They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but these days a stomach may lead to a fine career.

According to an article on msnbc.com, the country's interest in food has never been higher, and it shows in the diversity of people looking to work with food in some way.

Irena Chalmers, author of a book on working in the food industry, told msnbc "Food is the second-largest employer after the federal government," but points out that people need to think of food professions beyond cooking restaurants to places like retirement homes and supermarkets. Non-cooking jobs are available as well, from food safety to nutrition to research and development.

Some have even found jobs cooking for the actors and actresses of television shows like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, the Times Herald Record reports.

According to the National Restaurant Association, by the end of 2009, 13 million people will be employed by restaurants and other food service outlets. The restaurant industry outpaced the overall economy in job creation for 2008 and is the Association predicts it will again in 2009, which would make 10 years in a row. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job prospects to be "plentiful" through 2016.