Blog

National Dietitian Day

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on March 10, 2016

http://goo.gl/zddsUy

Dietitians are devoted to promoting healthy eating to prevent disease. They are also trained to modify diets for those with medical conditions that can be treated by nutritional means.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states:

Registered dietitian nutritionists meet stringent academic and professional requirements, including earning at least a bachelor’s degree, completing a supervised practice program and passing a registration examination. RDNs must also complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration. More than half of all RDNs have also earned master’s degrees or higher.

“Congress and federal health agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have recognized that registered dietitian nutritionists’ expertise in nutrition and health is more extensive than any other health profession.”

Years ago, dietitians spent time in hospital kitchens insuring that patients were provided with healthy food during their hospital stays. Then dietitians began to see patients in the hospital to train them on modified diets. This began the clinical aspect of the career of the dietitian. Today dietitians work in a multitude of settings. They work in clinical positions in hospitals, college universities, fitness clubs, private practice, marketing firms, grocery stores, and are also writers.

The accompanying photo shows Samantha Woulfe who works with Jewel-Osco. She works on educating consumers, teaching classes, and giving grocery tours in addition to other duties. Jacqueline King, is one of the authors of Too Busy to Diet. She also sees patients in her private practice in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Dietitians wear many hats in today’s world. Their primary role is to ensure healthy lifestyles through nutrition for the people of this country.