Information on Careers in Nutrition
Interest is growing in eating right and choosing healthy diet foods. Because of this trend, there is an increased need for professionals in the field of diet and nutrition. Careers in nutrition include nutritionists, dietitians, food service managers, sales representatives and health consultants. Additional opportunities exist in writing, and editing books and articles about food or nutrition.
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Registered Dietitian
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A registered dietitian is a health care professional who has completed a nutrition-related degree. Subjects studied include anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. Training also includes completing an internship or a program that includes supervised practice. You must pass a national board exam to be qualified as a registered dietitian (R.D.). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), to maintain the designation R.D., 75 hours of approved continuing education must be completed every 5 years.
Types of Dietitians
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Clinical dietitians provide nutritional services to patients in hospitals and other in-patient facilities. They develop nutrition programs for patients and evaluate and report results. Some specialize in a particular type of patient, such as diabetic patients or those who are overweight. Community dietitians work with groups of people, such as home health agencies or public health clinics. Consultant dietitians may have their own private practice or work with health care facilities.
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Nutritionists
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Nutritionists work with patients to apply principles of nutrition for disease prevention. They may provide educational programs to teach healthy eating to their clients. Although some registered dietitians call themselves "nutritionists," not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. Some states have licensing laws that spell out requirements for people using the title nutritionist, but in other states, almost anyone can claim that designation. There are no specific educational requirements to become a nutritionist.
Other Careers in Nutrition
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Dietetic technicians work under the supervision of a registered dietitian to plan menus and prepare meals for people with special nutritional needs, such as diabetes or food allergies. Becoming a dietetic technician requires an associate degree. Nutritional newspapers and magazines hire writers and editors to write nutrition-related articles. Careers are available in food service as sales representatives or food brokers in schools, restaurants or health facilities.
Considerations
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A career in nutrition can be truly rewarding. You may be able to educate people on healthy eating habits or conduct research to prevent illness. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for dietitians and nutritionists as of May 2008 was approximately $50,000. Registered dietitians with advanced degrees can make more than $60,000. Salaries vary by location, education and amount of experience.
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References
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