Job Description

What: A nutritionist is someone who specializes in the study of nutrition, including nutritional deficiencies, sources of nutrition, and nutritional challenges that may face individuals or communities. Nutritionists have a healthy regard for food and its life-sustaining properties. They are primarily concerned with the prevention and treatment of illnesses through proper dietary care. Nutritionists evaluate the diets of patients and clients suffering from medical disorders and suggest ways of fighting various health problems by modifying the patient’s intake of certain food items. A fresher who has completed a course in Nutrition and Dietetics may draw anywhere between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 in a standard hospital or nursing home of repute. Several sports organizations, companies and factories hire these professionals for designing a healthy menu for their cafeteria. Spa’s and clinics hire dieticians to use them for designing healthy, low-calorie monthly food charts for their customers. When combined with a degree in hotel management, the salary levels could be between Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000. How: A bachelor’s degree with a major in dietetics, food and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related subject is the basic requirement of this profession. Courses in the sciences, such as biology, microbiology, mathematics, statistics, psychology, and sociology are core course requirements. A degree in Home Science or Hotel Management can also help in the knowledge regarding nutrition and dietetics. Conventionally, in India, it is the women who venture into this domain. However, due to ample opportunities these days, men are also pursuing a career in this field. Like all other health professionals, nutritionists are motivated by a concern to improve quality of life. Food manufacturers, advertisers, marketers, and some enlightened restaurateurs employ nutritionists to organize, develop, analyse, test, and prepare meals that are low in fat and cholesterol and virtually devoid of chemical additives. Where: After completing school, you may get admitted to a B.Sc. degree in Home Science if you have qualifying marks. Otherwise, in order to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics, you may pursue a one year diploma from any popular institute. Institutions:

• Lady Irwin College, New Delhi
• Punjab Technical University , Jalandhar
• Sam Higginbotom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Allahabad
• National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
• SNDT College, Mumbai