Dietitians and Nutritionists Go Back to List Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or conduct nutritional research.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Analytical or scientific software

Tasks
	Assess nutritional needs, diet restrictions and current health plans to develop and implement dietary-care plans and provide nutritional counseling.
	Consult with physicians and health care personnel to determine nutritional needs and diet restrictions of patient or client.
	Advise patients and their families on nutritional principles, dietary plans and diet modifications, and food selection and preparation.
	Counsel individuals and groups on basic rules of good nutrition, healthy eating habits, and nutrition monitoring to improve their quality of life.
	Monitor food service operations to ensure conformance to nutritional, safety, sanitation and quality standards.
	Coordinate recipe development and standardization and develop new menus for independent food service operations.
	Develop policies for food service or nutritional programs to assist in health promotion and disease control.
	Inspect meals served for conformance to prescribed diets and standards of palatability and appearance.
	Develop curriculum and prepare manuals, visual aids, course outlines, and other materials used in teaching.
	Prepare and administer budgets for food, equipment and supplies.

Skills
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Knowledge
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
	Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
	Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
	Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
	Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal m

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Education & Training   Education:   Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).   Related Experience:   Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $77,574.00 $37.29  $28.10  $31.40 - $42.40  Bridgeport/Stamford $78,399.00 $37.70  $28.85  $33.32 - $42.85  Danbury $78,378.00 $37.68  $29.09  $30.91 - $42.32  Hartford $76,833.00 $36.94  $28.31  $31.41 - $42.07  New Haven $81,366.00 $39.12  $29.11  $33.06 - $46.26  New London/Norwich $74,216.00 $35.69  $26.59  $30.40 - $41.31  Waterbury $73,145.00 $35.17  $24.26  $28.73 - $39.93  Torrington $70,621.00 $33.96  $21.82  $30.57 - $39.88

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   70   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.