What Do Dietetic Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Dietetic Technicians assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals. They also conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals’ dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.

Other tasks include:

• Observe patient food intake and report progress and dietary problems to dietician.
• Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
• Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
• Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
• Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
• Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.

We asked Dietetic Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 59% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Dietetic Technicians supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning. They observe patient food intake and report progress and dietary problems to dietician.

A typical day for a Dietetic Technician will also include:

• Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
• Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals’ dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
• Deliver speeches on diet, nutrition, or health to promote healthy eating habits and illness prevention and treatment.
• Refer patients to other relevant services to provide continuity of care.
• Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.

We asked some Dietetic Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	85% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	48% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	21% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	50% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Dietetic Technicians also refer patients to other relevant services to provide continuity of care. They may also develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Dietetic Technicians Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems. They might also Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.

In addition, they Select, schedule, or conduct orientation or in-service education programs.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Deliver speeches on diet, nutrition, or health to promote healthy eating habits and illness prevention and treatment.

To some Dietetic Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Dietetic Technician, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292051.htm