Recognizing a nutrition authority that you can consult for reliable nutrition information can be difficult because it is so easy to acquire questionable nutrition credentials. Read the education and experience of the “nutrition experts” described below and put them in order, beginning with the person with the strongest and most trustworthy nutrition expertise and ending with the person with the weakest and least trustworthy nutrition expertise.

1. A dietetic technician, registered (DTR) working in a clinic

2. A highly successful athlete/coach who has a small business as a nutrition counselor and sells a line of nutrition supplements

3. An individual who has completed 30 hours of nutrition training through the American Association of Nutrition Counseling

4. A registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) associated with a hospital