Are Science Classes Part of the Registered Dietitian's Education?

Registered Dietitians are educated about food science as well as human sciences including biology and biochemistry. Dietetics is the study of the interactions between nutrition and health. So the Registered Dietitian, or RD for short, must learn the basic sciences of foods and of the human body.

Food science examines the physical, biological and chemical components of food; the nutrients found in food, and how food is safely prepared, processed, distributed, sold and labeled.

Registered dietitians learn how certain foods can promote health in individuals and populations, and how other food components--such as sodium and cholesterol--can contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and high blood pressure.

Registered Dietitians also learn normal and therapeutic nutrition, by building on the basics of biology, physiology, and biochemistry. In order to understand what happens to food in the body, the dietitian learns about the body's organ functions, cell metabolism, and how foods are digested and absorbed.

Ultimately, foods we eat turn into the materials that build and maintain our body. So it is essential for the Registered Dietitian to know how the body normally functions, and then what changes happen in the state of a disease, illness, trauma or other abnormality.

Once we learn all about nutrition and dietetics, we can understand
- why certain foods are important: for instance, dairy products contain calcium, which is essential for strong bones as well as muscle contractions, nerve signals, and blood clotting

- why some foods are unhealthy in excess: one donut? No problem... three a day, now you're talking a lot of additional calories, fat and sugar which can lead to unwanted weight gain without the benefit of protein and vitamins

- what is the truth about carbohydrates: They break down to sugars after digestion, and these sugars are necessary for energy. In fact, every cell uses glucose to convert to energy so the body can move and carry out essential functions; some cells--like those in the brain and kidney--can only use glucose. RDs know that avoiding carbohydrates is not only unnecessary, but can really mess up your normal metabolism!

If the science of the human body, the science of food, and the interactions that occur every time we eat strikes your interest, you might enjoy a career as a Registered Dietitian! Keiser University in Port St. Lucie has a coordinated program in dietetics. This allows you to actually practice in the field after you complete classroom studies, all under the guidance of knowledgeable preceptors. Find out more today by clicking here!

Does a Registered Dietitian Have to be able to Cook?

Registered Dietitians are trained in food science, food preparation, sanitation and safety. So technically, they know how to cook.

This doesn't mean all dietitians like to cook, or enjoy making gourmet meals. They do have the knowledge about what nutrients are provided in different foods and food groups, which foods are more nutrient dense (meaning, they have lots of vitamins and minerals compared to relatively fewer calories), and to what internal temperatures different foods must be cooked to avoid foodborne illness (also known as food poisoning).

So a Registered Dietitian can teach others how to prepare meals, especially important for those on fixed incomes, or those who must follow special or restricted diets like people with diabetes or heart disease.

It's helpful for the Registered Dietitian to stay current in the latest research on food components, food fads (kale, anyone?), food research (is butter or margarine better?) and fad diets (no, carbs are NOT bad for you!)

Test your food knowledge with the gadget at the end of the blog that shows our local Florida fruits and vegetables in season. Click on any of the fresh fruits or vegetables and the link will take you to a page that tells you more about each one, including a resource for recipes.

If you like preparing food and learning about what foods are good for you, a career in dietetics might be the ideal job for you! Find out more about becoming a registered dietitian at Keiser University!

Does a Registered Dietitian Work With Sick People?

Some of the settings where a Registered Dietitian can work include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or nursing homes.

Nothing makes a sick person more sick than a poor diet!  It is so important when a person is already in poor physical condition--whether they have heart disease, cancer, a terrible car accident, or even just an operation--that they receive the best nutritional intake for their specific situation.

Registered Dietitians can help patients heal more quickly so they can get back to their happy, healthy life. We can suggest foods that are more nutrient dense, higher in protein, or higher in calories depending on the needs of the patient.

Sometimes a person doesn't feel like eating when they are ill, or some of them cannot eat due to obstructions in their throat or stomach. The Registered Dietitian has the knowledge and experience to make the proper recommendations to the medical team, and get the proper nutrition support to each and every patient.

If working in a health care setting appeals to you, and helping people get the nutrients they need in the right amounts sounds like a career you would like, contact us at Keiser University and find out more about our program in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Can A Registered Dietitian Help Me With My Weight?

One of the jobs of a Registered Dietitian is to assess people for their ideal, or healthy, body weight. When a person is very overweight or very underweight, their health can easily be compromised. The Registered Dietitian can determine how overweight or underweight a person is, and also do some sleuthing to find out the source of the problem. 

People may be overweight for a variety of reasons: They may be retaining fluid, or eating too many calories; they might not know how to cook, or realize what a reasonable portion size is. Being overweight, or obese, makes a person more likely to have heart disease, diabetes, and even some types of cancer.

On the flip side, someone can be underweight for a number of reasons, too. They may not have an appetite, or feel sick when they eat. They may eat plenty of food but have trouble with digestion or absorption of some nutrients. Or they may have an illness that is causing them to burn more calories than they can possibly eat.

