internship, or even applying to graduate schools. Whatever place you’re born to in the fall, make sure to spend some time doing your research for it this summer. Being prepared is the best way to ease into the school year and maintain positive energy.

    8. Have fun!

    Maybe summer doesn’t have the same meaning as it did when you were younger, but summer can still be as memorable as you want it to be. Travel and see friends, drive with the windows down and your favorite song blasting, and take more than enough pictures. Being relaxed can lead to creativity and relaxation, so let yourself feel a bit free!

    Some people love summer, and few people hate it. But wherever you stand on the debate, make sure to spend your summer wisely. Your career will thank you for it! Most importantly, enjoy another summer with good food, good people, and good memories.

    P.S. ARE YOU IN YET? Schedule your free call with Jenny today to discuss your background, address any of your concerns, and decide on the next step for your dietitian journey!

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  • Student Life

    What I Learned At My First Nutrition Conference

    Attending your first nutrition and dietetics conference is an important and exciting step in becoming a Registered Dietitian.

    I remember it well- the nervousness, intimidation, and the restless night before. I spent hours picking out the perfect outfit, double-checking my purse for a notepad, and packing two pens. Most importantly, I remember stepping in the doors and attending my first nutrition conference. This experience provided some critical takeaways. 

    R.D’s love food- a lot

    This may seem obvious, but it sunk in the first hour of my conference. While I was too nervous to eat breakfast, R.D’s around me strolled in with coffee, homemade smoothies, and snacks. I expected a stuffy room of strict professionals, but most attendees enjoyed a snack or beverage throughout the day.

    You will hear excellent presentations…

    Sometimes, it can feel like you are all alone in your homework and textbooks. But when you finally sit in a room of like-minded, passionate individuals, you will be reminded differently. You will engage in presentations about things you didn’t realize were a part of the nutrition and dietetics scope. You will hear presentations that inspire you, terrify you, and validate your passion for this field.

    … And some not-so-great presentations, too

    Not everyone is a performer. Just like your food science presentations in class, some dietitians aren’t great presenters. Regardless, hearing imperfect presentations may help you feel a little less intimidated at a big event like a nutrition conference. This reminds you that RDs are people, too, just like you.

    Dietitians love to mingle.

    While presentations are a large part of a nutrition conference, socializing is, too. Dietitians live for small breaks throughout the day to get to know each other more. While some of the attendees may be your professors or classmates, others may be gathering research about lentils or working with eating disorder patients. Whatever the case may be, you will meet a variety of R.D’s who do just about everything. When you find someone who stands out to you, make sure to make a lasting impression. You never know where mingling with a few R.D.N.s will take you!

    You may feel overwhelmed.

    During and after my first nutrition conference, I felt a lot of confusion. I was confused not only about the content of some presentations but about myself, too. Connecting with R.D’s taught me that nutrition is a wide-open field. Finding your population, role, and niche in nutrition takes time, which many students haven’t quite figured out. By attending conferences, you are one step closer to learning what your place is.

    My first nutrition conference exhausted me. I was physically tired from being nervous about the little things like my hair and outfit. But mentally, my first nutrition conference excited me. It inspired me to head back to my classrooms and study harder, gain external experience through research and volunteering, and ultimately communicate with those all around me and connect over a passion for this field. Your first nutrition conference will be something you will never forget, and I know it will be an experience to push you forward.

    P.S. What was your first nutrition conference? If you haven’t attended one, check out FNCE for a great place to start!

    P.P.S. Are you applying to dietetic internships? Join the Get Matched Course to find clarity and confidence in your application and land the dietetic internship of your dream! 

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  • RD2Be Fun

    How To Start A Foodie Blog

    Blogging can help you from average nutrition student to star! Here are some tips and tricks for publishing your best material for the internet to see.

    Blogging, it seems, is the new thing. Students, interns, and dietitians alike are taking to the internet to share their passion. Now you can, too! While starting a food blog may seem overwhelming, it can be as easy as making a dietitian-approved meal. Below are tips and tricks to help you succeed.

    Find your platform.

    Whether you want to purchase a domain name and create your website, you want to focus solely on social media such as Instagram, or you want to team up with a few friends and create a Facebook group, find your platform first. If you choose to make an internet blog, check out easy SquareSpace, Weebly, or WordPress templates.

    Determine your style.

    Find inspiration from other blogs and see what makes them tick. Is it their focus on quick and easy meals, their attention to detail, their adorable photos, their focus on a specific health concern or population, or their everyday upkeep? Once you understand the niche you want to focus on, it’ll help you know where to begin. Once you find an aesthetic you like, own it. Make your style yours.

    Create your content.

