Career: Dietitians and Nutritionists
Eating right is one of the best preventive medicines there is. But people don’t always know what’s good for them. That’s where dietitians and nutritionists come in.
These pros work closely with a wide variety of people, spreading the good word about proper nutrition. Their duties vary, depending on their job. For example, they might develop nutrition programs for hospital patients, advise clients on losing weight, or prepare reports on the benefits of dietary fiber.
Dietitians and nutritionists provide medical nutrition therapy, plan food and nutrition programs, and oversee food preparation.
Did You Know?
- Some dietitians and nutritionists combine nutritional counseling with alternative medicine, prescribing acupuncture, homeopathy, or herbal medicine.
Are You Ready To...?
- Give a presentation on nutrition to a class of fourth graders
- Develop a low-salt diet for a client with high blood pressure
- Advise an overweight client on reducing fat and sugar in his diet
- Manage food services for a large hospital
- Teach an elderly person how to shop for food
It Helps to Be...
Good at science as well as outgoing and articulate. Your work may involve public speaking as well as one-on-one counseling.
Make High School Count
- Do your best in biology and chemistry to prepare for college science courses.
- Sign up for family and consumer studies.
- Build communication skills in English, drama, and speech classes.
- Volunteer or intern at a nonprofit organization, such as Meals on Wheels.
Did You Know?
- A recent university study found that iron may help make bones strong. Beef, poultry, fish, and beans are all good sources of iron.
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for dietitians and nutritionists to grow faster than the average for all careers through 2014.
Positions in nursing homes and state government facilities are expected to decline as more of these places purchase food from providers of food services. However, employment with these companies, as well as with outpatient care centers and doctors’ offices, is expected to grow quickly.
Compensation
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the average salary in 2006 for dietitians and nutritionists was $47,890.
