Majoring in nutrition/dietetics pros cons?!! HELP.

someonelikemyself

Hi i would like to major in nutrition/dietetics and i'm desperate for help, how will it help in my personal and career life??!
what is the nature of the work environment, and if i were a housewife and decided not to work will it make a difference in the house? ( will i know how to feed a newborn baby by getting my bachelors in nutrition or do i learn about that when i get my masters?) lol thankyou ssooo much and please nevermind my odd questions.
Is it a good choice and why please provide me with personal experience or if you know someone majoring in it? i would really really appreciate it!!

peachyxoxoxo

I'm a dietetics major so I haven't started working yet, but there is a lot of flexibility with the type of career you can have. You could work in a clinical setting i.e. a hospital or do one-on-one counseling or teach classes in the community or work in food service. I'm in a coordinated undergrad program and we didn't focus on pediatrics a whole lot, but the grad students here take the same classes as I do. So maybe it's just my program. I have heard it's beneficial to get a masters degree, but some of the dietitians I've worked with say it's not really necessary... I know there are a few RDs on this site, maybe someone else can answer your questions a little better. But let me know if there's anything else I can help you with!

someonelikemyself

Thankyou so much! i am just afraid of how the pay is kinda low, and was wondering if it would impact my life (and in whatway )
i'm just so curious about it.

Lyerin

Are you currently in school? If so, perhaps you should speak with a guidance or career counselor.

As for what to feed a newborn, breastmilk or formula are really your only options. Personally, I found breastfeeding much easier on me (and my wallet).

Themuseinme

Its a great thing to major in especially if you are interested.
I have a BS in Dietetics and Inst food mgmt. Im 57 so not working in the field right now.(plus all the h dept jobs u need to be bilingual these days, and im not)i graduated in 1992-started in 1986; lots has changed since then.
i worked at health depts as the nutrition educator for the WIC program and loved it.
I learned and hada whoel class in Maternal Nutrition which centered around food for mom and baby. think it was my 3rd yr in school. i also had to take child development class.
If you become a RD you can be in private practice and make your ownhours. i loved studying nutrition. We had to take regular chemistry, biochemistry and organic chem, microbio-so if u dont like science you may not like this major. My program had alot of cooking classes, menu planning etc as well.
Good Luck!!keep us posted on your decision or if u have any other questions please convo me!

Themuseinme

the pay is alot less when you work in a hospital than many other disciplines, but if an RD and in private practice you can make alot of money!!! basicly charge insurance companies and make 40 -75+ an hour