How a Registered Dietitian Built a 20K Monthly Side Hustle in Nutrition Tech

Lucas: So Sarah, you're a registered dietitian, and your side hustle is consulting for nutrition tech startups. I have to ask, how does a clinician end up advising product teams on app design? Luna: Wait, so you just emailed them and offered your services? Lucas: That's a bold move. Did any of them respond? Luna: I love that you didn't wait for permission. You just created value and showed it. Lucas: Before we dive deeper, I know we're going to get into the numbers and strategy, but I want to mention something to our listeners. If you've found value in our conversations about career moves and side hustles, and you'd like to keep this podcast ad-free, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It's a simple way to help us keep doing what we do. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. Every little bit goes toward production and keeping the show independent. Lucas: So let's get into the details. You said you're making around twenty thousand a month now. How did you scale from that first pilot to that level? Luna: That's a big jump. How did you justify the rate increase? Lucas: What does a typical project look like? Are you just reviewing food databases, or is there more to it? Luna: Like, how do you explain that to a developer? Lucas: That's such a practical insight. And it shows why your clinical background is so valuable. You're not just a nutritionist; you understand behavior. Luna: What's been the hardest part about juggling this with your hospital job? Lucas: That's smart. I've heard from other side hustlers that boundaries are the difference between a sustainable gig and burnout. What about the weekends? Luna: So your background is in clinical nutrition. Did you have any experience with product design or tech before this? Lucas: And now you're making twenty thousand a month. That's more than many full-time jobs. Have you thought about going all in? Luna: That's a great point. Having that stability while you build something new is a huge advantage. Lucas: Let's talk about the business side. How do you market yourself? Is it mostly referrals, or are you doing outreach? Luna: Speaking at conferences, that's a big step. How did you get that first speaking gig? Lucas: I love that. You started with a free audit, and now you're a recognized voice in the space. What would you say is the one thing that made the biggest difference? Luna: That's a good lesson for anyone starting a side hustle: sometimes you have to give a little before you can charge. Lucas: And now you have a full pipeline. So what's next? Are you planning to launch your own app or write a book? Luna: That could be a great way to scale beyond one-on-one work. Lucas: Well, you're definitely not short on ideas. For our listeners, what's the first step if they want to break into nutrition tech consulting? Luna: That's practical advice. And if you're not a dietitian, does this story still apply? Lucas: I think it does. It's about leveraging your unique expertise, whether that's in healthcare, finance, or education, to solve problems in tech. Sarah's story is a perfect example of that.