Having health and fitness goals is very popular amongst people, especially when the new year rolls around. But since not everyone is an expert in diet and fitness, people generally need to consult with a dietician or nutritionist. If this is the career you would like to pursue, then this is where you come in! A dietician’s job is to consult with their patients and understand their health and diet needs, formulate meal and diet plans to abide by their clients’ needs, continuously evaluate and document a patient’s progress and re-develop their diet, as well as keeping up-to-date on new developments in the nutritional field and educate people on these new findings.

If you are passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and you find yourself encouraging others to meet their goals, then this may be the job for you. Part of the job description is to have a strong understanding of the chemical composition of food and how it impacts the body, so if you have a passion for biology, then that is another reason to consider this career. Here is how you can work your way into a healthy career as a dietician:

What are the perks of the job?

The joy of helping people reach their fitness goals is one of the biggest perks associated with this career. According to Payscale, It also has a sustainable salary with an average income of $59,863 (which stands above the national average of $51,000, according to Workopolis). Being a dietician can also be a relatively low-stress job, especially if you go the entrepreneurial route and become a self-employed dietician with your own clinic where you can set your own hours.

What are some of the setbacks?

Getting ahead as a dietitian can be complicated as an entry-level career in the field requires a bachelor’s degree, but further advancement in the field may require a master’s degree. This level of education can be unaffordable for many students or can present a strong barrier if school is not their strong suit. However, the dedicated student can earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree to succeed in their field. Another potential issue is that dietitians must have strong people skills and regularly interact with customers and clients. There can be times when clients are difficult to consult with which can be stressful for some dietitians.

How can I grow with this career?

An entry-level job within the field can enjoy a job as an associate or dietitian in a health clinic. As you gain more experience within the field and possibly gain more educational certificates and credit, you could eventually become a researcher within the field, public health representative or an advanced clinical dietitian. Otherwise, you could try your hand at running your own clinic and run your own set of registered staff. There are plenty of options for the dietitians willing to combine their nutrition skills with other skills.

That’s all great, but could I be hired for other careers?

Having a bachelor’s degree in science with a specialization in dietetics can make you adaptable for other directly related careers, like being a dietetic technician. There are other second- and third-tier careers that you would be qualified for, such as a cooking or baking career with your knowledge of food, educational roles such as being a professor within the field or a high school health teacher or having a career in an entry-level nursing job.

Reference:

MyPlan.com, “Dietetics/Dietitan (RD)”: https://www.myplan.com/majors/dietetics-dietitian-rd/related-careers-51.3101.html

PayScale, “Registered Dietician Salary (Canada): https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Registered_Dietitian/Salary

Truity, “Dietician or Nutritionist”: https://www.truity.com/career-profile/dietitian-or-nutritionist

Study.com, “Dietician: Educational Requirements”: https://study.com/articles/Dietitian_Educational_Requirements.html