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Careers in Nutrition & Dietetics

RDNs work in:

  • Hospitals, clinics or other health-care facilities, educating patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health-care team. They may also manage the foodservice operations in these settings, or schools, day- care centers or correctional facilities, overseeing everything from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.

  • Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, educating clients about the connection between food, fitness and health.

  • Food and nutrition-related business and industries, working in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, product development or consulting with chefs in restaurants and culinary schools.

  • Private practice, working under contract with healthcare or food companies, or in their own business. RDs or RDNs work with foodservice or restaurant managers, food vendors and distributors, athletes, nursing home residents or company employees.

  • Community and public health settings, teaching, monitoring and advising the public and helping improve quality of life through healthy eating habits.

  • Universities and medical centers, teaching physician’s assistants, nurses, dietetics students, dentists and others about the sophisticated science of food and nutrition.

  • Research areas  in food and pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.

Source: "Careers in Dietetics", Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2013