Jenna has been amazing to work with through Siggi's and I know there can be conflicting views on dietitians working in industry, so I jumped at the chance to feature her. Like Jenna, this series allows me to e-meet many dietitians and I love learning how they got into the field, how they came to their current position and getting a glimpse into their day-to-day; we're all so different and there is no one direct path, as you'll see here.

Why did you become a RD?

I always knew I wanted a career in science to make a tangible difference in peoples’ lives, but knew I didn’t want to be a doctor.  I had never even known about dietitians until I discovered the major as an undergrad.  I saw it as a route to helping people but with something I was always passionate about-food, cooking and overall wellness.

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I currently work in marketing and communications as the Nutrition Communications Lead for siggi’s dairy.

How would you explain what you do? 

My job is multifaceted but generally speaking, I assist the marketing team with a focus on all nutrition communications.  I work with the RD community to create content that best meets their needs and supports their work through our ambassador programs and our new siggi’s sessions online education portal.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

My typical tasks vary greatly, especially depending on the time of year.  I project manage various initiatives, such as siggi’s sessions and retail RD demo kits (including creating new educational materials).  During busy conference season, I spend a lot of my time prepping for conferences and then traveling to and attending the events.  However, I am always communicating with RDs to provide educational materials, demo kits or yogurt to support their work!  I get to meet and “e-meet” so many RDs and other health professionals all the time-it really gives me an appreciation for the work this community accomplishes. 

What has been your career path? 

I started off as a clinical dietitian in a subacute care facility but quickly realized I did not find it rewarding.  Soon after, I started as a retail dietitian working for a grocery store chain.  I loved the exposure to the food industry and how much I learned about products, what was driving customers’ choices and then being able to positively influence food choices right at the point of purchase.  That brought me to my current position at siggi’s dairy.

What advanced education or special training do you have?  N/A

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now? 

I see Registered Dietitians diversifying their career paths and expanding even further beyond the traditional hospital or private practice setting.  I think that 5 years ago, the idea of an RD working for a food company would have been fairly unheard of but it has now become more common.  It has been exciting to see more non-traditional companies seeing the value in having a Registered Dietitian on their team. 

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

One of the biggest misconceptions about RDs that I am constantly clarifying is that we are not the same as a “nutritionist.”  A registered dietitian has to complete specific undergraduate or graduate coursework that includes organic chemistry and biochemistry, complete a dietetic internship that includes supervised practice hours in a variety of settings, and then pass a national examination to gain RD status.  A nutritionist is not a term protected by law, therefore anyone can call him or herself a nutritionist, regardless of his or her education. 

What are challenges you encounter as a RD?

Currently, my biggest challenge is the nutrition misinformation coming from the media and social media influencers.  This is why it is so important to have RDs working in communications!

What makes RDs unique/different from other nutrition/wellness professionals?  

Our professional licensure and credentialing sets us apart from other nutrition and wellness professionals.  We are a profession focused on evidence-based research. 

More about Jenna:

Website: www.siggis.com

LinkedIn: Jenna (M) Amos, RDN

Thanks Jenna!

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