The Registered Dietitian helps determine what is causing the weight imbalance, then helps the person figure out what their next step is to achieve a healthy body weight.

If this sounds like a job you would be interested in, check out our dietetics program at Keiser University and find out more!

Help Reading Food Labels

Although extensive planning goes into the design of food labels, with input from many scientists and nutrition experts, they are still confusing to interpret.
One of the jobs of a Registered Dietitian is to help people understand what the nutrition label means.

A Registered Dietitian can explain what to look for on the Nutrition Facts label to meet your individual needs. Some of the nutrients have necessary functions in the human body and each person should strive to consume adequate amounts: these include protein, vitamins like A and C, minerals like Iron and Calcium, and other nutrients like Fiber.
On the other hand, some nutrients can be harmful in excess amounts, such as cholesterol and sodium. These should be limited in the diets of most people.

A Registered Dietitian can show you what to look for on food labels so you can more easily use them to buy foods that are healthy for you.


If this sounds like a job you would enjoy, check out our program at Keiser University and find out how to become a registered dietitian.

Who Hires Registered Dietitians?

Registered Dietitians can work in many settings. In hospitals, RDs help assure patients are eating well, improving their nutritional status, and avoiding foods that can make them more ill.

Registered Dietitians teach individuals what foods are nourishing for their condition, and which foods might keep them from getting better, or even compromise their future health.

Registered Dietitians can also work in Food Service. They are trained to have knowledge of safe and sanitary food preparation practices. They plan and oversee food production in a hospital, nursing home, school, or even in a prison. Anywhere you see a large number of people being fed, you can bet a Registered Dietitian is involved in planning a healthy menu and making sure the food is prepared safely and properly.

Registered Dietitians also work in the school foodservice system.
There are many regulations involved in planning healthy menus for the children attending schools. They need to get the right amount of calories, protein, fruits, and vegetables, and all at a low cost to the schools in the county, while staying tasty enough for the kids to enjoy. If they won't eat it, they won't get the good nutrition their school breakfast and lunch provides!


In hospitals and nursing homes, dietitians make sure patients are getting nourishing meals and snacks, and eating what they receive. If a patient doesn't like the food, has a poor appetite, or has special nutrition needs, the Registered Dietitian will perform an individual assessment and make recommendations and substitutions so the person who is ill can get back to their healthy and happy life sooner.

If you think you might be interested in institutional food preparation, school food service operations, educating people to prepare and eat healthy meals, or helping improve the health and wellness of individuals or populations, you can become a registered dietitian at KeiserUniversity.

What does a Registered Dietitian Do?

A Registered Dietitian, or RD, is someone who has completed a bachelor's degree in nutrition science, completed an internship approved by the ACEND, and taken a registration exam. Dietitians help people learn to eat a more healthy diet, either to help improve their health, keep them healthy, or prevent future disease.

The classroom portion of the dietitian's education includes courses in human biology and chemistry; food science classes including food labs; instruction on how to counsel people for behavior change; and nutrition courses from basic through advanced, such as principles of nutrition, clinical nutrition, and medical nutritional therapy.
Then the student must complete a 9-month internship program, where they get the chance to work side by side with their preceptor in sites that may include a nursing home, hospital, school foodservice environment, dialysis unit or oncology outpatient setting.

Once the education portion is complete, the RD candidate takes a national registry exam. After passing the exam, the initials "RD" for Registered Dietitian can be used to demonstrate that this person is indeed the nutrition expert!

Job openings at the time of this post include positions for:  dietitians in hemodialysis clinics; out-patient oncology dietitians; pediatric nutrition specialist; clinical dietitian I and II through hospitals with Sodexo foodservice contracts; food service managers at assisted living facilities and nursing homes; contract RDs for nursing home resident assessments and menu development and approval; part-time positions at Kindred long-term acute care facilities; and enteral sales positions for Lincare and Abbott Laboratories.

Dietitians work wherever there are individuals or groups with specialized nutritional needs. They can work in spas and health clubs, jails, hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
Each dietitian has an affinity for what clientele they enjoy working with. Some feel fulfilled working with people who are ill and striving to improve their nutrition and health status. Others prefer clients who are healthy, and motivated to stay well by eating the best diet they can. And certain RDs enjoy a management role where they can lead a staff of food-service workers and other dietitians and run an efficient department in a hospital, school, nursing home, or assisted living facility.
Dietitians work in corporate health settings, reducing insurance costs of large companies by maintaining the health of employees.
Dietitians work as speakers, authors, coaches and teachers.

Once a person has the "RD" after their name, there are a wealth of options to choose from for a lifetime of employment. There is certainly job security is this field. As long as people eat, live in group settings, want to improve or maintain their health, and have questions about diets... we will have jobs!


Would you like to join the ranks and become a Registered Dietitian? Find out more about beginning your education at KeiserUniversity.edu .