Dietary Aide

You’re familiar with the statistics: 63% of Americans are considered overweight or obese. You know the value of healthy eating, so it’s hard to flip burgers or serve oversized portions at chain restaurants because you know customers’ health is on the line. But you’ve got to start somewhere if you want a career where you work with food. So what do you do?

If you’re interested in nutrition, becoming a Dietary Aide is a great way to get your feet wet because you’ll work in a kitchen that prizes health over sales. Plus, there isn’t any advanced dietetic training required to get started. You should realize, however, that this position is at the bottom of the totem pole. Dietary Aides will be scrubbing dishes, lifting heaving bags and serving food.

What you’ll gain from this experience is an intimate knowledge of all the moving parts that make a kitchen run. You’ll also learn how hospital kitchens are different from restaurant kitchens. For instance, part of your job as Dietary Aide will be helping the Cooks prepare food. You must always use precise measurements because every morsel of food your department serves must comply with the Dietitian ’s menu plan. A little extra salt here and or a larger cut of meat there and the nutritional breakdown of the meal could be compromised. If you’re a precise person, you’ll excel in this profession.

As a Dietary Aide, you’ll also get plenty of experience following state and federal care regulations and dietary department policies. The more familiar you are with procedures, the faster you will acclimate to life in the nutrition field.