Career Course ::: Career In Nutrition and Dietetics
No one can deny the importance of nutritious diet as one of the significant requirements for good health. If food is not taken in appropriate quantity or if it lacks in nutrition value, it may cause severe health problems. And there lies the importance of role of nutritionists and dietitians.
A nutritionist's usual jobs include conducting research on the composition and nutritive values of various diets and meals and feeding programmes, conducting nutrition surveys and other food programmes. He evaluates food for nutrition and formulates balanced diet for people of different age, physical conditions and strengths. It is his duty to plan organize and conduct nutrition programmes, which promote health and control diseases that are caused by nutritional deficiency.
To plan or prepare diets that is appetizing and suitable for consumption by patients suffering from various diseases; to render advise on planning nutritious diets which is within affordable limits, how to change food habits, and how to improve health through diet are some of the important functions of a dietitian.
Nutritionists and Dietitians generally find employment in hospitals, airlines, maternity and child health care centres, homes for the physically handicapped, mentally retarded persons, institutions imparting training in dietetics, nutrition or public health, hotels, beauty clinics, institutional canteens and cafeterias.