Sports Nutritionist

Fancy working with some of New Zealand's top athletes or helping the average Kiwi fitness freak achieve the best they can from their performance?

Meet Jane Owers, who's been working as a Sports Nutritionist for the past two years, helping just such folk get to their peak performance by eating and drinking the right stuff…

Why did you decide you wanted to be a sports nutritionist?

I wanted to be able to help other sports people use the correct eating and drinking strategies that could improve their performance and make their event more enjoyable. It's no fun "hitting the wall" or running out of energy and still you are a long way from home!

I have a background in sport, particularly mountain running and multi-sport (running, kayaking, cycling) and so I have tried many of the strategies I recommend and I believe in them!

Was there any other job you ever seriously considered?

Nursing, and becoming a Pilot!

What study and qualifications did you have to get to become a sports nutritionist?

I studied Human Nutrition at the University of Otago, (which is a fun place for students!) and then I did a post-graduate diploma in Dietetics. Then you can call yourself a registered Dietitian and you have gained a lot more experience and knowledge about medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. If you want to be a Dietitian then you need to study at Otago. I would recommend that.

I also did an advanced sports nutrition paper run by Otago. I did this from Christchurch via teleconference.
To be a nutritionist you do not have to be a Dietitian but I think it helps.

What other skills do you need to be a sports nutritionist?

You need to be a good listener and like working with people.
You need to be able to measure body fat, this is important for athletes who want to lose weight to ensure they are not losing muscle. There are courses that can teach you these skills.

What is the best thing about the job?

I enjoy it! You are working with motivated people, who are keen to learn and keen to experiment with what you suggest.

What is the hardest thing about the job?

Working with people is also tiring so you need to schedule in time for breaks and to catch up on paper work. Getting this balance can be fun!
Also there are some things you do (promotion, paperwork, research etc) that you do not get paid for when you are working for yourself.

What hours do you work?

I start late some days and work into the evenings so people can see me after work. Sometimes I do not finish till 7pm. But then I may not have started till 10am. (So a quick run in the morning is sometimes possible, or a sleep in!).

Do you find you have the time to do other things you enjoy? Is it hard to get a good work/life balance?

It is hard to get a balance, but it is important to make or schedule time for things you enjoy. If you work in the weekends then you need to take time off during the week. Its all down to planning! (I sometimes do talks in the weekends).

What advice would you have for girls out there who might be thinking of becoming a sports nutritionist?

Talk to a sports nutritionist or Dietitian.
You have to like food and cooking and be interested in food.
It pays to be enthusiastic about your work then it will be easier.
Human nutrition is a growing field (literally) and it is constantly changing which makes it all the more interesting. You need to be able to keep up with change/research.