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7 Best Nutrition Certifications (for all budgets)
Best Overall
Institute For The Psychology of Eating
Most Underrated
Runner Ups
Functional Nutritionist Certification
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition
Best Under $1000
Best Under $500
Welcome
I created this post to allow you to compare all the most important factors in one place when choosing the best online Holistic Nutrition Certification for you.
I’ve been in the health industry for nearly 12 years and have worn many hats in my time; personal trainer, consultant, nutritionist, manager, coach, etc. Suffice to say, I’ve dabbled with enough courses to have a keen eye on what’s what.
Who is this post for?
This post is for you if you want to stand out with one of the best holistic nutrition certifications available online, or are currently working in the fitness field and are looking to add a holistic nutrition certification to your resume, and if you want an easier time making a decision on which is the best online holistic nutrition coaching certification for you.
Another area of interest that you may want to look into is health coaching, I wrote an in-depth review of some great options here: Online Health Coach Certifications
I’ve Done The Homework So You Don’t Have To
I’ve made contact with some of the providers as well in order to give you as much information as possible to help you make an informed decision. And while some look shiny on the surface, I have my doubts on whether there’s substance beneath that shine.
Oh…and if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact me. I WILL answer your email.
Compare 7 of The Best Online Holistic Nutrition Certification Programs
Scroll right to view more columns. If you are viewing from a phone or tablet I recommend rotating into a landscape for the best viewing experience.
Want the whole table in view?
School | Institute For The Psychology of Eating | Natural Wellness Academy | Functional Nutritionist Academy | Nutrition Therapy Association | Functional Diagnostic Nutrition | My Vinyasa Practice | ACE | Nesta | Nesta |
Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | |
Certifications | Mind Body Eating Coach | Mind-Gut Guru | Nutrition Therapy Practitioner | Nutrition Therapy Practitioner | Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner | Ayurvedic Nutritionist | Precision Nutrition Level 1 | Fitness Nutrition Coach | Sports Nutrition Specialist |
Help you stand out from the competition | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Accredited | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
Program Focus | Food psychology | Microbiome and MInd-Gut connection | Functional & Holistic treatment | Therapeutic | Diagnostic | Ayurvedic nutrition | Nutrition coaching | Basics | Basics |
Start Anytime | No - Next enrollment not yet announced | ✔ | ✔ | No - Next enrollment is Sept/20 - Fills fast | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Program Length | 8 months | No limit | Self-paced | 10 months, instructor-led | 1 year limit, typically takes 6 months | No Limit, typically 1-2 weeks | No limit | No Limit, typically 1-2 weeks | No Limit, typically 1-2 weeks |
Totals Program Hours | 250 hrs | n/a | n/a | n/a | 150 hrs | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Hrs/wk | 8 | Any | 20 | Any | 3-5 | 3-5 | |||
Instructor-Led Program | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
1 on 1 mentoring | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
Live Virtual Classes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
Live Teleclasses | ✔ | ✔ | |||||||
Live Nutrition Coaching Practice | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
Informational Live and Recorded Webinars | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
Coursework Feedback | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
Digital Downloads For Modules | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Audio Downloads | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Video Content For Modules | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Handouts to use with clients | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Lifetime Access To Resources | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Learn How To Start Your Own Nutrition Coaching Business | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
Learn How To Market Yourself | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Private Facebook Group | Private forum | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
Investment (if paid in full) | 6950 | $1995 | $1997 | $5900 | $6495 | $420 | $999 | $297 | $347 |
Payment Plan (example) | $1500 down, then $840 x 7 | available upon request | $979 x 3 | $1180 x 5 | $566 x 12 $1107 x 6 | $210 x 2 | n/a | $81 x 4 | $94 x 4 |
Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | ||
Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | |
Free Webinar |
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#1 Career-Based Online Holistic Nutrition Certification Program
Provider: Institute for the Psychology of Eating
Certification: Mind Body Eating Coach
Full Price: $6950
Payment Plans: $1500 down payment, then $840 x 7
Marc David (founder) and Emily Rosen (director) with a brief intro to Institute for the Psychology of Eating
