At Edge Nutrition, we recognize the tremendous value students of color bring to the field. In our increasingly diverse country, it is vital that nutrition professionals represent this diversity to best serve patients and clients. In addition, many of our dietary guidelines were designed through a white lens and do not reflect a wide range of cultural foods. This limits the impact these guidelines can have and perpetuates the idea that a nutritious diet requires leaving behind the foods of your heritage and ascribing to a white, European eating style (think about how we elevate the Mediterranean diet and how dairy has always been part of the food pyramid, while lactose intolerance is the norm in many countries). 

The pathway to become an RDN requires a four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited university, a master’s degree, and 1200 hours of supervised practice (the internship). Most internship programs are unpaid and cost thousands of dollars, in addition to the cost of college and graduate school. This tremendous financial burden is unattainable for many students. In addition, the vast majority of RDNs in America are white and the demographics of this industry have made very little progress since its inception.