There is a growing trend in this country and worldwide that is causing more and more individuals to begin to watch what they are eating and how they eat. This has led to accelerated growth in the number of dietitians and nutritionists employed at a number of different types of facilities, from doctors' offices and hospitals to schools and food production companies. A Bachelor's degree in nutrition is required for most careers in this growing field.
Those employed in environments such as doctors' offices or hospitals are known as clinical dietitians. They work with doctors and other health care professionals to develop meal plans for patients with special nutritional needs. They may work with patients who suffer from obesity that is adversely affecting their overall health, or those with other serious illnesses that require specialized diets, such as diabetes.
Nutrition experts employed by public health clinics or health management organizations are generally referred to as community dietitians. They are most likely to help individuals and families in the community with valuable information on basic elements of nutrition such as grocery shopping and cooking for a healthy diet.
On a larger scale, management dietitians develop and implement meal plans for large institutions such as hospitals, schools, or prisons. They generally oversee a staff of other dietitians and food service workers who do the everyday work of menu planning and food preparation. The management dietitian is responsible for overall budgets, regulations, and generating reports on the effectiveness of the entire operation.
Those who work in private practices are known as consultant dietitians. These experts usually work one-one-one with those who seek out their services, helping these individuals to gain a better understanding of what good nutrition really means. Some may be called in to work with larger organizations in a specialized area, such as a team of athletes that needs a meal plan that both meets their specific needs and still provides a healthy diet.
Those employed in environments such as doctors' offices or hospitals are known as clinical dietitians. They work with doctors and other health care professionals to develop meal plans for patients with special nutritional needs. They may work with patients who suffer from obesity that is adversely affecting their overall health, or those with other serious illnesses that require specialized diets, such as diabetes.
Nutrition experts employed by public health clinics or health management organizations are generally referred to as community dietitians. They are most likely to help individuals and families in the community with valuable information on basic elements of nutrition such as grocery shopping and cooking for a healthy diet.
On a larger scale, management dietitians develop and implement meal plans for large institutions such as hospitals, schools, or prisons. They generally oversee a staff of other dietitians and food service workers who do the everyday work of menu planning and food preparation. The management dietitian is responsible for overall budgets, regulations, and generating reports on the effectiveness of the entire operation.
Those who work in private practices are known as consultant dietitians. These experts usually work one-one-one with those who seek out their services, helping these individuals to gain a better understanding of what good nutrition really means. Some may be called in to work with larger organizations in a specialized area, such as a team of athletes that needs a meal plan that both meets their specific needs and still provides a healthy diet.