Institute for the Psychology of Eating Review
Their curriculum isn’t presented on their main page, I had to do some digging to find this
Weight Loss
A unique and compelling look into the profound topic of weight loss through the lenses of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. You’ll learn basic and advanced coaching and counselling techniques, along with an in-depth series of maps and checklists that will shed a whole new light on working with this complex challenge. Some of the key highlights of this module include:
- Nutritional and metabolic factors influencing weight loss
- Masculine and feminine weight loss psychology
- Influence of stress and relaxation physiology on weight
- Bio-circadian nutrition and weight loss
- Working with social and cultural influences on body weight
- The importance of macro and micro-nutrient balance
- The metabolic power of pleasure, awareness and presence
- Neuropsychology, placebo science and weight loss
- Spiritual and soul dimensions of shape-shifting
- The power of story and core life challenges in weight concerns
- A deeper understanding of caloric science
- Working with body wisdom and intuition
- The hidden connection between weight, money and work
- Weight and menopause
- Shortcuts for creating breakthroughs with difficult clients
Body Image
An original, fresh and results-oriented approach to body image concerns that will give you the tools to help others see and experience their bodies in a more healthy and compassionate way. Using principles from Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition, you’ll learn the listening and coaching skills that will give you the confidence to work with this important issue of our times. Some key highlights include:
- Understanding the origins of body image
- The deep connection between body image and sexuality
- Body image tools/distinctions for working with different age groups
- Family of origin and body image
- The influence of stress and relaxation physiology
- The hidden connection between movement and body image
- Working with embodiment practices
- Masculine and feminine distinctions in body image
- Navigating the influence of media and culture
- Yoga Psychology and body image
- The impact of PTSD on negative body image
- Healing and transforming body image with Archetypal Psychology
- The connection between pleasure, desire and body image
- The neuropsychology of presence and “loving what is”
- The special relationship between women, food and body image
Overeating, Binge Eating, Compulsive Eating
A truly holistic approach to overeating concerns based on the core principles of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. Help others achieve breakthroughs with compulsive and binge eating using easy-to-practice tools and techniques that promote a positive and nourishing relationship with food. Some of the key highlights of this module include:
- The practical psycho-biology of appetite
- The cephalic phase digestive response and binge eating
- The psycho-dynamics of control and willpower
- Pleasure chemistry and overeating
- Breakthroughs using nutrition-dense food strategies
- The powerful and hidden gift of compulsive eating concerns
- Moving beyond cognitive behavioural therapy
- Practical short-cuts for transforming compulsive eating
- The impact of stress and relaxation chemistry on overeating
- Using bio-circadian nutrition techniques for fast results
- The hidden connection between body image and overeating
- The powerful effects of macro-nutrient balance on binge eating
- How to work and corporate culture impact overheating concerns
- The spiritual psychology of nourishment and a deeper hunger
- The influence of life transitions on compulsive eating
Chronic Dieting
Chronic dieting is a hidden contributor not only to emotional pain but also to many health symptoms that are wrongly diagnosed and treated. Learn how to identify and work with this powerful nutritional/emotional/lifestyle challenge using the principles of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition. Some key highlights of this module are:
- The potent effects of chronic dieting on nutritional status and health
- How chronic dieting impairs calorie burning capacity
- Chronic dieting is a hidden epidemic of the soul
- The special relationship between women and dieting
- The connection between chronic dieting and compulsive exercising
- Dieting, culture, and the media
- The secrets to creating a long term, sustainable diet strategy
- The influence of dieting on energy level and oxygen metabolism
- Confronting the false and outdated science of dieting
- The hidden effects of chronic dieting on digestive metabolism
- Working with complaints of “slow metabolism”
- Chronic dieting and the psychology of romantic relationships
- Using powerful languaging techniques to heal chronic dieting
- How to re-educate clients around caloric theory, dieting and weight
- Designing a diet approach that can truly transform your client
Energy and Fatigue
Lack of energy and the desire for more of it is a powerful concern that grips a fantastic number of people across the globe. Unfortunately, many of our strategies to battle fatigue leave us exhausted and without a true and lasting source of greater vitality. Our Training will provide you with an integrative mind/body/heart/soul approach to this important health challenge. Some key highlights include:
