holistic nutrition degree

Holistic Nutrition is the Culinary Degree of the Future. Here’s Why.

Traditional nutritionists and dietitians have been shaping our lifestyle choices for decades, giving valuable advice on how the foods we consume affect our bodies and impact our overall health. With the growing popularity of holistic health and healthy cooking, people working in the culinary industry will have to take this one step further in the years to come, providing dietary solutions that take into consideration the “whole person.”

This fact is making holistic nutrition the culinary degree of the future. According to Learn.org, this specialty is an individualized science that offers patients customized solutions for their health. Holistic chefs take into account a patient's lifestyle choices, in addition to other risk factors like inherited conditions, daily stress, medical disorders, and other ailments, to formulate treatment plans and dietary recommendations. Here are four solid reasons why culinary nutrition is growing in popularity.

1. The field itself addresses today's medical challenges

Similar to the broader study of holistic health, work by holistic nutritionists often falls into the category of preventative medicine. The aim is not only to treat a patient, but also to prevent disease. The field offers an answer to today's medical challenges – dietary habits that are put into practice before problems begin, in order to build a healthier population.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of young people in the U.S. do not eat the recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables or whole grains. Instead, they consume an overabundance of sodium and fat. With the help of holistic chefs, however, families can curb these statistics, addressing the widespread problem of obesity and other conditions that stem from a poor diet.

2. Demand for good nutrition is high

As the culture surrounding food in the U.S. has evolved over the last 50 years, so have the decisions of consumers. Sustainable ingredients, organic products, super foods, natural remedies like essential oils, and other nutritious items are in high demand. Today, consumers even expect more out of their restaurant dining experiences, seeking out establishments that offer nutritional ingredients and cater to a wide range of diets, whether vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free.

Nutrition has often become the basis for buying decisions. Whether people are dining at their favorite eatery or looking for a meal in a local hospital, retirement community, or school, they want those meals to have high nutritional content. 

3. Patients want an alternative to conventional treatments

As patients continue to struggle with chronic illnesses, they’re looking for alternatives to experimental drugs and risky operations. Holistic nutritionists work with patients who suffer from chronic illnesses and other conditions to balance the minerals, vitamins, proteins, and acids of food, in an effort to relieve common symptoms.

By focusing on the patient’s lifestyle choices in addition to other risk factors, these professionals consider the entire body in order to develop the best remedies. For the patient, dietary plans and natural remedies could prevent them from having to take unnecessary medical risks or suffer the uncomfortable side effects that sometimes result from modern medicine.

4. Holistic nutrition is rewarding work

For a holistic chef, healing patients isn’t just about prescribing natural foods and other products. It’s also about treating the “whole” person – body, mind, and soul. According to NutritionEd.org, the tasks these professionals perform could include evaluating lifestyle choices and eating habits, developing stress management tools, educating the public, and creating customized meal plans. They may also refer people to other community resources that include natural remedies and alternative medicines, giving patients what they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle.

Although the work of a holistic nutritionist may be widely varied, it is all done with the health of the patient in mind. A day on the job may include evaluating dietary conditions and recommending therapies, conducting nutrition analysis and modifying recipes, developing and planning menus, or looking at the integrity of healthful ingredients. By offering education through classes and workshops, these culinary professionals can also share the benefits of holistic wellness throughout their communities.

For holistic chefs, the optimum health of every patient takes center stage. They expand on the typical role of a dietitian and general nutritionist, considering many lifestyle factors as they work with patients toward healthful eating. By using natural foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, they develop meals and diets that are nutrient-rich. In doing so, they help these patients to not only overcome existing health concerns, but also to achieve holistic health for the long term.

Become a Holistic Chef

Are you interested in a career as a holistic chef? Learn more about the Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts and Applied Nutrition at ECPI University. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Learn more about ECPI's College of Culinary Arts TODAY!

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