Shannan Carter Nutrition

03/16/2026

03/13/2025

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts with a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program and who completed a supervised practice requirement, passed a national exam and continue professional development throughout their careers. There also are specialty credentials in areas of gerontological nutrition (CSG), sports dietetics (CSSD), pediatric nutrition (CSP), renal nutrition (CSR) and oncology nutrition (CSO). Board-certified specialists are credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition to RDN credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners.

"Registered dietitian nutritionist" are legally protected titles. Only practitioners who have completed specific educational requirements, passed a national exam and continue learning through ongoing education can use these titles and credentials.
However, there is no specific, standardized meaning for "nutritionist." Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, and unfortunately, unqualified health care recommendations can cause people serious harm. So whether someone calls themselves "dietitian" or "nutritionist," check for credentials to ensure they are qualified nutrition experts with an “RD” after their name.

03/13/2024

As the nation's largest food and nutrition experts, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are committed to improving the health of their patients, clients and communities. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day and National Nutrition Month® promote the Academy and RDNs to the public and the media as the most valuable and credible source of timely, scientifically-based food and nutrition information.

The Academy's mission is to accelerate improvements in global health and well-being through food and nutrition. With more than 112,000 credentialed practitioners, the Academy is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists are the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living.

Between what you hear on TV and read in the news, eating well can seem like a real challenge. But it doesn't have to be. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist(RD or RDN) will partner with you to develop a safe and realistic eating plan that you can stick with for the long haul. To guide and motivate you, an RDN will use creative and out-of-the-box strategies to help with meal planning, grocery shopping and mindful eating.

RDN’s are the only qualified medical professionals to perform Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). Its a scientific process that requires the ability to understand clinical data, apply research to practice and customize recommendations to meet an individual's unique needs.

Only a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist has completed multiple layers of education and training established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. All RDNs must:

Obtain a minimum of a graduate degree, which includes a specially designed, accredited nutrition curriculum.
Complete an extensive residency supervised program of practice at a hospital.
Pass a rigorous national registration board exam.
Maintain continuing education credits throughout their career.

As the only health care providers who extensively study food science along with evidence-based nutrition guidelines, RDNs understand the subtle differences in how foods are digested and the benefits that nourishing foods have on the body.
What's more, many RDNs have certifications in specialized fields, such as sports, pediatric, renal, oncology or gerontological nutrition.

Every Registered Dietitian is a Nutritionist, but every Nutritionist is not an RDN.

04/29/2023

Chickpea Salad Recipe

This salad is simple to make and versatile—eat it alone, in a wrap or pureed into a tasty chickpea spread!

Ingredients

1 cup cooked or canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons diced green bell pepper
2 tablespoons peeled, seeded and diced cucumber
½ tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
½ cup diced tomato
3 tablespoons snipped fresh dill or ¼ teaspoon dried dill
½ tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
In a medium-size bowl, combine all ingredients.
Refrigerate for several hours to allow flavors to blend.
Serve the salad on romaine lettuce leaves or in whole-wheat pita bread pockets.
You can also puree the salad in a food processor to make a chickpea spread.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: ⅙ of recipe
Serves 6
Calories: 76; Total Fat: 3g; Saturated Fat: 0.5g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 122mg; Total Carbohydrate: 11g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Protein 2.5g.

03/14/2023

RDNs, Dietitians and Nutritionists: What’s the difference?

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and registered (NDTRs) are credentialed practitioners.

A credential is a professional qualification — like MD for doctors or physicians — that lets the public know that the practitioner is a trained expert. In nutrition and dietetics, the credentials for trained experts is RDN and NDTR. Usually when someone says “dietitian,” they mean an RDN.

“Registered dietitian nutritionist” are legally protected titles. Only practitioners who have completed specific educational requirements, passed a national exam and continue learning through ongoing education can use these titles and credentials.

However, there is no specific, standardized meaning for “nutritionist.” Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, and unfortunately, unqualified health care recommendations can cause people harm. So whether someone calls themselves “dietitian” or “nutritionist,” check for credentials to ensure they are qualified nutrition experts.

09/24/2022

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible and progressive brain disease that slowly erodes precious memories, thinking skills, and the ability to perform simple tasks. It affects millions of Americans, including senior citizens as well as younger Americans with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. This month, we stand with everyone confronting the painful reality of an Alzheimer's diagnosis; lend our support to the families who care for them; and renew our commitment to delaying, preventing, and ultimately curing this disease....As we offer our support to Americans with Alzheimer's disease, we also recognize those who care and provide for them, sharing their loved ones' emotional, physical, and financial strains. This month, we honor their compassion, remember those we have lost, and press toward the next great scientific breakthrough.

09/22/2022

The Simplest Vegetable Soup

This is 40 calories per serving and takes less than 30 minutes to make.

I add cannellini or garbanzo beans to this for added protein and fiber.