The Nutrition Travel Exchange
The Nutrition Travel Exchange is the first-ever travel exchange program created exclusively for dietitians. We partner with luxury tropical resorts to enhance their Wellness & Entertainment programming by providing engaging, non-diet nutrition experiences—just 2 hours per day—in exchange for a significantly discounted 7-night, all-inclusive stay for the Licensed Nutritionist (RD) and a companion.
Take your nutrition expertise and teaching skills somewhere tropical!
Currently placing dietitian members in teaching vacations at:
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Hyatt Ziva Riviera Maya
A family-friendly resort Viva Miches in the Dominican Republic A family-friendly resort Viva Tangerine in the Dominican Republic A family-friendly resort Viva Heavens in the Dominican Republic A family-friendly resort Viva V Samana in the Dominican Republic An adult only resort Hyatt Zilara Cancun An adult only resort |
Join Us!
Become a NTE member to receive updated travel week possibilities in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and other tropical locations!
Please note: this program is for anti-diet, weight-inclusive dietitians.
Weight management, "obesity", & bariatric work are contradictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long are teaching vacations?
7 nights, Sunday to Sunday. Travel days are activity-free days. Once a dietitian has traveled with this program and had positive class/activity evaluations, they are welcome to request multiple weeks in a row if desired and depending on resort-specific requirements.
Tell me more about the teaching part of these teaching vacations.
Our activities are engaging and hands-on, fully pre-designed and equipped with all the necessary materials and supplies, ready for use on-site.
What is the cost?
The resorts we partner with are all-inclusive tropical destinations, with an average price range of $2000-$7000USD for a 7-night stay. In exchange for delivering up 2 hours of NTE activities per day, the Nutrition Travel Exchange member pays only $400 - $600 USD (varies by resort) + prize/giveaway cost (~$80-150USD) per week, a significant discount from the standard all-inclusive resort rate. The $400 - 600 resort program fee covers the dietitian plus one companion.
The resort program fee is paid to Sound Nutrition and covers coordination and finalization of your teaching vacation and stay. Dietitian members are responsible for flights, transfers, and prizes.
What is not included?
Flights, airport-resort transfers, and prizes.
Additional reduced rate fees will apply when the NTE member brings kids/adults beyond the included RDN +1 companion.
FYI: For each flight taken as part of this program, a donation is made to Trees for the Future
What type of room will I stay in on a teaching vacation?
NTE members are randomly assigned to standard guest rooms, the same way that other guests are. What cannot be guaranteed is whether or not a NTE member + companion will receive a room with 1 or 2 beds.
I am a Dietitian but do not live in the U.S.
No problem! Dietitians who are certified and licensed according to the rules and regulations of the country they reside in are WELCOME to join! We currently have dietitian members from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the U.K.
How do I know if I'm approved?
After completing the application, you will receive an email from Meaghan at The Nutrition Travel Exchange. That email will ask you to schedule a brief video chat, after which membership suitability and resort suitability will be determined. Priority placement consideration is given to dietitians who embrace the IE/HAES/Anti-diet/"Wellness Trap" philosophy and demonstrate exceptional energy and skill in delivering nutrition content.
How do I book my vacation? Members receive email invitations for resort opportunities where they are considered the best fit based on the resort’s needs and programming style. When ready to commit to a specific resort and week, the member completes the trip registration form and submits payment to reserve their spot. Within about a week, members receive a confirmation from the resort along with detailed NTE programming information tailored to that location.
When should I book my flights?
Wait until your teaching vacation is confirmed by Meaghan with your confirmation code before booking your flights.
When choosing travel dates, be sure you have all your ducks in a row and are absolutely positive that week will work for you. Once your requested travel vacation week is confirmed, it means we have finalized and confirmed the reservation and your teaching vacation with the destination. There are no refunds, and an additional $300USD cancellation fee applies to teaching vacations canceled or changed <30 days prior to planned travel.
What if I have questions about an upcoming teaching vacation?
