People are interested in staying healthy. Science is broadening our knowledge about nutrition's role in our lives. With the help of dietitians, we can learn from infancy to eat right and prevent or delay chronic diseases. Registered dietitians are fast becoming key health-care professionals. Among their duties, dietitians and nutritionists plan food and nutrition programs, supervise proper nutritional preparation of meals, promote healthy eating habits through education and conduct research.
Many registered dietitians specialize in pediatric dietetics, diabetes, renal and nutrition support.
Other major areas of practice include business and industry consulting, clinical management and research. Even sports teams, resorts, cruise ships and health clubs employ registered dietitians and nutrition experts, Wood says. The fastest job growth is projected for contract providers of food services, social services agencies and physicians' offices and clinics. Purdue graduates' boast a 100 percent passage rate, and their test scores consistently rank above the national average. Purdue's Department of Foods and Nutrition in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences offers two dietetics programs.