THE DIARY GAME: CLARIFYING WHO I AM (2nd December, 2025)

Greetings, dear Steemians, I am @Aniekan with username @annydee01. Today, I’d like to clarify an important point regarding the Dietetics profession and dispel a prevalent misunderstanding: being a Dietitian is not synonymous with being a chef or cook; rather, it involves being a healthcare professional who utilizes food as a means of managing health conditions.

^{Shoot from Redmi A3X_ At Endocrinology Clinic}

“I am a Dietitian, not a chef or a cook.” This is a statement that many of us in the field wish we didn't have to clarify so often. There seems to be a prevailing belief that when people hear the term Dietitian, they automatically think, “Oh, she must be a great cook.” While this might seem innocent or even flattering, it fundamentally misrepresents who Dietitians are and the expertise we possess.

Dietitians are healthcare professionals, not kitchen staff or chefs. Our primary function is not cooking but rather to apply our knowledge of food and nutrition in the prevention, management, and treatment of illnesses. We access patients, interpret biomedical data, plan therapeutic diets, provide diet counseling to individuals and families, and also collaborate with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure the best patient outcomes. While cooking is a valuable life skill, it does not define what it means to be a Dietitian.

^{Shoot from Redmi A3X_During Health Talk}

To illustrate this further, consider the term “Doctor.” Although it is a broad category, it encompasses numerous specialties such as surgeons, gynecologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and general practitioners, each with unique roles and skills. Just because someone is identified as a doctor, it would be inaccurate to assume they are all capable of performing surgery. Similarly, a Dietitian is a specialized healthcare professional, not merely someone whose main job is to cook.

^{Shoot from Redmi A3X: Attending to Questions in the Ante-natal Clinic}

Dietitians are experts in Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). We leverage evidence-based knowledge about food, nutrients, and metabolism to manage various health conditions including diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, malnutrition, obesity, cancer etc. Our efforts contribute to life-saving care, enhance quality of life, and facilitate recovery.

So, the next time you encounter a Dietitian, remember: we are clinicians utilizing food as a component of medical treatment, not chefs preparing meals in the kitchen.

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