Food service
Food service dietitians are responsible for large-scale food planning and service. They coordinate, assess and plan food service processes in health care facilities, school food service programs and prisons. These dietitians will also perform audits of their departments, train other food service workers and use marketing skills to launch new menus and various programs within their institution. They direct and manage the operational and nutrition services staff such as kitchen staff, delivery staff and dietary assistants or diet aides.
Dietitians combine management skills and nutrition expertise when delivering food services. Many food service dietitians work as consultants under contract with healthcare facilities or in their own private practice. They may consult with food service managers and other staff to help with menu assessment, development, budgeting, and planning.
Areas of employment:
- menu assessment
- menu planning
- budgeting
- food service consultancies (budgeting, purchasing, food preparation, food and nutrition policy)
- delivered meals
- hospitality and catering
- contracting of food services
Job titles / roles:
- Food Service Dietitian
- Food Service Manager
- Food Service and Nutrition Manager
Employers:
- hospitals
- nursing homes
- residential care centres
- meals on wheels
- schools
- weight loss programs
- colleges and universities
- company cafeterias
- correctional facilities
- camps
- consultancy work (under contract or self employed/private practice
Expert in area:
Vicky Barrington (pdf 24KB) provides insight into careers for foods service dietitians.
