Singapore is a makan paradise and that makes a dietitian’s role even more crucial. As a trusted guide to healthy eating, you use your scientific knowledge of food and human nutrition to help patients and indeed everyone – be it individuals, groups or communities – maintain and achieve good health. If, as they say, we are what we eat, your knowledge makes you a guru.
Clinical dietitians provide a comprehensive assessment of the clinical and psychosocial conditions of each patient to determine their nutritional requirements and prescribe the right nutrition for them. Dietitians utilise counselling skills to educate, motivate and support patients in lifestyle and behavioural changes to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidneys diseases and obesity. They develop nutrition care plans for patients who require to be fed orally, via a feeding tube or directly to the bloodstream.
Community dietitians are involved in health promotion and public health nutrition policies, programmes and education. They engage stakeholders in the community such as schools, restaurants and caterers to promote access to healthy food choices. They also engage the population to adopt healthy eating behaviour and support patients with their nutrition care plans in the community.
Food service dietitians manage institutional food service operations. They ensure patients are given the correct therapeutic meals, food is handled safely and kitchen personnel are trained adequately.