- Mind-Body Nutrition approaches to working with energy and fatigue
- Nutritional and metabolic influences on fatigue
- The hidden effects of food allergies and sensitivities on an energy level
- Core life issues and their effects on energy level and fatigue
- Somatic Psychology skills for enhancing energy
- The healing power of story in chronic fatigue
- Breathing, oxygen and energy
- How key soul lessons impact our energy level and metabolism
- The influence of thought and beliefs on fatigue and energy
- The bio-emotional impact of work, purpose and mission on energy
- The potent connection between digestion and energy
- Stress chemistry and adrenal fatigue
- Simple and effective nutritional strategies for more energy
Digestive Health
Digestive health has become a rare and precious commodity. Complaints of digestive distress, heartburn, bloating, and ongoing discomfort are some of the most commonly seen nutrition issues. Learn simple and effective strategies from Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition for increasing digestive power and function. Key highlights from this module include:
- The impact of stress physiology on digestion and assimilation
- The enteric nervous system – the brain in the belly
- Digestive status as a barometer for personal empowerment
- The emotional psychology of the digestive system
- Simple and effective protocols for common digestive complaints
- The importance of the gastrointestinal immune system
- The influence of food allergies on digestive health
- Cultural speed and its impact on digestion
- Digestion of food as a metaphor for digestion of life experiences
- The hidden connection between sexual abuse and digestive health
- How fear, judgment and self-criticism diminish digestive metabolism
- Breathing, oxygen, the relaxation response and digestion
- Quick and easy strategies for working with GERD (heartburn)
- Digestion, gut wisdom and body wisdom
- Important distinctions from Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine
Mood Concerns
Working with mood and depression is an important part of every nutrition and health coaching practice. Fluctuations in mood teach us powerful life lessons while calling our attention to key metabolic and lifestyle changes that are asking to be made. Our Training features Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition approaches that are practical, holistic and effective. Highlights include:
- The influence of stress physiology and stress psychology on mood
- Key nutritional deficiencies and excesses associated with mood
- Brain physiology basics for understanding mood fluctuations
- Impact of immunity on mood
- Insulin, blood sugar, food and mood
- How chronic dieting silently impacts mood
- Archetypal psychology approaches to mood and depression
- The spiritual psychology of mood – the language of the soul
- Powerful and simple strategies from Yoga and Buddhism
- The hidden psychology of depression
- Importance of macro-nutrient balance and mood
- Mood disorders and the psychology of perfectionism
- Feminine and masculine differences in mood
- Influence of genetics and family lineage on mood
- Understanding mood through the life cycles
Immune Health
A strong immune system is both a gift and a rarity these days. When the immune system functions with efficiency, we can navigate a toxic and challenging world with greater ease. At IPE, we teach a fascinating and creative blend of Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition approaches to working with immune health. Some of the key highlights of this module are:
- Nutritional strategies for improving immune strength
- Psycho-emotional influences on immunity
- The impact of dietary beliefs on immune health
- The profound importance of the gastrointestinal immune system
- How gastrointestinal immunity is impacted by thought and emotion
- Cultural and social influences on immunity
- Immune strength as a metaphor for presence
- Psychoneuroimmunology meets Mind Body Nutrition
- Soul Psychology and immune health
- The hidden transformational messages in immune challenges
- Key strategies for working with highly sensitive clients
- Simple Mind-Body Nutrition protocols for immune enhancement
- How the environment impacts immunity
- Somatic and embodiment strategies for low immunity
Women, Food, and Health
The special relationship between women and food cannot be overstated. It’s beautiful, powerful and rich in complexity. For this reason, it’s high time that we elevate a woman’s connection with food to the lofty place it deserves, and learn to understand women and nutrition from a fresh perspective. This is an important theme throughout our Training. Some of the highlights from this module include:
- Genetic/evolutionary influences on women’s relationship with food
- The powerful impact of culture and media
- Masculine and feminine distinctions in stress physiology and metabolism
- Feminine sexuality and its influence on eating habits
- Women, dieting and weight
- A woman’s relationship with food through the life cycles
- Archetypal Psychology and the feminine principle
- History-taking skills for women clients
- Woman-specific listening and coaching skills
- Working with teenage girls
- Insights into bulimia
