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“You are what you eat” is a quote that means you should eat to stay fit and healthy. To live beyond middle age without a frequent visit to a hospital. In the healthcare industry, a dietician is a healthcare professional who assesses and recommends nutrition to clients, carers, and colleagues.  

OTHER RELATED OR SIMILAR ROLES

• Clinical nutritionist

• Gerontological nutritionist

• Neonatal nutritionist dietitian

• Nurse-dietitian

• Nutritional advisers

• Nutrition experts

• Nutritionist

• Public health nutritionist

• Sports and fitness nutritionist

• Therapeutic nutritionist dietitian

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design menus and nutrition

• Write reports

• Advice about special diets

• Consult with other health professionals regarding dietary needs or restrictions

• Monitor food service to ensure compliance to nutrition, safety and sanitary standards

• Develop policies or rules on nutrition and disease control

• Test food products and equipment

WORKPLACE - WHERE DO THEY WORK?

• Hospitals

• Clinics

• Schools

• Universities

• Food and beverage companies

SKILLS NEEDED

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

To be a professional dietitian, you must finish and pass a four-year degree of Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (BS ND). This course will you understand how to document, implement, and monitor nutritional programs for an individual or group. In your last year of the course, you’ll be asked to undergo on-the-job training in community food manufacturing companies, food/beverage companies and health facilities. After graduation, if you want to be a registered dietitian,  you must take an exam conducted by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).

PAYSCALE

According to Payscale.com, the average salary of a dietitian is 245, 000 PHP every year, the lowest is 108, 000 PHP and the highest is 357, 000 PHP.

JOB MARKET OUTLOOK

People need the right nutrition to stay healthy and fit. You can’t just do anything you want 24/7. Getting and eating the right food for a healthy body isn’t simple and there’s always be a need for a dietitian. An increase in the aging population will raise the demand for dietitians.

PROSPECTS FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT

You can advance in this job by taking additional training or postgraduate degrees such as a masters degree or doctorate. You can also get promoted to administrative or managerial roles.
 

RISKS OF BEING AUTOMATED OR REPLACED BY ROBOTS

According to willrobotstakemyjob.com, there’s a 0.4% chance of dietitians being automated or replaced by robots. That chance can be lower if professionals stay in their human interaction role.

PROS AND CONS

Pros

• Help people get healthy

• Work in different places

• The pay isn’t bad. 

• You’re less exposed to the risk of infections due to handling specimens or visiting patients who have a communicable disease.

Cons

• You may work with patients who have shortened life expectancy. And losing them is disheartening.

• You have to follow and get updated on regulations.

• Schooling could be expensive and intense.

DIETITIAN VERSUS NUTRITIONIST

These two terms are often confused. Although they have similar training and education, a dietitian is often certified or licensed while a nutritionist isn’t.  Registered Dietitians are qualified to design diets and diagnose eating disorders while anyone who has a nutritional background or has studied a short-term course can call themselves a nutritionist even without a valid license. In the United States, however, a nutrition professional is called a certified nutrition specialist.