About This Career

Assists in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Observes and monitors patient food intake and body weight, and reports changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
• Conducts nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
• Prepares a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
• Supervises food production or service or assists dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
• Plans menus or diets or guides individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
• Develops job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
• Attends interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.
• Provides dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.
• Selects, schedules, or conducts orientation or in-service education programs.
• Analyzes menus or recipes, standardizes recipes, or tests new products.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel