Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.

Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

1. Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.

2. Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.

3. Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans and diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.

4. Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.

5. Monitor food service operations to ensure conformance to nutritional, safety, sanitation and quality standards.

6. Coordinate recipe development and standardization and develop new menus for independent food service operations.

7. Develop policies for food service or nutritional programs to assist in health promotion and disease control.

8. Inspect meals served for conformance to prescribed diets and standards of palatability and appearance.

9. Develop curriculum and prepare manuals, visual aids, course outlines, and other materials used in teaching.

10. Prepare and administer budgets for food, equipment and supplies.

11. Purchase food in accordance with health and safety codes.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Education: A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

The college search results are undergraduate programs associated with Dietitians and Nutritionists. Further education may also be required to pursue this career.

The training search results include both short and long-term programs associated with Dietitians and Nutritionists, and may be more appropriate for adult and non-traditional students. Further training may also be required to pursue this career.

In NY the average wage for this occupation was:

$43,110 (per year) for entry level workers, and $62,930 (per year) for experienced workers.

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Based on the total number of annual openings and its growth rate, the employment prospects for this occupation are described as Favorable.

During 2006, there were approximately 4,660 Dietitians and Nutritionists employed in NY.

We estimate that in 2016 there will be 4,910  employed in NY. This represents an increase of 30 job(s) each year, and a total of 120 job openings each year.

Institute of Medicine (IOM) - The nation turns to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies for science-based advice on matters of biomedical science, medicine, and health. The Institute provides unbiased, evidence-based, and authoritative information and advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large.

Dietitians and nutritionists - Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.

Dietitians - Visit this link for information on this career in the military.

Health Educators - Promote, maintain, and improve individual and community health by assisting individuals and communities to adopt healthy behaviors. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, policies and environments. May also serve as a resource to assist individuals, other professionals, or the community, and may administer fiscal resources for health education programs.

Farm and Home Management Advisors - Advise, instruct, and assist individuals and families engaged in agriculture, agricultural-related processes, or home economics activities. Demonstrate procedures and apply research findings to solve problems; instruct and train in product development, sales, and the utilization of machinery and equipment to promote general welfare. Includes county agricultural agents, feed and farm management advisers, home economists, and extension service advisors.

Dietetic Technicians - Assist dietitians in the provision of food service and nutritional programs. Under the supervision of dietitians, may plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Food Preparation and Serving Workers - Supervise workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Agricultural Crop and Horticultural Workers - Directly supervise and coordinate activities of agricultural crop or horticultural workers.

First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Animal Husbandry and Animal Care Workers - Directly supervise and coordinate activities of animal husbandry or animal care workers.