Working as a nutrition professional in Hong Kong

Go back

Learn in-depth about the qualifications and associations in Hong Kong for Nutritionists and Dietitians, the dietary guidelines, and how they differ from Australian guidelines.

Qualifications & Associations

Step 1: Is your qualification recognised?

If you have graduated from Monash then, for the most part, yes!

For Nutritionists

As of February 2023, no information on regulatory bodies for nutritionists in Hong Kong can be found.

According to the Hong Kong Nutritionist Association (HKNA), a qualified nutritionist is:

A holder of an university/ institutional degree recognised by the HKNA majoring in either dietetics or nutrition.

For Dietitians

As of February 2023, dietitians in Hong Kong are not subject to statutory registration, but can be accredited under The Hong Kong Academy of Accredited Dietitians (HKAAD) on a voluntary basis.

According to the Hong Kong Dietitians Associations, a qualified dietitian is:

An Accredited Practising Dietitian of the Dietitians Australia, or;
A member of Hong Kong Academy of Accredited Dietitians, or;
Holding an equivalent dietitian qualification in:
- 1. the United Kingdom;
  2. the United States of America;
  3. Canada.

Step 2: Are there any professional associations that offer support?

Joining a country's professional association(s) is a good way to gain a better understanding of how things operate, as well as to build connections.

The following professional associations in Hong Kong, membership requirements, and the benefits of joining are summarised below*:

Hong Kong Dietitians Associations (HKDA)

There is no need to join to be accredited.

Eligibility

Ordinary member:

You are eligible to join the association as if you:

1) Hold one of the dietitian qualifications listed in step 1.

Full member:

You are eligible if you:

1) Maintain the ordinary Membership for at least 9 months, and;

2) Fulfill the requirements for the Continuing Dietetic Education of the Association, and;

3) Pay for membership fee

Benefits

HKDA membership provides:

1) Continuing Dietetic Education opportunities.

2) Continuing Education Fund.

3) Access to job openings.

4) Chances to network with fellow dietitians.

The Hong Kong Academy of Accredited Dietitians (HKAAD)

HKAAD is the accreditation body responsible for maintaining a register of Accredited Dietitians under the Accredited Registers Scheme for Healthcare Professions, Department of Health.

Eligibility

Member:

You are eligible to join the association as if you:

1) Hold one of the dietitian qualifications listed in step 1, and;

2) Pay for the membership fee.

Benefits

HKAAD memberships provides:

1) Guidelines and policies to maintain professional standards in the field of dietetics in Hong Kong.

2) Eligibility for usage of Healthcare Voucher.

Hong Kong Nutrition Association (HKNA)

HKNA is for both nutritionists and dietitians. There is no need to join to be accredited.

Eligibility

Member:

You are eligible to join the association as if you:

1) Hold one of the dietitian or nutritionist qualifications listed in step 1, and;

2) Pay for membership fee, and;

3) Fulfil CE point requirement for membership renewal

Benefits

HKNA membership provides:

1) Nutrition programs and research, and public education projects in partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations

2) Networking events

Hong Kong Practising Dietitians Union (HKPDU)

Eligibility

Full Member:

You are eligible to join the association as if you:

1) Hold one of the dietitian qualifications listed in step 1 , and;

2) Pay for membership fee.

Benefits

HKPDU memberships provides:

1) Networking, bonding activities

2) Welfare (e.g. discounts)

*The information was collected in February 2023, and is subject to change.

We had a chat with a few working professionals to gain insight on their experiences in Hong Kong associations and their views on a range of topics.

Please note, the information shared by these professionals are not representative of their respective organisations, and are based purely from their personal experiences and views.

Hong Kong Nutrition Association (HKNA)

- Dr. Kenneth Lo

Member of Hong Kong Nutrition Association (HKNA)
Assistant Prof of Food Science and nutrition at Hong Kong Polytechnic University/Registered Nutritionist
PhD

Kenneth, a Hong Kong nutritionist who shares experience and understanding about Hong Kong Nutrition Association (HKNA) and his nutrition scope of practices, social media practices and points of view about future nutritional development trends in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Academy of Accredited Dietitians (HKAAD) - Ms. Peggy Yip

Member of Hong Kong Academy of Accredited Dietitians (HKAAD) and Hong Kong Dietitians Association (HKDA)
Lecturer of Food and Nutrition program in CUHK/Registered Dietitian in the US
- MPH of Community Nutrition

Peggy, a Hong Kong dietitian who graduated in the US shares understanding of Hong Kong Academy of Accredited Dietitians (HKAAD), her dietetic practice, career pathway and future dietetics development trends in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Dietitians Association (HKDA)

- Ms. Chloe Lee

Member of Hong Kong Dietitians Association (HKDA)
Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) in Hong Kong
Master of Dietetics, Monash University

Chloe Lee shares her experience and understanding about the Hong Kong Dietitians Association (HKDA), also the dietetics scope of practices, social media practices and her points of view about future trends of dietetics development in Hong Kong.

Understanding the Hong Kong Dietary Guidelines

There may be some differences between Australia's dietary guidelines and your intended country of practice.

Hong Kong's Healthy Eating Food Pyramid is shown below, along with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE) as a comparison. Do take note of the key differences between the two guides!

Hong Kong Healthy Food Pyramid

Key differences compared to AGHE

Legumes and beans are only found in vegetables.
Root vegetables (e.g., potatoes and sweet potatoes) are not counted as part of the daily 3 or more servings of vegetables, which is why they are not illustrated in the infographic. They are commonly eaten as replacements for grains.
Discretionary foods are not included in the infographic.

Hong Kong Dietary Guideline Information

Last date guideline was reviewed/updated:

20/01/2023

Date accessed:

02/2023

Language:

Infographic available bilingually (English & Chinese)

Key evidence that influence the food recommendations:

WHO recommendations
Chinese NRVs
Food consumption survey
Total diet study

Are there modified versions for certain major cultural groups?

None identified

Guiding Principles:

Choose a variety of food and eat grains as the largest portion of food in every meal.
Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit.
Eat a moderate amount of milk, meat, fish, egg and their alternatives (including dry beans).
Reduce intake of foods with high fat/oil, salt and sugar content as well as those preserved and processed foods.
Drink adequate amount of fluid every day (including water, tea, clear soup, etc).
Have regular meal at regular time.

The following information can also be found in the dietary guidelines:

Alcohol consumption
Free sugar and salt consumption
Saturated fat consumption
Processed foods
Reduced fat options for dairy
Fibre consumption

Hong Kong Serves and Serving Sizes

Bowl (250-300ml) for “grains”, “fruits”, “vegetables” food groups

“Grains” food group: 1 bowl =
- Cooked rice, 1 bowl
- Cooked noodles, 1 1⁄4 bowls
- Bread, 2 slices
“Vegetables” food group: 1 serving =
- Cooked vegetables, 1⁄2 bowl
- Raw vegetables, 1 bowl
“Fruits” food group: 1 serving =
- Medium-sized fruit, 1 piece
- Small-sized fruit, 2 pieces
- Diced or canned fruit (no added sugar), ½ bowl
- Juice, 180ml (¾ cup)
“Meat, fish, egg and alternatives” food group: 1 tael =
- Size of a table tennis ball for cooked meat (approx. 30 g, 4-5 slices)
- Egg, 1 piece
- Silky tofu, 1 piece
“Dairy and alternatives” food group: 1 serving =
- Milk, 1 cup
- Cheese, 2 slices
- Yoghurt, 1 pot (150g)