Food and Nutrition as a Career
Published on May 23, 2025
By EMN
- Food, clothing and shelter have always been the most basic
human needs. We are living in an era where food not only serves to satisfy our
hunger but it has become a tool for artistic exploration through culinary
fields and also a potential therapeutic agent for many health complications.
The knowledge for Nutritional Science is of greater demand more than ever as we
are experiencing a major threat in our lifestyle, irrespective of region, in
the form of lifestyle diseases.
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- Food, Nutrition and Dietetics is a paramedical course
categorised under Allied Health Professionals by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare. This course allows the students to gain the knowledge of food
systems around us beginning from the classification of foods to the use of different
foods to treat or manage different health conditions. It is one such course
which connects the most basic necessities of life with medical field. The
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted in its entirety the
definition of an Allied and Healthcare Professionals as “Allied and healthcare
professionals (AHPs) include individuals involved with the delivery of health
or healthcare-related services, with qualification and competence in
therapeutic, diagnostic, curative, preventive, and/or rehabilitative
interventions. They work in multidisciplinary health teams in varied healthcare
settings including doctors (physicians and specialists), nurses, and public
health officials to promote, protect, treat, and/or manage a person('s)
physical, mental, social, emotional, environmental health and holistic
well-being”.
- One advantage of pursuing this course in our own state is
gaining first hand information about the existing health problems of our
community, and also the ability to explore the rich vegetation of our untapped
indigenous foods and explore their nutritional significances as well as
standardize into recipes and thus put it into use. Others would be in creating
awareness about the nutrition education needed at every stage of life
especially during the most vulnerable stage such as pregnancy, lactation, early
childhood years and old age.
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- Career opportunities
- 1. In clinical field as Assistant dietician, dietician,
senior and chief dietician in government and private hospitals, and paramedical
services.
- 2. In government sector as field research officers/ research
personnel for National Health Surveys like NFHS, ICMR-NIN, MoHFW, FSSAI, NRLM,
PM-Poshan, etc. various position at block, district, state and central level as
Food Safety officer, Lab technician etc.
- 3. Nutrition consultant in various local/national/
international NGOs, in community clinics, care homes, railway catering, day
care services, or schools etc.
- 4. Academic field as Assistant Professor, Associate
Professor and Professor.
- 5. As entrepreneur in food processing and preservation
sectors.
- 6. In research field as project assistant, research
associate, subject matter specialist etc.
- 7. In industry as nutritionist in food industry, medical and
product manufacturing, companies, sports nutritionist, health coaches, sales
and training etc.
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- Perks/Salary: Dietetics and Nutrition is a remunerative job.
Those who are working in government hospitals, academic institutions, research
institutes and other agencies have salaries as fixed by the government
depending upon work profile and experience. Some private sector hotels,
restaurants, food manufactures offer higher salary and attractive perks.
Independent practitioner and private consultants also have good earning which
largely depends upon number and nature of their clients.
- Entry level: Salary varies from INR 10,000 to 25,000 /month
as per the abilities and experience.
- Top position: Salary varies from INR 25,000 to 90,000 per
month depending on qualifications, position held, experience and location. The
job prospects are good and are expected to grow in line with the average job.
- Students who want to pursue this course should have a class
10+2 with science background and a minimum of 50 percentages is admissible for
ST students.
- The study of nutrition is becoming increasingly important as
the understanding and practice of a healthy diet is recognized as the
prerequisite to good health and well-being.
- North East Christian University, Dimapur introduces the
first ever B.Sc Food, Nutrition and Dietetics course which is in alignment with
the UGC norms and follows the National Commission for Allied Healthcare
Professionals Act 2021. The course is offered in an undergraduate level with a
scope for higher education in postgraduate and Ph.D levels. Graduates may
continue their studies with the goal of obtaining an M.Sc and PhD.
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- Dr. Shikatoli Wotsa
- Assistant Professor (Food and Nutrition)
- Allied Health Sciences
- North East Christian University
- Dimapur, Nagaland.
