Meet Lucette Talamas, MS, RD, LDN | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lucette Talamas, MS, RD, LDN and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucette, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Many do not realize there is a difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian. Simply said, all dietitians are nutritionists but not all nutritionists are dietitians. Registered Dietitians (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria in order to earn their credentials:
· Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a U.S. regionally accredited college approved by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement will change from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree.
· Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agencies, and foodservice corporations.
· Passed the national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
· Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain credential.

Besides the RD/RDN credential, some RDNs hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice such as pediatrics, renal nutrition, sports dietetics, nutrition support and diabetes education. In addition to RDN credential, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners to assure every practitioner meets minimum requirements for safe practice. Therefore, some dietitians have the LDN credential signifying they are licensed in their state of practice.

On the other hand, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist as this title is not regulated to any educational requirmenets. As you can see, there is a vast difference in amount of education, examinations, and experience required to earn the RD/RDN credential.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
With the goal of wanting to help others, I started off as a pre-pharmacy student at the University of Florida. I fell in love with nutrition during an intro to nutrition course, as I realized food is science. I switched my major to dietetics to focus on nutrition as a pillar for chronic disease prevention and management and to fuel healthy lifestyles.

After graduating from UF in 2009 with a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition, I completed my dietetic internship in Orlando where I then worked as a clinical dietitian for about two years. I later accepted a position in Miami as a community-based healthcare wellness dietitian where I still work in today.

Active in professional organizations for all of my career, I serve on the South Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics board as well as the Common Threads Miami Board. In 2018, I was honored as Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award from the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

In 2020, I completed my Master of Science in Nutrition and Wellness with an Entrepreneurship Certificate from Benedictine University online program as I sought to learn more about wellness and nutrition research.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love showing friends the side of Miami people don’t usually see. This includes paddleboarding in Virginia Key, exploring Bill Baggs state park, and catching the sunset in No Name harbor., beach bumming in Miami Beach followed by Taquiza tacos, a stroll down Lincoln Rd., citi biking through downtown Miami to Museum Park, grabbing a bite at Ojo de Agua and a walk through Brickell City Center, a walk in South Pointe park to watch the cruises, farm tours and wine tasting at Schnebly’s in Homestead, and can’t forget getting artsy in Wynwood! I love feeling like a local tourist on any given day- there’s so much to see and taste all around Miami!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate my shoutout to my family. They have been a consistent support system throughout my educational and professional journey. They are the ones that were there helping me pack and move countless times, support all my endeavors, and vibrantly filled my life with many wonderful memories so I’m not just a dietitian. Muchas gracias Mami, Papi, JP, and family especially all my primix!

I also dedicate this to my mentors, both dietitian and non-dietitians, in both hospital systems I have worked in that poured into me to help me become the professional I am today.

Instagram: @MiamiDietitian

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucettetalamas