Dietitian-nutritionist

Description and Responsibilities

Dietitian-nutritionists mainly specialize in clinical nutrition and public-health nutrition. They are also involved in teaching and research, and in the management of food services.

Clinical nutrition

In clinical nutrition, a dietitian-nutritionist is mainly responsible for assessing the nutritional status of people in order to determine a nutritional treatment plan for them and monitor their status. The dietitian-nutritionist must determine the intervention strategy, give counselling and then do a follow-up so as to adapt and modify the nutritional treatment plan according to the condition of the person and his or her response to treatment.

Public-health nutrition

In public-health nutrition, dietitian-nutritionists design, plan, apply and evaluate programs aimed at the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases through healthy living habits. They participate in the implementation of strategies to promote healthy, sufficient and safe food.

Dietitian-nutritionists also coordinate research projects and train interns, medical residents and other professionals. In food services management, dietitian-nutritionists are responsible for all food production and distribution. They apply healthy eating principles that are consistent with the needs of their clientele.

Education and Training Requirements

In Québec, 3 universities offer nutrition training programs:

• The Département des sciences des aliments et de la nutrition at Université Laval offers an undergraduate degree program in nutrition sciences  (in French only)
• The Département de nutrition at Université de Montréal offers an undergraduate degree program in nutrition sciences  (in French only)
• The School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at McGill University offers an undergraduate degree program with a major in dietetics or nutrition 

Required Interests, Skills and Personality Type

• Must be a good communicator and listener
• Must be imaginative and creative
• Must enjoy working in a team with colleagues and other professionals
• Must know how to observe and analyze situations and people
• Must love contact with the public

Personality Type (RIASEC)

ISE

• I - Prefers studying, understanding and solving problems
• S - Prefers to be in contact with people and to help them
• E - Prefers supervising, making decisions and managing, influencing and persuading others

Work Environment

Dietitians/nutritionists work in all categories of establishments (in French only) in the health and social services network.

Useful Links

• Département de nutrition – Université de Montréal  (in French only)
• Département des sciences des aliments et de la nutrition – Université Laval  (in French only)
• Dieticians/Nutritionists – Emploi-Québec 
• Ordre professionnel des diététistes du Québec  (in French only)
• School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition – Université McGill 
• Video: Testimony by Francis Trépanier, Nutritionist – ULSanté  (in French only)
• Video: Testimony by Maude Pariseau Therrien, Nutritionist – ULSanté  (in French only)
• Video: Testimony of a dietitian/nutritionist – Santé Outaouais  (in French only)