Training public health nutritionists: Competencies for complacency or future concerns

Today the public perceives that sound nutrition is essential to food health, but many American adults have not changed their diets to match their beliefs. The training of public health nutritionists is important. Nutritionists often face the lack of scientific evidence when responding to specific client questions. Nutritionists need the skills to interpret scientific information, and they need the tools necessary to motivate clients to change their diets. Communication and effective counseling require that valid scientific data be assessed and interpreted reliably. Nutritionists must develop competencies for future concerns, not competencies for complacency.