Careers in Diets and Nutrition

Typical Job:Clinical, consultant, community, management.

Typical Work
Dietician and nutritionists usually work in the field of planning and establishing healthy eating plans. They plan and can help prepare foods and diets that promote a healthy lifestyle. Dieticians/Nutritionists usually offer alternative diet lifestyles for people in all walks of life. They develop meal plans for institutions such as hospitals and schools, they also conduct research and teach in both secondary and post secondary school. The work can be very specific such as working only with those with a specific disease or ailment or it can be broad such as working in a community health center or working planning meal plans for institutions. Typically dieticians/nutritionists work in the health care industry, for government (by applying there skills to institute meal plans) as inspectors, researchers or teachers. Some own there own private consulting firms, preparing meal plans for people who wish to improve their lifestyle.

Education
You can obtain a bachelor's degree in Dietetics education and this is the best way to enter the field. A program in Dietetics or nutrition will usually last for 4-5 years and will provide you with in-class and in-lab training. Following completion of your degree you will need to complete an internship in some countries before you can become a fully certified dietician (ex. U.S.) while other countries do not require this internship. You can also obtain a technical diploma equivalency in nutrition or dietetics but your salary and job opportunities will be less than if you had a bachelor's degree. If you wish to do research or work in the public health sector you may need to obtain a graduate degree or a PhD. Some of the finer schools that offer Dietetics or Nutrition programs are listed below:

Top Schools for Dietetics
University of California, Davis
Cornell University
University of Westminster
University of Guelph
University of Leeds
University of Maryland

Skills/Interests
Skills include knowledge of biology, food preparation, chemistry, physiology, dieting, biochemistry and sociology. Interests should include food preparation, meal planning and nutrition, sciences of biology, chemistry and physiology.

Salary Range
$25, 000 - $58, 000

Associations and Organizations
The American Dietetic Association - http://www.eatright.org/
International Confederation of Dietetic Association http://www.internationaldietetics.org/
The Nutrition Society - http://www.nutritionsociety.org/

Other career choices