Dietitians and Nutritionists (3132)

Job titles

• administrative dietitian
• administrative nutritionist
• clinical dietitian
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Nature of work

Dietitians and nutritionists plan, implement and oversee nutrition and food service programs. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, extended care facilities, public health centres, the food and beverage industry, the pharmaceutical industry, educational institutions, sports organizations and government, or may work as private consultants.

Fields of interest

• Counseling, helping others
• Providing others with care and assistance

Main duties

• Dietitians and nutritionists perform some or all of the following duties:
• - Develop, administer and supervise nutrition and food preparation and service programs in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, company cafeterias or similar settings
• - Evaluate nutritional status of individuals and provide nutrition counselling and consulting to health professionals, dietetic interns, community groups, government, media and individuals
• - Aid in the prevention and/or treatment of inadequate nutrition
• - Plan, evaluate and conduct nutrition education programs and develop educational materials for various audiences
• - Practice on an individual basis or as a member of an interdisciplinary team to determine nutritional needs of patients and to plan normal and therapeutic menus
• - Study and analyze current scientific nutritional studies and conduct research to improve the nutritional value, taste, appearance and preparation of food.
• - Work within industry in the development, testing and evaluation, and marketing of food and nutrition products or as a company representative supplying product related information to health professionals
• - Confer with other health professionals, community groups, government and the media to provide consultation and advice in areas of nutrition interpretation, intervention and policy
• - Supervise training of dietetic interns.
• * Dietitians and nutritionists may specialize in such areas as administrative dietetics, clinical dietetics, community dietetics, public health dietetics or research dietetics.

Employment requirements

• * Dietitians require a master's or bachelor's degree in dietetics, nutrition or a related field such as food and nutritional science or biochemistry
• and
• Approximately 40 weeks of supervised practicum training.
• * Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces for dietitians.
• * Membership in the national association, Dietitians of Canada, may be required for dietitians to practise.
• * Nutritionists usually require the same education and training as dietitians.
• * Registration with a regulatory body is required for nutritionists in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and (as a registered dietician-nutritionist) in New Brunswick.
• * Membership with the national association, Dietitians of Canada, and/or a provincial regulatory body is available for nutritionists who have the same education and practicum training as dietitians.

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