    Before getting your foodie blog live and running, make sure to create content ahead of time for the next few weeks or months. This helps your blog jumpstart early, and it allows you to be posting new and relevant information on a revolving basis. Plus, this gives you time to work and re-work your layout, ideas, and materials.

    Go live!

    Finally- publish your work! Please share it with friends and family, your professors and mentors, even your peers at college. By going live and sharing your information, you’ll be sure to gain a following.

    Connect with others.

    Make sure to interact with your readers and viewers by replying to comments, shares, and every interaction they make. This will help grow your following as well as connect with others interested in your work. You never know what opportunities or friendships could come out of a simple “thank you.”

    Keep working!

    After your nutrition blog is live, the work isn’t over. Maintaining a blog is a regular job that requires social media skills, communication, work ethic, and knowledge of nutrition and dietetics. Please include new recipes or facts in your blog and share them with your followers as you learn new recipes or facts. Work hard on making your blog better than ever before, constantly.

    While creating and maintaining a successful nutrition blog may sound easy, it requires dedication, determination, and inspiration. This project can be as small or large as you want it to be! If you work hard enough, it can even become your entire career. There will be trials along the way, but using your nutrition knowledge with other skills and passions, you can make it work — an RD2BE can do anything!

    P.S. Are you a new Registered Dietitian or recent graduate looking for your first job? Join Get Hired Coaching to prepare for your following interview and land your dream job!

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  • RD2Be Fun

    5 Fun Things To Do With Your #RD2BE Friends

    Some days, free time is best spent alone with Netflix and homemade snacks, but other days, it’s best spent with RD2BE friends outside of the classroom.

    On weekdays, you can find most dietetics students in-class lectures, laboratory experiments, and studying. But, on rare occasions, they have free time, too. While free time doesn’t come often and doesn’t stay long, it is much enjoyed. On those rare occasions, getting together with your RD2BE friends is a must.

    While getting together with all of your RD2BE friends, you probably want to leave a few of your nutrition courses behind. But if you’re still looking for some hints of nutrition, here are some great things to do.

    1) Go fruit or vegetable picking

    This is a great fall or spring activity to do with friends. It helps you get outside and get your body moving, as well as appreciate the foods you know and love. This is an excellent natural world application of nutrition and dietetics, and your friends will be all over it. Plus, it’ll be a great Instagram opportunity, and who doesn’t love that?! Make sure to hashtag your experience with #RD2BE.

    2) Have fun in the kitchen

    In case you haven’t noticed yet, dietetics students can be a bit competitive. While the academic and career pressures can be intense, they can also fuel a good fire. Another fun activity to do with nutrition friends is host a cooking or baking competition! Imagine this as your food science lab to the extreme. Choose a theme or category — Chinese food, desserts, three-ingredient recipes, or unconventional ways to use chocolate. No matter how outrageous your rules become, your friends will love hanging out and trying something new. Plus, the winner will be stoked about unlimited bragging rights.

    3) Volunteer together

    While dietetics students are encouraged to volunteer in food industry settings, it can often be a little intimidating and challenging. But when you pair with RD2BE friends, the experience becomes more than just volunteering. It becomes fun, too! So get a group of friends together and pick a day to volunteer at your local food bank or soup kitchen. Not sure where to begin? Find a volunteering opportunity near you here. You can split up and conquer — with so many options to volunteer, there is undoubtedly a job for everyone. And you’ll be sure to feel great after your experience.

    4) Start a Vlog

    With the influx of social media, RD2BE friends love to show their expertise online. This can be an excellent opportunity to share your knowledge and passion, as well as have some laughs with pals. Another great activity to do with your RD2BE friends is to make a video blog! It’s a blast to get ready and dressed up and then film something incredible and unique. You’ll have lots of laughs and make a few mistakes during your Hollywood moment, but it will be something you and your friends will be able to look back at for years to come. Who knows – you may even become an internet sensation!

    5) Netflix and potluck

    There’s nothing like a good movie marathon, and a movie marathon with RD2BE’s is even better. Gather a list of your friends’ favorites and load your Netflix account. Then, make sure everyone brings a dish of their choice, and prepare to be “wowed.” Even better – don’t let anyone tell each other what they’re getting. Maybe your friends’ choices will surprise you. Snuggle up together and enjoy the very rare moment that you are free of work to do!

    There are a ton of activities that RD2BE friends can do together to further their passion and love for dietetics. While some activities are more intensive than others, they are all excellent options for gathering a group of peers and letting loose. Free time is a beautiful thing, so live it up, RD2BEs!

    PS Are you applying to the dietetic internship program of your dreams and want personalized guidance? Get Matched Coaching can help you gain confidence and clarity to get one step closer to being an RD! 

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