If you’re preparing to apply to or getting ready to start your dietetic internship, you’ve probably wondered what interns actually do during their rotations. Getting a sense of what to expect can make you feel more prepared and confident.
That’s why we’re kicking off a new Dietetic Intern Day in the Life series. In each post, we’ll highlight a different Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship (BWS DI) rotation and share what the experience may involve.
During the community rotation, interns spend time in public health–focused organizations where they see firsthand how dietitians impact communities through education, advocacy, and food access. In this post, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what the community rotation is, examples of settings and intern activities, and insights from BWS DI interns who are at their community sites.
What is a Community Rotation?
Over the course of at least 160 supervised practice hours, the rotation ideally provides interns with opportunities to work with individuals of low socioeconomic status or with underserved populations.
The rotation is designed to:
- Introduce interns to the ways dietitians promote health on a community scale.
- Provide opportunities to work with underserved populations.
- Strengthen communication, program planning, and leadership skills.
- Connect nutrition knowledge to broader issues like food security, health equity, and chronic disease prevention.
Examples of Community Rotation Settings
No two intern experiences are exactly alike. Sites vary depending on where interns live and what opportunities are available in their areas. Here are a few common examples of settings and experiences:
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Programs
- Nutrition counseling for families, breastfeeding education support, and developing nutrition education materials
Food Banks and Food Distribution Programs
- Creating recipe cards based on pantry staples, designing nutrition handouts, and participating in food distribution events
State or County Health Departments
- Supporting health campaigns, chronic disease prevention programs, or data analysis for nutrition initiatives
Community Gardens or Farm-to-Table Programs
- Leading cooking classes, designing educational resources, or teaching families how to prepare seasonal produce
National Nonprofits and Health Organizations
- Contributing to large-scale initiatives through groups like the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association.
Meals on Wheels
- Supporting meal delivery to older adults, creating nutrition education resources for seniors, and assisting with menu planning or assessments for home-delivered meals.
University Extension Programs
- Delivering community nutrition education, leading workshops or cooking demos, supporting SNAP-Ed or EFNEP programs, and developing resources focused on nutrition, gardening, and wellness.
Wherever you rotate, you will gain a real-world perspective on how nutrition and public health intersect during the community rotation.
What Do Interns Actually Do During the Community Rotation?
While activities differ from site to site, all interns work toward the same ACEND-required competencies and learning objectives. How you meet these competencies can vary, but here are some examples of the hands-on activities you may experience:
Education and Outreach
- Get experience presenting nutrition seminars or classes
- Help with cooking demonstrations
- Lead or observe group education sessions, such as diabetes prevention classes
Counseling
- Provide one-on-one nutrition counseling under supervision
- Practice cultural sensitivity with diverse populations
- Use motivational interviewing to support realistic, personalized changes
Program Development and Evaluation
- Learn how to assess community needs and suggest program improvements
- Track participation and evaluate outcomes to see what’s working
- Get hands-on experience assisting with pilot projects or testing new class formats
Policy and Advocacy
- Gain experience updating nutrition policies to reflect current guidelines
- Sit in on meetings with local organizations and community partners
- See how decisions are made about distributing resources to meet community needs
Content Creation and Communication
- Design recipe cards, handouts, or infographics
- Write blog posts or newsletters
- Create digital resources with tools like Canva or Mailchimp
BWS DI Intern Spotlights: A Day in the Life
Molly (Spring 2025 Cohort) – San Diego Food Bank
What rotation are you currently in, and where are you completing it?
I’m currently in my community/public health rotation with the San Diego Food Bank.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I am a part-time intern, so I am in the office twice a week and work remotely one day a week. When I’m in the office, my preceptor will give me projects to work on. These can range from creating recipe cards based on the foods provided to participants in the emergency food assistance program to creating blog posts or infographics about various nutrition topics for staff or updating nutrition policies to align with the latest guidelines. Every few weeks, my preceptor will send me out to a distribution site where I will get to interact with members of the community.
What surprised you most about this rotation?
I was surprised by how versatile it is! I wasn’t sure what to expect coming in, but I’ve found that I’m never getting bored and always have something new to work on. I’ve been able to explore different areas of dietetics, such as education.
What’s one skill you’ve gained or thing you’ve really enjoyed so far?
I’ve learned a lot about the different programs offered by the San Diego Food Bank and about how the government provides funding for certain programs. I’ve also been able to work on my content creation skills through Canva!
Do you have any advice for interns getting ready to start their rotations?
My advice would be to have an open mind during every rotation. You will be surprised by what you really end up enjoying, and it will probably be different than what you thought!
Kelsey (Spring 2025 Cohort) – Greater Cleveland Food Bank
What rotation are you currently in, and where are you completing it?
I’m working on completing my community rotation at the Greater Cleveland Foodbank.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day is a little different at the foodbank, but this week I’m testing and sampling a healthy recipe, observing a nutrition education session, helping with a cooking demonstration, and being in a nutrition segment on a local TV station!
What surprised you most about this rotation?
I’ve been most surprised by how excited people are to learn to cook new foods. In my experience, community members have been interested in and excited about trying new foods and recipes.
What’s one skill you’ve gained or thing you’ve really enjoyed so far?
I have really enjoyed helping lead nutrition education sessions and cooking demonstrations for the community.
Do you have any advice for interns getting ready to start their rotations?
Say yes to every opportunity! Each site you visit will provide you with unique and memorable experiences– so say yes to as many things as you can! If you find yourself not enjoying a rotation as much as you hoped, take it one day at a time and remember that it is temporary. You’ve got this!!
Did You Know? FAQs About Community Rotations
Here are some of the most common questions we receive about the community rotation:
Where can you complete a community rotation?
During the rotation, interns may work in a variety of community settings, including, but not limited to: WIC, diabetes management centers, state or county departments of health, food banks, community gardening programs, and national organizations such as the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Who can precept a community rotation?
Often, a Registered Dietitian, but preceptors may also come from public health backgrounds. If a preceptor is not a dietitian, the BWS DI faculty will review their resume and qualifications before the site is officially approved.
Can community rotations include remote work?
Yes, if that’s how your preceptor is working. BWS DI interns must complete at least 1,040 total supervised practice hours, with a minimum of 700 hours completed in person. At least half of the clinical rotation must also be in person. This leaves room for up to 340 hours of remote experience, which gives interns added flexibility in their schedules. Remote hours might include projects such as creating nutrition resources, virtual counseling, or assisting with program development.
Final Takeaway
Community rotations are a core part of the BWS DI experience. The experience is not just about fulfilling competencies. It’s about building confidence, developing practical skills, and exploring the various ways dietitians impact health on a broader scale.
Staying open-minded during your rotations can spark new interests. From working directly with underserved populations to creating resources that impact entire communities, the lessons learned during community rotations extend well beyond the internship.
Next in our Day in the Life series: clinical rotations. We’ll cover what to expect and tips from interns who are in the rotation!