Members are welcome to email Meaghan with questions or concerns about upcoming trips anytime! We will also schedule a video chat 1-3 weeks prior to travel. While traveling, Meaghan is continuously available via WhatsApp for help and support.
What time of day to these activities occur during a member’s teaching vacation?
The NTE activities schedule varies by resort, depending on what has been determined to serve guests best. Normally, the 2 hours/day is made up of 2 - 3 activities. These 2 - 3 activities may be fairly back-to-back, or they may distributed throughout the day some days. RD members are aware of the schedule before committing to a specific destination/resort.
Is there a dress code for the time I am leading these activities?
Warm weather casual. No need for a suit or your typical work clothes - instead a nice pair of pants or shorts + nice shirt or sundress. Poolside and in-pool activities are not uncommon, so in this case a swimsuit or swimsuit + cover up plus our NTE hat is appropriate.
Do I need a work visa to do this?
Nope - we are not employed by or getting paid by a Mexican company, nor are we going to be there for >180 days. The activities offered through Nutrition Travel Exchange are general wellness and nutrition education experiences—things like cooking demos and fun, nutrition-infused activities. They are not medical advice or medical nutrition therapy. Our members are not employees of the resorts, and they are not receiving wages or salaries abroad. Instead, their participation is part of a short-term wellness exchange that enhances the guest experience. This means our contributions do not require international licensure or work visas, and always respect professional scope of practice.
Only non-diet Dietitians? Why is that?
Dietitians have the education and credentialing that ensures their legitimacy as a resource and nutrition expert.
Intuitive eating / anti-diet / weight-inclusive RDNs understand the importance of delivering nutrition information in a way that does no harm. This isn’t personal—it’s professional. Just like a diabetes education role might require a CDE credential, our program has eligibility criteria. In this case: a genuine, demonstrated anti-diet approach.
Not there yet? Consider getting certified as an Intuitive Eating Counselor (👉 intuitiveeating.org)—and consume everything Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CEDS has created.
How did this program get started?
If you are curious about how this all began, check out this episode of the Dietitian's Side Hustle Podcast with Katie Dodd (and while you're at it - subscribe! Katie is amazing and has great advice for RDs).
I applied for membership and have not heard back or was denied.
Incomplete applications do not process - eg lack of bio, CV, or incomplete responses.
Weight-bias or diet mentality existing in application, social media, or applicant's website will prevent membership.
7 nights, Sunday to Sunday. Travel days are activity-free days. Once a dietitian has traveled with this program and had positive class/activity evaluations, they are welcome to request multiple weeks in a row if desired and depending on resort-specific requirements.
Tell me more about the teaching part of these teaching vacations.
Our activities are engaging and hands-on, fully pre-designed and equipped with all the necessary materials and supplies, ready for use on-site.
What is the cost?
The resorts we partner with are all-inclusive tropical destinations, with an average price range of $2000-$7000USD for a 7-night stay. In exchange for delivering up 2 hours of NTE activities per day, the Nutrition Travel Exchange member pays only $400 - $600 USD (varies by resort) + prize/giveaway cost (~$80-150USD) per week, a significant discount from the standard all-inclusive resort rate. The $400 - 600 resort program fee covers the dietitian plus one companion.
The resort program fee is paid to Sound Nutrition and covers coordination and finalization of your teaching vacation and stay. Dietitian members are responsible for flights, transfers, and prizes.
What is not included?
Flights, airport-resort transfers, and prizes.
Additional reduced rate fees will apply when the NTE member brings kids/adults beyond the included RDN +1 companion.
FYI: For each flight taken as part of this program, a donation is made to Trees for the Future
What type of room will I stay in on a teaching vacation?
NTE members are randomly assigned to standard guest rooms, the same way that other guests are. What cannot be guaranteed is whether or not a NTE member + companion will receive a room with 1 or 2 beds.
I am a Dietitian but do not live in the U.S.
No problem! Dietitians who are certified and licensed according to the rules and regulations of the country they reside in are WELCOME to join! We currently have dietitian members from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the U.K.