- Working with Queen and Princess distinctions
- A deeper look at women and hormones
- Creating a feminine approach to nutrition
- Embodiment practices for women
Coaching Skills
Our training is designed to give you the tools, techniques, protocols and strategies that enable you to be an effective practitioner. We teach coaching skills that truly make a difference with clients, and that gets to the heart of how to successfully manage our relationship with food. Navigating eating challenges and nutritional concerns requires a specialized understanding and solid coaching tools. We’re proud to deliver an excellent education in this realm. Some of what you’ll learn includes:
- Coaching tools for the most commonly seen eating concerns
- Strategies for working with difficult clients
- How to help clients who feel “stuck”
- Coaching skills for working with women
- Coaching skills for working with men
- Effective communication with young people
- How to use “teaching skills” in a client session
- How to create a powerful first session
- Deep listening skills
- How to inspire your client vs. how to motivate your client
- Managing client resistance
- Tools for creating client compliance
- Soft coaching skills vs. direct coaching skills
- How to convey scientific information to a client
- How to measure progress and success
Coaching Business Module
- How to get started
- How to build your practice
- Practice management
- Determining your target market
- How to market and promote yourself
- How to attract clients
- Your program offerings
- Key facts to know for website development
- Using social networking
- Important communication skills
- Overview of Starting a Business
- Generating Your Brand “DNA”
- The Hidden Metaphysics of Business
- Your Relationship with Money
- Core Values of a Helping Professional
- Managing Inner Obstacles
- The Coaching Model
- Legal Do’s and Don’ts for coaches
Building Your Brand and Business
- Identifying Your Ideal Client
- Defining Your Niche
- Identifying Your Target Market
- Your Unique Perfect-Client Avatar
- Understanding Your Customer Pain Point
- How to Build “Know, Like and Trust” Factors
- Creating a Community or “Tribe”
Defining Your Business Model
- What are Your Services and Programs
- Getting Clear About How You Work
- Defining Your Rates
- Offering Support in Between Sessions
- Creating Packages
- Working with a Sliding Scale
- High-End Offerings
Your Client Flow
- Phone vs. Live Sessions
- Scheduling Clients
- Communicating and Interacting with Clients
- How to Create a Safe Space
- Intake Forms
- Client Contracts and Agreements
- Cancellation Policy
Setting Up Your Business
- Naming Your Business
- Understanding Professional Insurance
- Filing Systems
- The Importance of Business Banking
- Financial Record-Keeping
- Taking Payment
- Invoicing Clients
- Contact Management Systems
- Creating Your Support Team
- Backing Up Your Content
Marketing
- Highlighting What Makes You Different
- Elevator Speech
- Communicating About What You Do
- Networking
- How to Attract Clients
- Where to Market Yourself
- Copy for Website
- How to Build your List
- Using Social Proof
- Getting Testimonials
Building Your Website
- Website Options
- Buying a Domain Name
- Web Hosting Options
- Website Theme
- Website Outline
- Social Media Integration with Websites
Creating an Opt-in
- The Purpose of an Opt-in
- Designing an Opt-in
- Important Opt-in Pointers
Social Media Strategies for Success
- The Best Social Media for Your Business
- Understanding Facebook
- Understanding Twitter
- The Importance of LinkedIn
- Understanding Pinterest
- Using Hootsuite to Manage Social Media
- How to Create a YouTube Channel
- How to Create a Meetup Group
- How to Use Meetup to Build Tribe
- Basic, Moderate and Advanced Social Media Set-Up
Blogging
- Blogging Basics
- Important Pointers for Blogging
- Building Trust
Newsletter
- Creating the Right Newsletter
- How to Write a Great Subject Line
- Understanding Your Audience
The Flow of Information
- Understanding Copyright Law
- Internet Copyright Etiquette
Done for You Website Copy
- What is Mind Body Eating Coaching
- How is My Approach Different
- What is Mind Body Nutrition
- What is Dynamic Eating Psychology
Institute for the Psychology of Eating Review
A unique blend of holistic nutrition, eating psychology, and coaching.
Who is this certification for?
If you currently, or desire to work with those who have deep emotional ties to food that create a barrier to reaching their goals, this is the best online holistic nutrition certification for you.
200+ Hours of Videos and Slideshows
This is the most complete, innovative, and inspiring educational experience in eating psychology you can find. The Institute is the worldwide leader in combining results-oriented nutrition with a deep understanding of our fascinating relationship with food. Their curriculum is personally and professionally transformative, and our content is unparalleled in the marketplace. You’ll receive access to 7 information-rich modules delivered over 8 months. Each module has introductory videos with Marc David, Founder of IPE that outlines the important concepts in that module followed by 20-30 hours of narrated slide shows that dive deeper into the work. And you can access it all from anywhere in the world on your computer or mobile device.
