A degree in food science and nutrition opens the door to a wide range of meaningful and impactful careers. From addressing global malnutrition to innovating how food is processed and consumed, professionals in this field play a vital role in public health and sustainability.
But before entering the workforce, completing a nutrition or dietetics internship—especially abroad—can give you a significant head start. Internships allow you to bridge theory with real-world application, sharpen your professional skills, and stand out in a competitive job market.
Let’s explore what a global nutrition internship can offer, and the career paths it can lead to.
Interning internationally exposes you to a range of nutritional and food security challenges that may be very different from those in your home country. Programs like Go Elective’s Nutrition & Dietetics Internships in Kenya and Tanzania give you the opportunity to:
These experiences give you a broader perspective on the relationship between food, culture, and health—and prepare you for diverse roles in clinical, research, and public health settings.
Here are some of the key roles you can pursue after completing your degree and a hands-on internship:
Nutritionists work with patients to create evidence-based, personalized eating plans that support recovery, manage chronic conditions, or promote healthy lifestyles.
As a nutritionist, you might:
Your internship will help you gain experience working with patients of different ages and cultural backgrounds. In global health settings, you’ll also learn to adapt nutrition advice to low-resource contexts, making you a more versatile practitioner.
If you're more interested in the science and innovation behind what we eat, a career as a food scientist may be the right fit. Food scientists focus on improving food quality, safety, shelf life, and production methods.
Common responsibilities include:
This role is critical in ensuring the food supply is nutritious, safe, and sustainable—especially in regions facing food insecurity. The average salary for food scientists in the U.S. is around $66,000 annually, making it both impactful and financially rewarding.
In large institutions like hospitals, schools, or universities, nutrition services managers oversee food operations, ensuring that meals are healthy, cost-effective, and meet regulatory standards.
Their tasks may include:
Internships with high-volume hospital kitchens or community feeding programs can provide great preparation for this leadership role.
A nutrition assistant supports dietitians and healthcare teams by helping implement patient meal plans, collecting dietary data, and monitoring nutritional intake.
Typical duties may include:
Interning in a community clinic or elder care facility can prepare you for this patient-facing role—especially in populations with specific dietary needs.
Internships like those offered by Go Elective come with several advantages:
You’ll also gain confidence navigating the challenges of real-world healthcare delivery—especially in culturally diverse and underserved environments.
A food science and nutrition degree equips you with critical tools to improve lives through diet, education, and food innovation. But it’s your practical experience that sets you apart in the field.
By completing a nutrition internship abroad, you’ll gain insight into the global challenges of food access, diet-related diseases, and maternal-child health. You’ll return not only with clinical skills but with the empathy, adaptability, and cultural intelligence that every employer or graduate program is looking for.
Whether you aspire to work in public health, clinical nutrition, food technology, or policy, your journey starts with hands-on learning.
Recent Articles , Pre-health, Medical Electives, Nursing Internships,
Author: Go-Elective Abroad
Date Published: Jun 16, 2025
Go Elective offers immersive opportunities for medical students, pre-med undergraduates, residents, nursing practitioners, and PAs to gain guided invaluable experience in busy hospitals abroad. Discover the power of study, travel, and impact.