How do I know if I'm approved?
After completing the application, you will receive an email from Meaghan at The Nutrition Travel Exchange. That email will ask you to schedule a brief video chat, after which membership suitability and resort suitability will be determined. Priority placement consideration is given to dietitians who embrace the IE/HAES/Anti-diet/"Wellness Trap" philosophy and demonstrate exceptional energy and skill in delivering nutrition content.
How do I book my vacation? Members receive email invitations for resort opportunities where they are considered the best fit based on the resort’s needs and programming style. When ready to commit to a specific resort and week, the member completes the trip registration form and submits payment to reserve their spot. Within about a week, members receive a confirmation from the resort along with detailed NTE programming information tailored to that location.
When should I book my flights?
Wait until your teaching vacation is confirmed by Meaghan with your confirmation code before booking your flights.
When choosing travel dates, be sure you have all your ducks in a row and are absolutely positive that week will work for you. Once your requested travel vacation week is confirmed, it means we have finalized and confirmed the reservation and your teaching vacation with the destination. There are no refunds, and an additional $300USD cancellation fee applies to teaching vacations canceled or changed <30 days prior to planned travel.
What if I have questions about an upcoming teaching vacation?
Members are welcome to email Meaghan with questions or concerns about upcoming trips anytime! We will also schedule a video chat 1-3 weeks prior to travel. While traveling, Meaghan is continuously available via WhatsApp for help and support.
What time of day to these activities occur during a member’s teaching vacation?
The NTE activities schedule varies by resort, depending on what has been determined to serve guests best. Normally, the 2 hours/day is made up of 2 - 3 activities. These 2 - 3 activities may be fairly back-to-back, or they may distributed throughout the day some days. RD members are aware of the schedule before committing to a specific destination/resort.
Is there a dress code for the time I am leading these activities?
Warm weather casual. No need for a suit or your typical work clothes - instead a nice pair of pants or shorts + nice shirt or sundress. Poolside and in-pool activities are not uncommon, so in this case a swimsuit or swimsuit + cover up plus our NTE hat is appropriate.
Do I need a work visa to do this?
Nope - we are not employed by or getting paid by a Mexican company, nor are we going to be there for >180 days. The activities offered through Nutrition Travel Exchange are general wellness and nutrition education experiences—things like cooking demos and fun, nutrition-infused activities. They are not medical advice or medical nutrition therapy. Our members are not employees of the resorts, and they are not receiving wages or salaries abroad. Instead, their participation is part of a short-term wellness exchange that enhances the guest experience. This means our contributions do not require international licensure or work visas, and always respect professional scope of practice.
Only non-diet Dietitians? Why is that?
Dietitians have the education and credentialing that ensures their legitimacy as a resource and nutrition expert.
Intuitive eating / anti-diet / weight-inclusive RDNs understand the importance of delivering nutrition information in a way that does no harm. This isn’t personal—it’s professional. Just like a diabetes education role might require a CDE credential, our program has eligibility criteria. In this case: a genuine, demonstrated anti-diet approach.
Not there yet? Consider getting certified as an Intuitive Eating Counselor (👉 intuitiveeating.org)—and consume everything Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CEDS has created.
How did this program get started?
If you are curious about how this all began, check out this episode of the Dietitian's Side Hustle Podcast with Katie Dodd (and while you're at it - subscribe! Katie is amazing and has great advice for RDs).
I applied for membership and have not heard back or was denied.
Incomplete applications do not process - eg lack of bio, CV, or incomplete responses.
Weight-bias or diet mentality existing in application, social media, or applicant's website will prevent membership.
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Complete an application to get started.
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*Wellness program as in the existing spa and/or fitness offerings existing at resorts, which call it "wellness". This exchange program is not meant for practitioners who define wellness with ideas of specific superior foods, behaviors or specific body types/shapes. It is used here to describe resort offerings, not to collude with the wellness culture associated with diet mentality.
