Dietetic Technicians are trained food and nutrition practitioners who work closely with Dietitians. Their primary task is to assist the Dietitian in developing nutritional care plans, assess dietary needs, and supervise food productions in institutions such as prisons, daycare centers, and schools. The work is not physically demanding, but Dietitians walk, stand, stoop, and work while teaching or directing food preparation. Dietitians must be able to deal with a variety of people, meet emergencies calmly, have good health and stamina, be flexible, and communicate well. Supervisors of multi-unit operations will spend time traveling between facilities.
Dietitians generally wear street clothes topped with a lab coat.
Many Dietitians join the American Dietetic Association. The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division. The figures represent the broad occupational group Dietitians and Nutritionists. Employment in the dietetic field will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations. Factors that underlie the steady expansion of the health services industry include population growth and aging, emphasis on health education, and the widespread ability to pay for care through public and private insurance.