Your gut deserves the good stuff!

"Therapeutic diets, healthy eating goals, and non-diet approaches to better health are all on the table as we work together towards a better quality of life!"

Why Choose a Registered Dietitian?

All Registered Dietitians are Nutritionists, but not all Nutritionists are Dietitians! The Academy of Nutrition and Dietitics explains as follows:

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RDN credential:

Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org.
Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Some RDNs hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice. These are awarded through CDR, the credentialing agency for the Academy, and/or other medical and nutrition organizations and are recognized within the profession, but are not required. Some of the certifications include pediatric or renal nutrition, sports dietetics, nutrition support and diabetes education.

In addition to RDN credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. Frequently these state requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RDN.

Joanna Smyers, MS, RDN, LD
Greenville, SC

E-mail: rdn@thefoodnerdette.com

Hi, I'm Joanna Smyers - Registered Dietitian, foodie, mom, over-achiever, and Lady Boss. I'm also a nerd. Seriously though, I am a total nerd about food, nutrition, science, gardening, and LOTS more! I'm passionate about guiding clients to an improved quality of life through better health!

My journey into the nutrition field was a bit non-traditional. After spending nearly 10 years in Grocery Retail Management, I had gained a ton of great information about selecting and purchasing high-quality ingredients. I really enjoyed the constant influx of new information, but I also wanted to make a bigger difference in the world. In 2009, my brother underwent a gut-wrenching surgery due to complications from a connective tissue disorder that he inherited from our late mother. I found myself talking eagerly with Clinical Dietitians that were overseeing his nutrition care while in the hospital. This was my first experience with therapeutic diets, and I was FASCINATED at how different therapeutic diets contributed so much to the healing process - I wanted to learn it all! A year later, I was reading everything I could about breastfeeding my son and transitioning to traditional foods. Again, here I was consuming everything I could find on nutrition - the effect of proper nutrition on growth and development as it relates to a lifestyle of healthy habits! I had discovered my passion, and decided to pursue a fulfilling career in Dietetics.

I completed my undergrad and Master's degrees at Clemson University, and my Dietetic Internship through Iowa State University. All while acing exams, completing supervised rotations, commuting, raising a toddler, co-owning a restaurant, and working as a researcher and nutrition educator. You remember when I said I was an over-achiever? Yeah. I went all in! And it wasn't easy to balance it all while providing a healthy, balanced diet for my family on a budget. But if I could do it successfully while juggling ALL of the hats, so can you - and I'm here to share my tips, tricks, and experiences with you! Therapeutic diets, healthy eating goals, and non-diet approaches to better health are all on the table as we work together towards a better quality of life!

I have lived in Greenville, SC most of my life (though I LOVE to travel), and am accepting virtual client appointments across South Carolina!

Education

Clemson University, Clemson, SC

B.S. Food Science, Concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics, Minor in Chemistry; Cum Laude; 2014

M.S. Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Sciences; 2015

Additional graduate coursework in Applied Health Research and Evaluation

Iowa State University of Science and Technology

Graduate Certificate in Dietetics Internship, Concentration in Technology in Health Promotion; 2017

Certifications

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Commission on Dietetic Registration

#86024647

Licensed Dietitian

SC #1691

Professional Leadership and Awards

2019-2020 President, Piedmont Dietetic Association
2019 PDA Continuing Education Scholarship Recipient, Piedmont Dietetic Association
2018-2019 President-Elect, Piedmont Dietetic Association
2018-2019 Membership Committee Chair, South Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
2017 Helen Reilly Cahill Scholarship Recipient, Iowa State University of Science and Technology
2016-2018 Nominating Chair, Piedmont Dietetic Association
2016-2017 LiveWell On the Menu Lead Consultant, LiveWell Greenville
2015-2017 Community/Public Health Mentor, Piedmont Dietetic Association
2015-2016 Board Secretary, Piedmont Dietetic Association
Spring 2015 House of Delegates Meeting Student Member, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Fall 2014 House of Delegates Meeting Student Scribe, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
2014-2015 Student Survey Reviewer, Nutrition Education for the Public & Public Health Community Nutrition Practice Groups, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
2014 Outstanding Dietetics Student Award Recipient, Piedmont Dietetic Association
2014 Outstanding Dietetics Student Award Nominee, SC Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
2014 Burris-Cromer Memorial Scholarship Recipient, SC Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics