Ask Dr Nerenberg | Health and Fitness

Degree in either Nutritional Science or Dietetics?

I love food science but, i’m more interested in nutrition. I’m just not sure which major would be best for job value and for grad school? Are dietitions in demand? What is the salary range? What exactly does a Nutritionist do? I need some information from people who work/know people who work in this field

well, first separate what you are after. Food Science, is a separate category/degree from Nutritional Sciences. And a Bachelor of Arts in Nutrition is another type of degree, more suitable for work as a dietician, as it may have more clinical experience applied to the coursework.

Food Science is much more research and/or industry oriented, with some of the most outgoing and business savy persons extending into technical sales and/or upper management positions. Most start out as a Food Technologist after college (BS or MS degrees) and PhD’s start as Food Scientists. However, in the specialized areas of Research and Development (including new Product Development), often, experience and proven success qualifies a BS or MS to be recognized as a Food Scientist without the PhD requirement. Another area, as a technologist, is in quality or other departments in industry, to assure continuing safe production of food, or regulatory, to make sure the produced foods meets government requirements.

There are specialized co-field areas between Nutritional Sciences and Food Science, which explores actual biochemical and nutritional impact on humans from specific foods and diets, and also, can be a specialized product development branch (formulating special application nutrition foods for chronic disease patients, veterinary science, athletics, etc. It generally requires advanced study and experience, with more indepth understanding of the biochemical, medical, nutritional mammalian functions.

Both of the above situations, are more specialized. There are many other sub-branches- but most of the above are not extremely ‘social’ positions and very professionally internalized.

If you prefer talking to many people in a clinical setting under the guide of doctors and nurses, a dietician may be more interesting. Also, many weight loss centers and gyms, and fitness or holistic advocates are hiring more dieticians that assist their business principles.

I’m in the industrial application and technical research and development area of food science, for over 10 years, and practical food business experience previous, with additional sidelines in wellness, with some medical and fitness backgrounds.

best of luck on your decision– and whatever you choose, there is a lot of subcategories in all of these fields that allow some room to move around.

Nutrition & Healthy Eating : Salary Range for Nutritionists & Dietitians

2002 Dietetics Compensation & Benefits Survey $10.70 Text provides data on salaries, benefits, and work settings for core jobs in dietetics. Data was derived from a survey within the American Dietetic Association in 2002 resulting in more than 50 job descriptions believed to account for 80% of all dietetics’ employment. Text will be published on a biannual basis. Softcover. …