How to become a Dietitian

How to become a Dietitian Do you love food? Are you keen to pursue a career in science? Then becoming a Dietitian could be the perfect career move for you.These professionals use their expert knowledge on health and nutrition to give people advice on making good choices when it comes to their diets. They also assess and treat a host of medical problems that are related to nutrition.As a Dietitian, you can work in a hospital setting or in the community and your responsibilities might include:Running clinics for patients with specific dietary needs, such as diabeticsCreating meal plans for patientsOffering advice on healthy lifestylesHelping people make the link between nutrition and positive physical and mental healthOffering one-to-one consultationsGiving statements to the media about new products or nutrition-related researchIs it right for me?Being a Dietitian is ideal if you are keen to do plenty of experiments and research but also want to interact with people, as there will be lots of contact with people from all walks of life. You will need to be patient, insightful and, above all, tactful, especially when explaining your latest findings.A good Dietitian will be:Fascinated by food, health and nutritionCurious and eager to do research on a variety of topicsGood at explaining complicated issues to those with no science experienceNon-judgmentalGood at teamworkHighly organisedWhat's it really like? No two days are the same when you're a Dietitian. One day I might be offering help to someone with an eating disorder and the next I could be heading to a TV studio to discuss a breaking news story related to health - it's so exciting. I also love the fact that I'm using my science background to help facilitate people's journeys towards a healthier life. Get qualifiedTo become a Dietitian, youll need a specific qualification related to the industry, and most employers will consider a degree in nutrition as a pre-requisite.