What is the job all about?
Principally the work of a nutritionist is to examine the health condition of their clients and determine a proper diet which must be adhered for the improvement of both physical and mental health.
So primarily it involves the following steps:
Analyse the health requirements of his client
Resolve nutrition issues and help implement healthy habits of eating
As per the budget of client, age, gender, health conditions and his / her choices, develops proper diet plan.
Assess the effects of the new diet plan, and modify it if required for better results.
Constantly keeping themselves updated with new research work.
Do documentation and monitor the progress reports of patients.
Organising, planning and conducting programmes concerning nutrition
Assisting in promotion of programs for health and disease control
Instructing auxiliary medical personnel and allied professional workers on food values and utilisation of food by human body
Advising the health and other agencies on nutritional phases of their food programmes
Studying and analysing latest scientific discoveries in nutrition for adaptation and application to various food problems
Detailed knowledge of metabolic balance program
The work of Dieticians involve the following:
Planning, supervising and instructing the preparation of therapeutic or other diets for individuals or groups
Determining the nutritional values of food and food products
Planning menus and special diets with proper nutritional value
Estimating and purchasing the required food, equipment and supplies for the client
Ensuring that the food is properly prepared and sanitary conditions are maintained in cooking and catering places
Instructing individuals and groups in applying principles of nutrition during selection and preparation of food
Preparing educational materials on nutrition
Dieticians are considered Nutritionist, but not all Nutritionists are Dieticians.
Dieticians focuses on food management, whereas nutrition focuses on the promotion of health through healthy food.
How to become a Registered Dietician?
In India, in order to become a registered dietician one needs to clear the RD exam conducted by the Indian Dietetic Association (www.idaindia.com.)
And to be eligible to write this exam, you need to have:
B.Sc. Home Science in Foods & Nutrition, Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition & Dietetics OR M.Sc. in Foods & Nutrition (only)
(This is a 3+1 format where the candidate must have done a minimum of four years in Home Science or Foods, Nutrition& Dietetics).3. 6 months continuous internship (or 3+3 months) from recognised hospitals listed on the IDA website OR 2 year experience in a multispecialty hospital as a full time dietician.
Can I go for it?
On a whole, with break of diseases, epidemics, rising levels of careless food habits, the need of nutritionist is on a rise. The profession will give immense satisfaction for having being successful in improving life qualities and maintaining standards of good health. After all at the end of the day, no wealth can be bigger than health.
Efficient in helping people by advising them about the special diets that they can take up
Efficient in educating health professionals and the public about nutrition
Proficient in establishing and addressing key health needs
Efficient in facilitating dietary changes
Skilled in supporting the work of other healthcare professionals metabolic balance program
In-depth knowledge about nutritional value of different food items
Knowledge of metabolism cycle and nutrient requirement of different people
Where do I begin ?
As an undergraduate you can specialize further by working to get the provisional registration from the Medical Council of India with a nominal fee of just Rs. 1000/. After registration you are required to work as an intern (usually unpaid) for a year in some renowned hospitals of India.
Further you may also choose to become the member of IDA (Indian Dietetic Association) by sitting for their entrance exam after six months of being a member. You can download the exam forms from their website.
After passing out they may be employed by food manufacturing companies, food departments of star hotels, famous food chains, physical training camps, research institutes, hospitals, films and modelling industry and so on.
A nutritionist can upgrade herself to become a dietician by studying the required dietetics course and getting a license (only in some countries.)
In Goa:
After 12th in any stream join College of Home Science Panaji Goa for Bsc in Home science.
Outside Goa
National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad : PG Certificate Course in Nutrition, M. Sc (Applied Nutrition)
Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, Karnataka
Maniben Nanavati Women’s College, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Marudhar Kesari Jain College for Women, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
University of Madras (Postgraduate diploma in nutrition & dietetics), Marathwada University
University of Mysore
University of Bombay
Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University
Employment Avenues
A nutritionist can choose to work with organizations like, hotels, schools, hospitals and many other government agencies as well as practice individually once they have been successful in establishing themselves. There are different types of dietician positions: clinical dieticians, community dieticians, management dieticians, and consultant diecitians. Each of these positions offers different career options, such as food nutrition services in hospitals, nutrition counseling in public health agencies and fitness clubs or clinical management in food service systems.
Monies
Initially it can be a little hard to start as a fresher. Nutritionist working in private hospitals can start with a salary of Rs. 5000/- a month. After gaining experience of one year it can rise to Rs. 10000/- per month. However with IDA certifications and other registration one can start their career with a monthly salary of Rs. 15000/- to Rs 20000/- and after an experience of five years it can shoot up to Rs. 40000/- a month.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/