Career in Nutrition and Dietetics

Nutrition and Dietetics overview

Nutrition and Dietetics is an exciting career option who have passed 12th standard. The importance of Nutrition and Dietetics increases many times if one pursues bachelor in Nutrition and Dietetics or hotel management. It further opens array of job avenues after completing of higher studies. Gone are the days when only women like to venture into this field. After penetration of liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG), a large pool of men are also getting lucrative employment in this field. Nutrition has generated vast job opportunities across the world, especially in the developed nations. There is no as such dearth of job for the deserving candidate who knows the nuances of nutrition and dietetics and completes the course from the premier institutions or colleges.

 

Nutrition and Dietetics course information

If you are interested in nutrition and dietetics, you may join Diploma, Degree or Post graduate course. Doing certificate course is not so useful. After passing 12th standard, one may pursue diploma course.

 

Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics

There are various courses available in Diploma viz. Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education, Diploma in Dietetics, Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics, Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition, Diploma in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition, Diploma in Nutrition and Food Technology. The course duration is of 2-3 years. Some institutes also offer distance courses in Diploma (see the list below).

 

B.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics

After passing 12th standard from science stream, one may go for B.Sc. in nutrition and dietetics. It is of 3 years duration course. There are various courses available of B.Sc. nutrition and dietetics like B.Sc. in Clinical Nutrition, B.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics, B.Sc. in Food Science and Nutrition, B.Sc. in Applied Nutrition, B.Sc. in Dietetics and B.Sc. in Home Science (Nutrition and Food Science specialization)

 

Post graduate in Nutrition and Dietetics

To become specialize in the field, one can pursue MA and PG diploma in nutrition and dietetics. The disciplines available for MA and PG diploma in nutrition and dietetics are: Clinical nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Pediatrics nutrition, Food science technology, Sports nutrition dietetics, Gerontological nutrition, renal nutrition. The course duration for Post graduate is 2 years while for PG Diploma, it is 1 year. After completion of MA, one can go for M Phil. and PhD.

When to join Nutrition and Dietetics?

Nutrition and Dietetics is one of the important career options. It makes you financially stable and gives socially recognition if you go for the course just after 12th standard. Starting it early means you can complete your course and higher studies like MA, MPhil and PhD well in time.

 

Job options in Nutrition and Dietetics

If you have completed your course successfully from the leading institution and having interest in cooking and exploring the cuisine varieties of different countries, Nutrition and Dietetics throws numerous jobs options. The job avenues are in increasing mode because of its very relevance in the developed nations. The discipline offers jobs not only in hotels, motels, government sectors but also has vast job opportunities in educational institutional for teaching purposes. However, to go higher in the career graph, one has to be good in cooking, know the finer nuances of cuisines of various countries along with command in communication and interpersonal skills

Job prospects of nutrition and dietetics

It has bright job opportunities. The deserving candidate can get good placement in the following firms.

  • Hotels
  • Motels
  • Cruise lines
  • Nursing homes
  • Government health organization
  • Shell
  • Maersk

 

Career avenues in Nutrition and Dietetics

The career prospects and job opportunities in nutrition and dietetics are huge. After passing even Diploma in nutrition and dietetics, one can get good placement at a reputed organization. To go for the discipline is not a risk at all. Your career graph surprises everyone, if you pursue higher studies in the discipline. There is a good chance of employment in Hyatt Corporation, Big Hotels, like Taj Group, Le Meridian, etc., Accor Hospitality, Vatika Group, Government hospitals, Government’s health department, Sports and Health Clubs and many more.

 

Nutrition and Dietetics scopes in US

The meloderma of obesity and overweight is quite rampant in the developed nations. Large number of people is suffering from these conditions and their associated problems like diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, cardiac problems, etc. Such problems are greatly engulfing United States of America. Here, is the role of Nutrition and Dietetics increases by providing appropriate percentage of carbohydrate, protein and fat to the people suffering from above said problems. In the developed nations like United Sates of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Canada and Western European, these professionals may be hired for research & development of pharmaceutical companies.

