Examples of How Dietitians can Help Others by Planning Meals

            Nutrition is an important profession because it benefits people in many ways. I chose to major in nutrition and dietetics because I want to help others achieve a healthy lifestyle. Dietitians or RD's assist their patients in planning a meal plan specifically for them because they may have allergies, eating disorders, or are ill. They can even help the aging population, such as the Baby Boomer generation. People with allergies need to take extra precautions when eating, therefore going to see a dietitian will benefit them by avoiding certain foods that could cause allergic reactions. Females today in our society are becoming unhealthy due to the media portraying women with alarmingly slim figures. This can be a bad influence on younger females because it will cause them to starve themselves, thus developing eating disorders. These eating disorders are called anorexia and bulimia. Anorexia is an eating disorder where people will refuse to eat because they think it will cause them to become fat. Bulimia is another type of eating disorder that causes the person purge their food consistently which causes unhealthy weight loss. Dietitians can help these people by creating a meal plan that is extremely healthy. For instance, they may suggest the patient to eat more protein that will help gain back the muscles that have wasted away due to malnutrition. As for illnesses, dietitians can assist patients with diabetes plan meals that will help them maintain a healthy blood sugar range. The Baby Boomer generation makes up the majority of the elderly. They will need meals that will aid them in keeping their body strong and healthy.