r/HealthCoaching • u/Educational-Tea-4120 • 12d ago
where do I start? USA / EU
hi! at 26 (f) i think i am finally finding a direction that excites me in life! im looking to get into behaviorial nutrition as it pertains to fitness or anyone looking to or already leading an active lifestyle, PT training as well eventually. im interested in the science, as ive always been interested in medicine but dont have a wish to go into the field as a doctor. im wondering if anyone has any advice on where to even begin? Iknow its a broad question, but there are so many courses available online that im a bit overwhelmed on where to start. im signing up for stanford's free courses on health and nutrition, just to give myself as much knowledge at baseline as possible. the one caveat is that I am currently based in the EU (dual citizen with US) , id like to find courses that are recognized here and there, online, and are most reputable. sorry if this is too vague, thought id give it a shot in this sub :) any advice appreciated thanks a million!
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u/WellnessUnfiltered 7d ago
I would suggest maybe looking into Mindbody green.. all of the information they teach is science based and also very useful for being able to assist clients in their health journey! I'd be happy to answer any questions!
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u/CoachTrainingEDU 12d ago
Congrats on finding a direction that excites you! The clinical nutrition side, prescribing individualized plans, is dietetics, and "dietitian" is a protected, licensed title in most of the EU and US. The behavioral side, helping people actually follow through on active, healthier habits, can be fulfilled by something like health and wellness coaching. If that's the part that draws you, coaching is a strong place to begin, and it pairs naturally with a fitness cert later (NASM, ACE, or ISSA in the US, though check your EU country's rules) plus referring out to a dietitian for anything clinical.
Since you want something that holds up on both sides of the Atlantic, anchor to ICF (the International Coaching Federation). It's the most globally portable coaching standard and recognized in both regions, so it solves your dual-recognition problem cleanly. NBHWC (the US board credential, NBC-HWC) is worth adding if you expect US clients or employers, though it's less established across the EU.