Nutrition and Dietetics main employers

Nutrition and Dietetics are hired for both health centres as well as giant medical and fitness companies. List of some of the recruiters are:

  • Hyatt Corporation
  • Big Hotels, like Taj Group, Le Meridian, etc.
  • Accor Hospitality
  • Vatika Group
  • Government hospitals
  • Government’s health department
  • Schools
  • Colleges
  • Universities
  • Sports and Health Clubs
  • Mass Media
  • Gym
  • Slimming centres
  • Works as a consultant

Salary in Nutrition and Dietetics

The remuneration in nutrition and dietetics is satisfactory to larger extent, It depends upon your skill of cooking, knowhow of various cuisines, experience and communication skills. It also depends upon the institution where you have completed your course. At the entry level, salary starts from Rs. 15, 000-25, 000 per month. But at the top level, it ranges between 25, 000 to 90, 000 per month. It is becoming lucrative as per your experience and expertise.

Top colleges or Institutes of nutrition and dietetics in India

  1. Avinasilingam and Science and Preservation Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore
  2. All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, Kolkata
  3. Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, Mumbai
  4. University of Home Economics (Delhi University)
  5. Lady Irwin College, New Delhi
  6. Sam Higginbotom Institute of Agriculture, Allahabad
  7. Osmania University, Hyderabad
  8. University of Mumbai
  9. Maharaja Svajiiro, University of Baroda, Vadodara
  10. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur
  11. Acharya N G Ranga Agriculture University, Hyderabad.
  12. Alphonso College, Pala, Mahatma Gandhi University
  13. Teressa’s College, Ernakulam
  14. Christian Medical College, Vellore
  15. Sri Ramachandra and Research Institute, Chennai
  16. Sri Padmavati Mahila Vishva Vidyalayam, Tirupati
  17. Vivekananda College of Arts & Science for Women, Tamil Nadu
  18. Holy Cross Home Science College, Tamil Nadu

 

Top colleges or Institutes offers nutrition and dietetics through distance mode

  1. Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai
  2. Institute of Nutrition, NTR University of Health Sciences, Hyderabad
  3. Sri Padmavati Mahila Vishhwavidalayam, Tripati
  4. University of Mumbai
  5. Bangalore University, Bangalore
  6. University of Home Economics, Delhi University
  7. Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi
  8. Utkal University Bhubaneswar
  9. Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Bhopal

Course Fees

There are many courses available in Nutrition and Dietetics such as Diploma, BSc., MSc. To complete the course, the fee ranges between Rs 1 lakh to 2 lakh depending upon the institutes. If you want to pursue higher education, you have to pay more. The same thing is also applicable if you are going for specialization courses such as MPhil and PhD. However, pursuing the same from Central or Government universities, will cost you less.

Scholarship/Fellowship for Nutrition and Dietetics

Being a lucrative job, there are many Public Sector Banks in the pipelines who are ready to offer scholarship at low rates to the students of nutrition and dietetics. Meritorious candidates also get scholarship from the institution from where they are studying. If you want to pursue research or higher education, you may go for Junior Research Fellow (JRF) and National Eligibility Test (NET), both are being conducted by University Grant Commission. You may also avail some good fellowships from foreign universities.

Advantages/Disadvantages of Nutrition and Dietetics

Advantages:

  • The professionals are in high demand after the surge of lifestyle related disorders such as obesity, diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, hypertension, arthritis, etc.
  • Urbanization & modernisationa also lead in surge of such professionals.
  • It offers many lucrative job options and career opportunities.
  • It is a good career option from remuneration point of view.
  • Even if it is in the inception stage, it is in high demand in the developed countries. \

Disadvantages:

  • Entry level salary is not so satisfactory.
  • Overseas jobs make you leave from your home.
  • It charming is limited to urban agglomeration to greater extent.

Tips for interview

  • You should know the various aspects of nutrients, especially the nutritive value of carbohydrate, protein, fats, minerals, vitamins, roughage, etc.
  • Before going to interview, brush yourself with nuances of cooking, foreign cuisines, dishes, etc.
  • You should know how to correlate the different cuisines.
  • Develop the skill of communication and interpersonal skill.

Related Posts