Can you really make money as a non-diet dietitian?

Alright, let’s dive into this hot topic that’s probably keeping you up at night (along with that 8 PM coffee you swore you wouldn’t drink). Can you really make money as a non-diet dietitian?

Spoiler alert: Yes, you absolutely can.

But let’s break it down, shall we?

First things first: What the heck is a non-diet dietitian anyway?

For those of you who stumbled here by accident (welcome, by the way!), a non-diet dietitian is basically a unicorn in the nutrition world. We’re the ones who believe that health isn’t about the number on the scale or how many celery sticks you can stuff in your face before crying. Instead, we focus on intuitive eating, body respect, and helping people make peace with food. Revolutionary, right?

Now, onto the million-dollar question (or hopefully, the six-figure question): Can you make money doing this?

The short answer: Heck yes.
The longer answer: Keep reading, because we’re about to get into the nitty-gritty.

Let’s talk numbers

Okay, I know talking about money makes some of us more uncomfortable than trying to explain intuitive eating to your great-aunt who’s been on every diet since 1975. But if we’re going to make this work, we need to get cozy with numbers.

Step 1: Figure out your expenses

Before you can decide what to charge, you need to know what it costs to keep your business running.

Here’s a quick list to get you started:

• Rent (if you’re not working from home)
• Utilities
• Insurance (health, liability, etc.)
• Software subscriptions (EHR, scheduling, etc.)
• Marketing costs
• Continuing education
• That fancy office chair that’s supposed to fix your posture (spoiler: it won’t)

Add all that up, and you’ve got your monthly expenses. Let’s say it comes to $2,000 a month.

Step 2: Decide how much you want to make

This is where a lot of us start to squirm. We’re not used to putting a value on our work, especially when that work is helping people. But remember: you can’t pour from an empty cup, and you definitely can’t pour from an empty bank account.

Let’s say you want to make $80,000 a year. That’s about $6,667 per month.

Step 3: Do the math

Now, add your desired income to your monthly expenses:
$6,667 + $2,000 = $8,667

This is how much you need to bring in each month to cover your expenses and hit your income goal.

Step 4: Figure out your billable hours

If you’re working 40 hours a week, you might think you have 160 billable hours a month. Think again. You need time for admin work, marketing, bathroom breaks, and staring blankly at the wall wondering why you didn’t just become a professional dog walker. (Just me? Okay.)

Let’s say you can realistically bill 25 hours a week. That’s 100 hours a month.

Step 5: Calculate your hourly rate

Take your monthly goal ($8,667) and divide it by your billable hours (100):
$8,667 ÷ 100 = $86.67 per hour

Round that up to $90, and there’s your starting hourly rate.

But wait, there’s more!

Now, before you run off to change all your prices, let’s talk about a few more things:

1. Virtual vs. In-Person: The Great Debate

Remember when we all thought virtual sessions were just for tech bros and people who didn’t want to put on real pants? Oh, how times have changed.

Pros of virtual sessions:

• Lower overhead (goodbye, fancy office rent!)
• Wider client base (hello, people from all over the country!)
• No commute (more time for coffee!)

Cons of virtual sessions:

• Tech issues (is it just me, or does Zoom hate us all?)
• Harder to read body language
• Missed opportunities for in-person connection

Pros of in-person sessions:

• Easier to build rapport
• No Wi-Fi required
• Chance to show off your office plants

Cons of in-person sessions:

• Higher overhead
• Limited to local clients
• Have to wear real pants

My two cents? A mix of both can be the sweet spot. But if you’re just starting out, virtual can be a great way to keep costs low while you build your practice.

2. To Insurance or Not to Insurance?

Ah, the eternal question. Let’s break it down:

Pros of taking insurance:

• Wider client base (some people can only afford therapy through insurance)
• Steady stream of referrals
• You get to feel like a detective trying to decipher insurance codes

Cons of taking insurance:

• Lower reimbursement rates
• Dealing with insurance companies (need I say more?)
• Potential limitations on treatment approaches

If you do decide to take insurance, make sure to factor that into your rate calculations. Insurance reimbursement rates can be… let’s just say “less than ideal.” You might need to see more clients or charge a higher rate for your private-pay clients to make up the difference.

3. Packages vs. Single Sessions

Here’s a little secret: packages can be your best friend. Why? They provide consistent income and allow for deeper work with clients. Plus, they’re easier to sell than asking someone to commit to weekly sessions until the end of time.

Example package: “3-Month Food Freedom Journey”

• 12 weekly 50-minute sessions
• 3 months of email support
• A workbook that you spent way too much time designing
• Price: $1,800 (which breaks down to $150 per session)

See how that’s higher than the hourly rate we calculated earlier? That’s because packages often provide more value and require less admin time per session.

4. Don’t Forget About “Passive” Income

Look, I know you got into this field to help people, not to become the next online business guru. But hear me out: passive income can be a game-changer (passive isn’t exactly true, but it’s not trading time for money).

Some ideas:

• Online courses (like “Intuitive Eating 101: How to Tell Diet Culture to Shove It”)
• E-books (maybe “The Non-Diet Dietitian’s Guide to Surviving Family Dinners”?)
• Webinars (live or recorded)
• Affiliate marketing (just be sure it aligns with your values)

These can bring in extra income without requiring you to clone yourself or give up sleep entirely.

5. The Mindset Piece

The biggest obstacle to making money as a non-diet dietitian often isn’t the market or the clients—it’s our own mindset.

We’ve been conditioned to believe that:
a) Talking about money is icky
b) Helping people shouldn’t be about profit
c) If we charge too much, we’re no better than the diet industry

But here’s the truth: You can’t help anyone if you can’t keep your business afloat. Charging what you’re worth isn’t greedy—it’s necessary. And the more successful you are, the more people you can help.

So, can you make money as a non-diet dietitian?

Absolutely freaking lutely. But it takes work, strategy, and a willingness to value yourself and your services.

Remember:

1. Know your numbers (and don’t be afraid of them)
2. Offer value-packed services (whether virtual, in-person, or both)
3. Consider a mix of insurance and private-pay clients
4. Get creative with packages and passive income
5. Work on your money mindset

And most importantly, remember why you’re doing this. You’re not just selling services—you’re offering freedom from diet culture, a path to food peace, and a way for people to reclaim their relationship with their bodies. That’s worth its weight in gold (or kale, if that’s more your thing).

So, what do you think? Ready to show diet culture who’s boss while also paying your bills? You’ve got this. And if you need a cheerleader, just imagine me over here doing high kicks in your honor. (Disclaimer: No actual high kicks were performed in the writing of this blog post. I haven’t done a high kick since that unfortunate incident at the 2002 prom. Don’t ask.)

Need some help getting started? Sign up for one of our Starter Website packages!

Courtney Vickery, MS, RD, LD CEO

Courtney has 15+ years of experience putting together and designing marketing materials, WordPress websites, customer experiences, and workflows that help you save time and money. She developed these skills during her years as a Director of Corporate Health Services, Group Fitness Program Manager, Lead Wellness Dietitian, fitness and yoga instructor, and her own nutrition private practice, Vickery Wellness.

She also taught undergraduate courses at the University of Georgia where she graduated with the following degrees:

• MS/DI Foods & Nutrition
• BS Dietetics
• BA Political Science