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What is a Registered Dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian is uniquely trained member of the health
team with expertise in food and nutrition. Dietitians provide
information about diet and diet therapies in the prevention
and treatment of disease. Dietitians specialize in many different
areas of practice including nutrition support (nutrition fed by
special means such as intravenous lines and feeding tubes),
education, research, and population health. Clients of Dietitians
range from pre-term infants to senior citizens. Dietitians in
Canada work in a variety of settings such as industry, hospitals,
home care, long term care, universities, private practice,
government and public health. They are involved in the following
specialized areas:
Clinical Services: Settings include active treatment (inpatients,
outpatients), long term care, and home care.
- Assess nutrition risk and apply principles of medical nutrition
therapy to maximize nutritional status and quality of life
- Analyze nutrient intake, deliver nutrition education, develop
nutrition care plans / goals, and provide continuous evaluation of
the quality, appropriateness and effectiveness of the nutritional
care
- Assess requirements for supplementation or alternative means of
nutrition support based on the client's medical situation
- Improve knowledge/behaviors to reduce
or delay health risks (high risk pregnancy, failure to thrive infants,
chronic diseases)
Community Services: Settings include community/public health
centers as well as agencies such as the Canadian Cancer Society,
Heart and Stroke Foundation.
- Deliver health promotion services including disease prevention
to clients across the life cycle
- Provide consultation, information and education
to professionals, agencies, personnel, and individuals in the
community
- Plan, implement and evaluate programs and
policies to address nutrition needs across the lifecycle
- Develop nutrition guidelines, tools and
resources
Public Health
- Writing public health policy (Health Canada , Provincial Health)
- Educating about nutrition labeling, food fortification, food security
- Delivering services related to Canada 's Food Guide and
Recommended Dietary Intakes
Food Service Management
- Manage teams which prepare and
distribute food to patients and staff in hospitals and long
term care facilities
- Design efficient and ergonomic food
service operations
- Manage resources in food service
operations
Private Practice
- Consult to individuals, groups, workplaces,
institutions, Employee Assistance Programs, health and lifestyle
centers
- Consult to the media
Food Industry and Marketing Boards
- Develop and market products
- Design consumer research, education, and
advertising
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