Nutritionist/Dietitian CTE Intro

Eating right is one of the best preventive medicines there is. But people dont always know whats good for them. Thats where dietitians and nutritionists come in.

Nutritionists & Dietitians These pros work closely with a wide variety of people, spreading the good word about proper nutrition.

Their duties vary, depending on their job. For example, they might develop nutrition programs for hospital patients, advise clients on losing weight, or prepare reports on the benefits of dietary fiber.

Dietitians are often referred to as nutritionists, but registered dietitians have more education and training than nutritionists. Dietitians also have greater job responsibilities and earn higher salaries than nutritionists.

According to Salary.com, the middle 50 percent of dietitians earn between $48,298 and $57,575 per year. The top 10 percent earn $62,080 or more.

As a dietitian, you might work in any of the following settings: Hospitals Nursing care facilities Public health clinics Home health agencies Corporate cafeterias Food Manufacturers Private practice

Registered dietitians assess the nutritional needs of both sick and healthy people and then develop individualized plans of care to improve or maintain health.

Tools used by dietitians: An important tool that dietitians can use to help people understand good nutrition is the food pyramid.

Dietitians often recommend therapeutic diets therapeutic diets are special diets developed to treat disease or metabolic disorders.

Examples of Therapeutic Diets Regular diet Liquid diet Soft diet Diabetic diet Calorie controlled diet Low cholesterol diet Fat restricted (low-fat) diet Sodium restricted diet Protein diet Bland diet Low residue diet

Regular diet Balanced diet At times it has a slightly reduced caloric content Foods such as rich desserts, cream sauces, salad dressings and fried foods may be decreased or omitted

Which of the following pictures would represent a regular diet? A. B. C. D. E.

Liquid diet Nutritionally inadequate and should be used for short periods of time Uses: After surgery or heart attack Patients with acute infections or digestive problems To replace fluids lost by vomiting or diarrhea Before some Xrays of digestive tract

Which of the following pictures would represent a liquid diet? A. B. C. D. E. F.

2 types of liquid diets Clear liquid diet Water, apple of grape juice, fat-free broth, plain gelatin, popsicles, ginger ale, tea, coffee Full liquid diet Everything on clear liquid diet plus strained soups and cereals, fruits and vegetable juices, yogurt, hot cocoa, custard, ice cream, pudding, sherbet, and eggnog.

Soft Diet– similar to a regular diet, but foods must require little chewing and be easy to digest. Avoid meat and shellfish, coarse cereals, spicy foods, rich desserts, fried foods, raw fruits and veggies, nuts and coconuts

Which of the following pictures would represent a soft diet? A. B. C. D. E.

Diabetic diet– for people whose body does not produce enough insulin to metabolize carbohydrates. Avoid sugar-heavy foods such as candy, soft drinks, desserts, cookies, syrup, honey, jams & jellies. The new trend is to count only carbs since blood sugar levels are most affected by carbs. The patient then takes an amount of insulin based upon the amount of carbs eaten.

Which of the following pictures would represent a diabetic diet? A. B. C. D. E. F.

Sodium Restricted diet (low sodium or low salt diet) Used for patients with cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure or congestive heart disease or kidney disease. Avoid or limit addition of salt to any food, avoid smoked meats, or fish, processed foods, pickles,

Which of the following foods should be avoided on a low salt diet? A. B. C. D. E. F.

High Protein dietused for children and adolescents who need additional growth, pregnant women, patients before and/or after surgery, patients suffering from burns, fevers, or infections. Regular diet with added protein rich foods such as meats, fish, milk, cheese and eggs

Which of the following foods are high in protein? A. B. C. D. E.

Educational Requirements… Dietitians and nutritionists need at least a bachelors degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition, food service systems management, or a related area.

Employment of dietitians is expected to grow over the next few years as the growing and aging population will increase the demand for meals and nutritional counseling in nursing homes, schools, prisons, community health programs and home health care agencies.

Other workers who may apply the principles of dietetics include: Dietetic technicians Food service managers Health educators Registered nurses

As of 2008, there were 279 bachelors degree programs and 1l8 masters degree programs approved by the American Dietetic Association.

Is there a future career in the area of nutrition and dietetics for you?