Hundreds of Handouts
In addition to the video and audio classes, you’ll receive a powerful collection of written notes, worksheets, highlights, lessons, protocols and more that are included in easy-to-read PDF form. These handouts cover topics such as weight loss, body images, overeating, binge eating, digestion, coaching techniques, nutrition strategies, and so much more. They’re great for ongoing reference and reinforce your learning experience. And all handouts are downloadable and yours to keep for life.
Introspective Exercises
Each module includes optional exercises to help you deepen into the material. They are lots of the same exercises you’ll be giving your clients. At the Institute, they believe strongly that transforming your own relationship with food, health insurance, and body will greatly improve your skills and effectiveness being a practitioner. Most students report these introspective exercises to catalyze significant insights and breakthroughs within their own lives.
Live Q&A Tele-Calls with Marc David
This is a very important and unique possibility to interact directly using the Institute’s founder and primary teacher. Marc David can be an internationally acclaimed teacher and skilled facilitator. You’ll receive insightful feedback in one of the very most well-regarded and cutting edge leaders in eating psychology and nutrition. All classes are recorded for those who cannot attend live. Participate in 2 teleclasses monthly – over 16 Live Tele-calls!
Bonus Business Training Module
Their bonus business module delivers the same leading-edge information fact that leading business programs for coaches and entrepreneurs address today. Learn basic through advanced skills that will set you in addition to the crowd with approaches for building your brand, defining your business design, creating programs, on and offline marketing, social media marketing, and even more. This Business Component is definitely taught by Emily Rosen, Chief Operating Officer for IPE, and it is an enormous value for all those just getting started, or for anybody seeking to expand their practice or business.
Bonus Nutrition Module
Get a solid foundation in nutrition with topics that range from digestive physiology and anatomy to the basics of entire foods nutrition and macronutrient balance. This optional, holistic, evidence-based component is a great review and an effective way to understand the fundamentals. The core training itself includes a great amount of content at heart Body Nutrition, functional and clinical nutrition, as well as results-oriented diet recommendations. This bonus module is included at no additional expense for anybody wanting an obvious knowledge of the diet fundamentals which means you have the info you need to produce a powerful impact with clients.
Live Conference
All students are welcomed to wait for an optional live event because of their graduating class that’s held by the end of working out. Get motivated by IPE staff and fellow students, experience live client demos, hear new content, work in small groups, and network and celebrate with others. Marc David hosts this event combined with the IPE team. You’ll get the chance to meet up so a lot of your fellow students who are focused on making a genuine difference in the world. That is a popular and well-loved part of the training and a great way to launch into the next phase of your career!
Done-For-You Forms & Marketing Copy
They’re committed to giving you the tools to succeed! You’re provided with effective marketing and website copy to help you communicate your work and your message. The kind of copy that’s clear, catchy, and helps tell the world exactly what you’re about. You’ll also receive essential intake questionnaires, client agreements and more to help launch or elevate your practice.
Peer Coaching Program
In this optional part of the training, you’ll be matched with a fellow student so you can practice the skills you’re learning throughout the training. Each month you’ll receive topics and discussion points to explore with your peer coach. All sessions are done over the phone or Skype and at your convenience. This is a great opportunity to get grounded in your educational experience, learn how to work with phone clients, and connect in a whole different way to the material.
Private Online Community
Built into the training website, is an exclusive online forum for you to engage with fellow students and IPE staff around training content. Monitored by senior IPE Staff, this is a great way to have discussions with not only the IPE team but your colleagues from various backgrounds. There is also have a private Facebook group for professional networking opportunities. These platforms allow you to dive into course content, professional development, and your own relationship with food while receiving support from peers and IPE staff.
Downloadable Digital MP3 Recordings of Every Class and Call
The Mind-Body Eating Coach Certification Training includes over 200 hours of information-rich classes that you can watch or listen to by logging into our exclusive training portal. And because they want you to be able to return to the material for years to come, ALL the classes have been made available to download as audio files. You’ll be able to save them to your computer or mobile device and enjoy the material for life whenever you need a refresher or an infusion of inspiration
Just a handful of the extensive amount of testimonials