Dietitians plan diets and educate people about eating healthy foods. Some dietitians supervise food preparation and service.

Dietitians assess patients’ and clients’ health and diet needs. They explain nutritional issues and develop meal plans. For example, they might help a patient who has high blood pressure learn how to cook with less salt. They take into consideration costs and clients' preferences. Dietitians evaluate the effects of meal plans and make changes as needed.

Dietitians may specialize in the following areas:

Management dietitians

Management dietitians are in charge of meal planning in large settings such as cafeterias, hospitals, and food corporations. They hire, train, and supervise new workers. Their administrative duties include planning menus, preparing budgets, and purchasing food and supplies. Management dietitians check that all safety and cleanliness rules are followed. They also keep records and prepare reports.

Clinical dietitians

Clinical dietitians work in hospitals and nursing homes. They are in charge of providing foods based on the health needs of patients. Dietitians consult with doctors and other health care workers. They develop group nutritional plans as well as individualized diet plans.

Community dietitians

Community dietitians educate the public on food and nutrition. They teach classes about maintaining good health and preventing disease from a nutritional point of view. Other classes are designed for the elderly, children, or people with special needs. Community dietitians work in public health clinics, home health agencies, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Sometimes they work with individual clients.