Diet plays a key role in the promotion of health and happiness of a person. A good and well-balanced diet improves the quality of life while a bad diet could lead to illness and diseases. Dietetics and nutritionists are experts in this field of study - while dietetics is associated with food administration, nutrition is related to the interaction of nutrients in the food.

Dietitians are experts at understanding and putting into practice the scientific and medical research associated with food and health. They design various food and nutritional programs to support the promotion of health and control of diseases arising out of malnutrition. They also give valuable advices to people and help them make practical decisions about their food, nutrition, and overall health.They will not only evaluate, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems but also try to inform individuals about diet and nutrition in order to support good health and to create health awareness and to prevent diseases among people.Sometimes they even supervise activities of a section who is involved in providing quantity food services, counsel individuals.

The job requirement of a dietitian could be to:

• Consider nutritional requirements, food limitations on consulting with physicians and develop and device diet plans and offer nutritional counselling of patients or clients.
• Advise patients and their families on nutritional values, dietary plans and diet changes, food selection and preparation.
• Oversee meal preparations in schools and hospitals and to check if they follow the nutritional standards
• Work with other healthcare specialists to offer a multidisciplinary healthcare method and to provide services to all sections of the society irrespective of their economic conditions and within a budget that fits all sections of the people.

Skills needed to become a Dietitian:

• Active listening is an essential attribute to be able to listen to the clients patiently and accurately.
• Instructing skills to teach others how to follow a good health program.
• Great communication skills to convey information in an understandable way.
• Good writing skills are necessary to convey information in a written and easy to remember format
• Time Management skills are important to manage one’s own time and the time of others.
• Critical thinking is needed to formulate alternative solutions, arrive at reasonable conclusions.
• Active learning skills, judgement, and decision-making are important for understanding and learn latest developments in nutritional filed and enhance problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Social perceptiveness and service orientation is needed to be aware of client’s problems, their reactions and understanding their psychological issues as well.
• Monitoring skills are needed to analyse the performance of self, other individuals, or organizations to make enhancements and accordingly take corrective actions.
• Persuading skills are essential to be able to persuade others to change their minds or behavior.

Knowledge, Experience, Education:

Apart from the expected usual knowledge related to the food department, a dietitian should also need to have the knowledge in assessing customer needs, meeting quality standards and evaluating customer satisfaction. They should have a reasonable knowledge of the English language and awareness of human behavior in general. Elementary knowledge of procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions among people and for career counselling and guidance. Having basic knowledge of chemistry, mathematics and a few techniques for planting, growing, food products also helps.

Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files, and records, transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology will make the job of a dietician easier while working with various clientele.

Besides all these, they can also work as a private consultant or private practitioner.

The role of dietitian has come a long way since early 1900 though the significance of their role is still unknown to a lot of people. The dietitian is the connection between a patient and medical team or physician in assisting difficult choices making about nutrition care. As a dietitian, you have the opportunity to work in many diverse areas and with many diverse groups of patients. The job can be flexible and many dietitians work part-time as well. If you want to heal people and their bodies through the right diet and exercise, then a dietitian’s job is perfect for you.