6 Tips on Being a Dietitian

We all love eating and there’s absolutely no one who exists in this world without having his own opinion on food and his personal preferences for cuisines. However, whatever we eat affects our body in a positive or negative manner. People who are obese or shapeless wish to lose weight. On the other hand, people who are extremely skinny hate their bony figures and thus wish to gain weight. No matter what you want to do – whether lose weight, gain some or even balance and maintain yourself on your current weight, a dietitian is the one who helps you fight fats and have that perfect curve for your body.

A dietitian is someone who knows everything about food, its affects on your body as well as nutrition, which is required to keep your body fit and healthy. A dietitian generally gives consultation to the patients to make them live a healthy life, along with proper eatery habits so that they can attain their health related aims or either losing or gaining or even maintaining their body shapes.

If you are interested to become a dietitian, following are the six “must-follow” tips that we have for you:

1. Do a self-analysis:

   A dietitian is someone who knows about self-control and maintenance. If you think you have that ‘persona’ as well as aura to attract people to your charm, you know that you have everything to be a dietitian. You may ask why persona? Unless you are not well maintained and have a balanced figure or physic, you are surely not going to look attractive to the patients looking forward to maintain their weights and body shapes. Therefore, analyze yourself and know whether you have what it takes to be a dietitian, especially when it comes to being in proper shape.

2. Get a bachelor’s degree in this field:

   In some countries, there is a proper bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and Nutrition, whereas in other countries, there are mere courses and diplomas to give the aspiring dietitians a platform to learn about the effect of food on body. No matter what you do, make sure you don’t do something from a private institution as such certificates can’t help you open your own clinic, unless they are government recognized. If you establish your own clinic after completing a private course in Dietetics and Nutrition, the government officials may object.

3. ACEND practice program:

   Once you have turned into a graduate in the same or related field, you are supposed to pass a written examination after completing an ACEND approved program for practicing. Without having this exam cleared, you can’t get a proper certificate or license to be known as a Dietitian. Get an idea about the written tests in your country that you need to get through, before working or setting up your own clinic as a professional dietitian. Always remember – every country has its own rules and regulations and you can easily find out about the same by contacting different educational institutions, universities or even finding out on search engines.

4. Practice your self-developed techniques:

   It is generally said that every dietitian has his own methods and techniques of helping his patients get in shape. As a professional one, you can’t imitate the techniques of others and hence there comes a time when you need to find your own ways to treat the patients and help them achieve their health related targets. If you wish to be popular in the film industry, where every celebrity is said to have his own personal dietitian working exclusively for him or her, you need to develop your skills and be an efficient dietitian. Some of these professionals believe in making the individuals eat only fruits and vegetables whereas there are others who make them eat everything and give them a balanced work out plan, along with a few suggestions, to keep them fit and healthy. You choose your own technique or developed something unique to attract more people to your clinic.

5. Work under a dietitian:

   Although it might cross your egos but it is always good to work under someone, especially if you are in a field where you need to give a proper ‘treatment’ to someone. Remember – being too fat or too thin is itself a major problem and hence you, as a dietitian, are responsible to treat the individuals suffering from either of it. If you work under a professional dietitian, you get to learn a lot of things and practice something on your own as well, after receiving the permission from the actual dietitian. Once you know how the professional person handles his clients and patients, you are surely going to blossom in the field with all the practical knowledge you have gained back at his clinic. When you know you are ready and all set to be on your own, it is time to leave the role of an assistant and being a full time dietitian.

6. Set up your own clinic:

   Once you think you are all set to have your own clinic to treat new clients and patients, welcome yourself to world of established professional dietitians. It is time for you to set your own place in the area where people can come to take your consultation regarding their health related issues. Moreover, if the place where you assisted earlier is famous, you get popular in the market as someone who has an experience of working under a professional dietitian. That always acts as an added advantage.

It is not that every second person you know in the world can be a dietitian. Being a professional dietitian does not mean attending queries of people who are looking forward to be in shape. At times, patients suffering from different sorts of illnesses like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, etc. also approach dietitians in order to take a proper food plan to avoid stuff that increases the effect of the disease or illness on the body.

Many times, dietitians have the brides to be who look forward to get in shape in a short span to fit in their wedding gowns. No matter what the issue is, as a dietitian, you need to provide a helping hand to them without hampering their health.