Nature of Job:
Nutritionists are responsible in studying the nutrients on the food that we eat. They are usually associated with the dieticians; they both study the importance of food intake but differ in duties. Dieticians focus on the food that should be eaten while nutritionists focus on the nutritional value of the food.
Basic Tasks:
- Assess nutritional value of the food and how it affects the human body
- Prepare food and nutrition programs and supervises food servings depending on the amount of food and the consumer.
- Study foods that may cause diseases.
- Recommend nutritional food to customers and dieticians.
- Supervise food in hospitals, schools, community, restaurants and other establishments that serve foods.
- Give advices and lecture about food intakes and its nutritional value.
- Conduct new research and expound previous researches regarding food nutrition.
- Helps dietician effective diet meals.
Education and Training Requirements:
- Must hold a Bachelor Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and hold an authentic license.
- A masteral or PhD in food nutrition or food science is highly preferred but not required.
- Must have seminar certificates and trainings focusing on nutrition and food.
- Must have at least 3-5 years experience working as a nutritionist.
Skills and Competency Requirements:
- Must have broad knowledge in food nutrition.
- Must have background researches about food nutrition, studied and formulate new discoveries on food.
- Knowledge in assessing nutritional value in different variety of foods.
- Know all different nutrients and vitamins.
- Ability to do in depth researches on food nutrition.
- Must have knowledge in food diets.
- Must know how to communicate and lecture food nutrition to a community or students.
- Ability to handle pressure and must be a keen observer.
Employment Opportunities:
Nutritionist can work in different fields. They can work as community, school or hospital nutritionist. Nutritionists are often associated with Dietitians, the two worked together as a team. Overseas opportunities for Nutritionist are very competitive. In
Work Environment:
The working place of Nutritionist is very clean and tidy since they study food quality and nutrition. They often work in a laboratory in hospitals, schools or community. Their work is not as toxic compare to other health professionals physically, but since they work more on researches they often undergo stress.
Work Hours:
Nutritionist’s working time is case to case basis, they stay for a long hours especially if they are conducting researches and work 8-10 hours in normal days.
Career Advancement:
Nutritionist’s career promotion will be depending on the length of commitment, the performance that includes researches and food programs. Nutritionist can be promoted as Food and Nutrition Supervisor or Head in hospitals, community and schools.