A Career In Nutrition And Dietetics: Know From An Expert

The field of nutrition and dietetics is one of the most trending professions in this era. Most people remain unaware of the perseverance that goes into becoming a health nutritionist and a qualified professional in dietetics, perhaps because of the easy availability of short-term courses and certifications on the internet. However, treating a patient of diabetes, for example, is not only the job of a doctor, but requires relentless sincerity, hard work, patience, effort, and calculation by a health nutritionist. Hence, I would advise everyone considering a career in this field to be sure that it is here that their passion lies, before they actually take the plunge.

When Should You Begin?

If you sense your interest and aptitude towards becoming a health nutritionist while still in school, it would be a great idea to begin early on and help yourself with a strong foundation. Preferably, you should opt for a combination of Physics, Chemistry, Biology in your 10+2. If your school offers Home Science as an optional subject, it will further help you get the basics set for higher education in this field. Home Science has 5-6 branches, namely, Foods and Nutrition, Fashion Designing, Interior Designing, Human Development, Resource Management, and Extension Education. When you set out to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Home Science, you will be required to choose a specialisation out of these subjects in your final year. ‘Foods and Nutrition’ has traditionally been the most popular of these among students.

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Qualifying As A Dietitian

To qualify as a dietitian, you need a bachelor’s degree in Home Science or a related subject, followed by postgraduation degree or diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics. Most of these postgraduate degrees and diplomas include an internship, which helps students understand the practicalities associated with the role of a dietitian.

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Dietitian Vs Nutritionist

There remains quite some confusion about the difference between dietitian and nutritionist. While the terms 'dietitian’ and ‘nutritionist’ are used rather synonymously, there is a difference between these two. Anyone who has completed a short-term certificate course in nutrition can call themselves a health nutritionist, while a dietitian should typically have a postgraduate degree or diploma in the subject. So the question now arises of what holds more value, and my answer would be that a dietitian will find more and better work opportunities because of their superior education and skills than a health nutritionist. These points precisely explain the difference between dietitian and nutritionist.

Understand The Difference Between A Nutritionist And Dietitian To Make The Right Career Choice For Yourself

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My Journey Into Dietetics

Now that you have understood the difference between dietitian and nutritionist, let me share with you my journey in this field. I opted for Home Science as one of my subjects in high school and went on to pursue a postgraduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics. After completing my formal education, I worked with the most-renowned dietetics clinic in Chandigarh for close to four years, which I then moved out of to pursue independent practice. Today, I am successfully running my own clinic with a large number of clients across India and outside it, including Canada, US, Singapore, etc. I have always believed that as a responsible professional, one should always stay on the lookout for opportunities and grab them as they come. In dietitian jobs and nutrition jobs, the sense of satisfaction one feels on having helped a client overcome medical issues is unmatchable.

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Some More Helpful Tips

A few points that you should keep in mind if you are considering a career in nutrition and dietetics are:-

Keep Reading | Practice in this field would require you to keep reading and revising your knowledge since food and science are two of those things which can never have a point of exhaustion to them. That is, new research and discoveries keep occurring everyday which you need to keep yourself abreast with to expand your knowledge in your career in nutrition.

Focus Beyond Physical Health | Your recommendations of food and diet will certainly help your client’s physical health, but to expand your experience in dietitian jobs and nutrition jobs, you need to choose your words very carefully to ensure that your clients stay motivated and encouraged. You will need to be available on phone calls or text, sometimes beyond your scheduled appointments with a client. This will help your clients to trust you fully and help you expand your client base owing to your dedicated service to them and expanding your career in nutrition.

So, think, decide, and take the plunge. Let your clients make you a part of their good books.

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Chesha Kukkar is a Chandigarh-based dietitian with extensive experience in the field, and has helped 1600+ clients of varying age groups in achieving their health goals. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics from Govt. Home Science College, Chandigarh and an internship in Govt. Medical Super Specialty Hospital, sec-16, Chandigarh. She can be reached at http://www.dietitianchesha.com/ .