Dietitian Course, Career Details
Dietetics is the science of managing food and nutrition to promote health. Inappropriate
eating habits can lead to many major diseases. The quality of life depends on the
quality of food we eat. Dieticians or nutritionists help to promote good health
through corrective eating habits, thus improving the quality of life. They assist
people in planning meals depending on their age, sickness or work routine, counsel
and educate them about healthy eating- selection and preparation of food items according
to the principles of nutrition and evaluate and make changes in their clients’ diet
periodically.
Eligibility:
A candidate should have passed 10+2 (PCB) and home science to be eligible for B.Sc.
in nutrition and dietetics course. Some universities also offer postgraduate diploma
courses in dietetics and nutrition. The candidate has to appear for entrance exam
conducted by colleges. Besides B.Sc and M.Sc there are also 4 years food technology
courses after 10+2 in science stream. There is also 2 years Master and PG Diploma
course in Dietitian and Public Health Nutrition (DDPHN). Those with bachelor’s degree
in science, home science, hotel management & catering technology, microbiology,
biochemistry and medicine are eligible for PG or Diploma.
Career Options:
Nutritionist and dieticians could find employment in hospitals, health and recreation
clubs, canteens, nursing care facilities, catering departments of big hotels, research
labs of food manufacturers, government’s health departments etc. They can also work
as consultants. They could also find opening in mass media where top priority is
given to propagating vital information on healthy living. The major fields where
a dietician or nutritionist can work are food service field, institutional catering,
health care, research and development and social welfare. Food service field includes
food catering service, restaurants etc. where professionals can do menu planning,
monitoring the food preparation etc. Some dieticians and nutritionists can work
in the field of institutional catering. They plan, supervise and prepare nutritious
and well balanced meals for schools, colleges, factories or office cafeterias etc.
There is also a lot of scope in the administrative or management side. Their work
involves estimation and purchase of food supplies and equipment, receiving, checking
and taking inventories of provision etc. Some professionals are also working as
clinical or therapeutic dietician or nutritionists. They have to prepare diet charts
and monitor the results of dietary therapy and maintain records. Research and development
is also another area of work for dietetics and nutritionists. This involves conducting
research on various food items to ensure their quality as well as studying the effects
on the body in the chemistry lab. Organizations involved in food product manufacture
use the services of the nutritionists or dietician to plan new products as well
as to check the nutritional quality of their products. Research careers occur mainly
in universities, specialist institutions, food product manufacturing companies and
hospitals. Nutrition and dietetics professionals also work for social welfare like
public health departments run by the government where eating habits are under supervision
and improvised to improve public health.
List of Institutes
for Nutrition and Dietetics Courses in India:
- Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University: Home Science college, Saifabad, Andhra
Pradesh
- Allahabad Agricultural Institute Deemed University, Allahabad
- Assam Agricutural University: College of Home Science, Jorhat (Assam)
- Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore
- B.C.M. (Bishop Choolparambil Memorial) College for Women, Kottayam Kerla
- Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Rajasthan
- Dr. NGP Arts and Science College, Tamilnadu
- Ethiraj College for Women, Tamilnadu
- Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
- Gandhigram Rural Institute, Tamilnadu
