Education & Careers

• Private Practising Dietitians
  - consult clients/patients who need advice on nutrition therapy for their condition or need to make lifestyle changes which would include healthy eating
  - clients/patients are followed up and nutritionally supported for as long as is required
  

• Therapeutic Dietitians
  - mainly work in a hospital setting where they consult patients referred by doctors and other health care staff
  - the Dietitian, as an integral part of the patient care team, assesses and individualises nutrition therapy
  - special diets, tube feeds and intravenous feeds can form part of the treatment
  
• Community Dietitians work for the public sector, but may also be employed by non-governmental or community based organisations. They focus on :
  - promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding
  - promotion of growth monitoring
  - nutrition promotion and education
  - prevention and treatment of vitamin and mineral deficiencies
  - nutrition support for specific conditions
  - empowering people to ensure they can provide food for themselves and their families
  - monitoring the management of food service in institutions
  
• Consulting Dietitians offer their expertise in the field of nutrition to the food, nutrition, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. They also often advise the media on nutrition related stories.
  
  They advise clients on:
  - current food labelling legislation, nutrition regulations and nutritional analyses
  - product development
  - the latest developments and trends in nutrition and
  - nutrition related marketing activities
• Food Service Management Dietitians
  These Dietitians manage the provision of healthy and specialised diets to persons in institutions such as health care facilities, correctional services, welfare care settings, school hostels or old age homes.
  They:
  - they plan, cost and develop menus
  - control, implement, evaluate and oversee food service systems, including the purchasing, storage, preparation and serving of foods and beverages
  

South African Degrees in Dietetics 

The following universities offer a degree in dietetics. Please consult the relevant universities for further information.

Download the ADSA Pamphlet: If it’s about Nutrition, ask your Dietitian!