Health care is on everyone’s mind – and with it, a growing awareness of wellness and healthy lifestyle choices. Calorie counts are starting to appear on restaurant and fast food menus. iPhones offer calorie-counting apps, and schools and government agencies are dumping vending machines pushing soda and high calorie snacks in favor of ones offering healthy options. And at the center of this awareness is the nutritionist.

Forget the image of a nutritionist as glorified ‘lunch lady’ with a chart featuring the food pyramid. Today’s nutrition professionals have a growing – and exciting – range of career opportunities. A degree or certification in nutrition can open doors to unexpected challenges and rewards.

Perhaps the most tradition role for a nutritionist is in public health and institutional settings. Schools, hospitals and long-term care facilities rely on nutritionists to design menu plans that cater to a wide range of nutritional needs and individual tastes. Not only do the meals turned out by these institutions need to be well planned; they need to be delivered on a massive scale. The nutritionist is the point person that coordinates with the chef, vendors and administrators to insure the nutritional standards are met.

But the role of the nutritionist is expanding far beyond institutional settings. In recognition of the link between high performance and a well balanced diet, nutritionists are found on the staffs of college athletic departments and professional sports teams. Nutritionists are consultants at health clubs and spas, offering personalized services as part of fitness regimens.

Nutritionists are pivotal players in new-product development in the food industry. Just take a walk through your local supermarket and notice how many products feature fat grams, fiber content or calorie count on their labeling. Restaurant and fast food chains are also discovering that good nutrition is good business. Careers for nutritional consultants in menu and new product development are on the rise.

Some nutritionists are specializing in particular fields like geriatric or pediatric nutrition, or focusing on special needs clients like diabetics. Others are finding new career challenges in research in both the not-for-profit and corporate sectors. And for those with an entrepreneurial streak, private nutritional practices are opening and finding receptive, loyal clients.

Today’s nutritionist truly has a world of options. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the growth of career opportunities for certified nutritionists is solid. The Baby Boomer generation may have started the trend toward healthier lifestyles, but smart life choices, especially when it comes to good nutrition, has crossed generations. If you are interested in exploring the opportunities in this growing career field, Top-Colleges can give you an excellent overview of nutritionist certification programs. Getting on board the nutritional revolution can be an exciting career choice.