Be A Dietitian

A dietitian is an expert in the field of food and nutrition and provides guidance to people to help them live the healthiest lives possible. Their daily job duties might include planning food and nutrition programs, and supervising meal preparation. They also spend time doing research, and educating individuals and groups on proper nutrition. Working with people with illnesses by modifying their diets in order to accommodate special nutritional needs is another important part of their jobs. Dietitians typically work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and offices of physicians or other health practitioners.

Career planning to enter this field of healthcare can begin in high school, by taking biology, chemistry, mathematics, and health classes. College course work is also necessary, with at least a bachelor's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area. Other suggested courses include business, mathematics, statistics, computer science, psychology, sociology, and economics. Many states also require that dietitians obtain licensure, certification, or registration. The Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) awards the Registered Dietitian credential to those who pass a certification exam after completing their academic coursework and supervised experience. Advanced degrees in dietetics are also available, although not required for entry-level jobseekers. A master's degree can help those who are interested in research, advanced clinical positions, or public health.


Salaries for dietitians can range from $35,940 to more than $63,760, with the median being $43,630 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,940 and $53,370. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,500, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $63,760. In May 2004, median annual earnings in general medical and surgical hospitals, the industry employing the largest number of dietitians and nutritionists, were $44,050. These figures correspond closely to those published by the American Dietetic Association in their 2005 Dietetics Compensation and Benefits Survey, which reported that among full-time registered dietitians working in the field less than five years, half earned between $35,000 and $46,000 in 2005.

There are many benefits to pursuing a career as a dietitian. Working with people everyday to help them lead healthier lives can be inspirational and satisfying for those with good interpersonal skills. There is also the sense of accomplishment gained from participating in research to help solve health problems and prevent disease through diet. A scientific approach and an analytical, logical mind are also helpful in figuring out optimal food combinations. Finally, dietitians can be great motivators, similar to personal trainers whose primary goal is to facilitate weight loss and weight management, and achieve optimal health for their clients.

Dietitians have become a part of mainstream media and even entered the blogosphere. Every micro-aspect of food is now discussed somewhere in a blog, whether it's about the wonders of garlic espoused in The Garlic Dude (http://www.garlicdude.blogspot.com) or about nutrition and fitness through the eyes of an expert in A Dietitian's View (http://www.roadtonutrition.com/).

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Individual dietitians in Hollywood have also received widespread recognition due to their famous celebrity clients. Many work with celebrities to help them plan diet and exercise programs designed for weight loss, which the celebrities then loan their face and name to. Suzanne Somers, Marilu Henner, Dr. Phil, and Karl Lagerfeld all have diet books out on the market endorsing a complete diet program with meal plans, exercise routines, supplements, books, DVDs, and infomercials. Caution should be taken when following these programs however, as they are not created by people with PhDs in dietitics or nutrition.

See also our Dietitian profession profile. Find out more about Online Health Care Degree Program and Online Health Care Degrees.
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Heidi Anspaugh is a writer/editor from the Bay Area who has been writing exclusively for the Internet for the past 9 years. She has written content for many different types of web sites, including search directories, technology news sites, music magazines, retail companies, consumer-facing lead generation sites, business resources, and software products.