Contemplating a career as a registered nutritionist? We speak to Rhiannon Lambert, leading Harley Street Nutritionist and author of Re-Nourish all about what it takes to make it in the industry and her advice on getting started.

Where did your interest in nutrition grow from?
During my time in the music industry, the pressures of looking a certain way had persuaded me to follow restrictive and unsustainable diets. The record industry’s pursuit of me achieving overnight changes by quick fixes held no boundaries. I started to believe that shop-bought diet products and meal replacement drinks were the answer to looking your best, and I began to suffer from malnourishment. My energy levels were so low that I went to my GP for answers. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the answers I was looking for so I started to take more of an interest in nutrition to reinvigorate my life and soon realised that this was my true calling.

At what point in your life did you decide you wanted to make a career in nutrition?
As soon as I made the life-changing decision to enrol at university as a mature student to study nutrition, I knew just how important it was for me to unlearn everything I thought I knew. I endeavoured to learn from my mistakes and become as qualified as possible – no easy feat for someone coming at human science from a musical background! In fact, I felt like I had to work ten times harder than those who already had a scientific educational background. Although it was challenging, I absolutely loved studying nutrition and was determined to make a career out of it.

With a social media following growing each day, a clinic on Harley Street and a new book…how did you get to where you are today?
In all honesty, I never planned for this to happen. My journey in the last year has been totally unexpected yet very exciting at the same time. I guess I got to the position I am in now because of my passion and work ethic. After obtaining a BSc, MSc and Master Practitioner, I still continue to study further and I want to spread the power of positive nutrition to as many people as possible and it’s amazing what a response I have had by doing so.

What would be one piece of advice you’d give to anyone setting out on studying and building a career in nutrition?
I would advise to go out and get as much work experience under your belt as possible. There are so many different aspects of nutrition you can go into, and it can be difficult to decide which direction to go. But relevant experience is invaluable, particularly when applying for jobs.

What is your favourite thing about practising nutrition and what has been the biggest challenge?
My favourite thing about practising nutrition is helping people. I have seen so many clients in my time as a nutritionist and I see the progress they have made- that for me, is so rewarding.

What did your experience as a singer teach you that you carry through to your approach to nutrition now?
Our bodies are our tool and if we don’t look after and nourish them in the right way, it can have detrimental effects on our health. I got totally wrapped up in the way I was ‘supposed’ to look and it lead me down a very dark road that I was lucky enough to steer myself away from. I now educate others in regards to health being so much more important than the way we look on the outside.

Re-Nourish is available to buy now!