Nutrition & Dietetics

Career Prospects

Dieticians and nutritionists plan food and nutrition programs, and supervise the preparation and serving of meals. They help prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and suggesting diet modifications. Dieticians run food service systems for institutions such as hospitals and schools, promote sound eating habits through education, and conduct research. Major areas of practice include clinical, community, management, and consultant dietetics. Experienced dieticians may advance to assistant, associate, or director of a dietetic department, or become self-employed. Some dieticians specialize in areas such as renal or pediatric dietetics. Others may leave the occupation to become sales representatives for equipment, pharmaceutical, or food manufacturers. The research dietician or nutritionists do research on nutritive value of food which help to understand the various components of food we eat and the right type of food which provides a balanced mix of the essentials like vitamins, minerals etc needed for the human body. Nutrition and dietetics professionals also work for Social Welfare; they work in organizations mainly public health departments run by government, which helps in improving the eating habits and consequently, the health of the public.