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Dietary Aide Job Description: Top Duties and Requirements

A Dietary Aide, or Dietary Assistant, works to ensure patients staying in a healthcare facility maintain a healthy diet. A Dietary Aide’s primary responsibilities include assisting in all aspects of food service assembly, ensuring all dishes adhere to a particular menu, and maintaining health and sanitization standards.

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Dietary Aide duties and responsibilities

Dietary Aides perform many tasks that relate to the health and nutrition of patients. Duties and responsibilities of a Dietary Aide may include: 

  • Assisting in the training of nutrition services or department staff and students
  • Changing food menus when necessary, in consultation with a Dietitian or Nutrition Services Supervisor
  • Assembling food items and meals for patients in accordance with set menus and portion standards
  • Delivering food to patients in their rooms or a dining hall
  • Setting, clearing, cleaning, and sanitizing dining spaces
  • Following established safety procedures for all food and equipment
  • Ensuring the correct labelling of food and leftovers
  • Taking part in departmental quality control audits and procedures
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Dietary Aide Job Description Examples:

What does a Dietary Aide do?

A Dietary Aide works alongside a Nutrition Services Supervisor to ensure patients receive high-quality, healthy food options. Dietary Aides are responsible for ensuring workstations are clean and well-kept, and ensure food is stored properly. In some settings, the Dietary Aide may oversee cash procedures or operate a cash register. Dietary Aides help to develop menus that meet health standards.

Dietary Aide skills and qualifications

A successful Dietary Aide will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications required for this job, including: 

  • Ability to be an independent contributor and work as part of a team
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills
  • Capable of working efficiently in a fast-paced environment
  • Strong communication skills
  • Ability to work well under pressure
  • Ability to work under minimal supervision and stay self-motivated
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • High interpersonal and customer service skills

Dietary Aide experience requirements

Candidates need experience working in a food service role. They should know how to use commercial kitchen appliances, serve and handle food safely, and thoroughly clean a kitchen after use. Two to three years of kitchen experience prepares candidates with transferrable skills for the role of Dietary Aide. Those with experience working in environments like hotels, cafes, or school cafeterias, have an advantage.

Dietary Aide training and education

Dietary Aides need a high school diploma, GED or higher academic certification to be considered for the role. Candidates with a degree in nutrition are preferable. The Canadian government requires all employees working with food to have a Safe Food Handler’s Certificate, and they must renew it every five years. Candidates should also have an in-depth understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) guidelines.

Dietary Aide salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, average pay for a Dietary Aide in Canada is $17.30 per hour. Wages can vary depending on experience, location, or type of company that is hiring.

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Dietary Aide job description FAQs

What should you look for in a Dietary Aide's resume?

When reviewing resumes for a Dietary Aide role, it is important to look for applicants who have the required certifications. An excellent Dietary Aide candidate has experience either professionally or as a volunteer in the food industry, and is comfortable handling food. Additionally, a good Dietary Aide resume will have experience in a customer service role. Those who have worked in a variety of environments, like small cafes and hotel banquets, likely have work experience that is transferrable to any setting.

What is the difference between a Dietary Aide and a Dietitian?

Some duties and responsibilities overlap between a Dietary Aide and a Dietitian. However, there are also a few significant differences. Both roles centre around food and preparing menus for patients or clients. Dietitians use their knowledge to develop healthy, nutritious menus. They are rarely responsible for handling or serving food. In comparison, a Dietary Aide follows an existing menu and prepares food according to the recipes set out by a Dietitian. Dieticians typically undergo more extensive and focused formal education than Dietary Aides.

What makes a good Dietary Aide job description?

A good job description for a Dietary Aide describes the working environment, the people they serve, and the team culture. Provide an overview of the hours and shift schedules, especially if the position requires availability on nights and weekends. The job description should also detail the necessary skills and qualifications required for the role, like a Safe Food Handler’s Certificate. For roles within a hospital, outline immunization records and other location-specific requirements the candidate will need to present. Make your Dietary Aide job description stand out by featuring a competitive salary range, and any benefits your company offers like RRSP-matching programs.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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