Poor nutrition is one of the top drivers of disease and early death across Australasia, however most health professionals are taught very little about nutrition.

Health promotion charity Doctors For Nutrition is on a mission to fill this education gap and raise awareness of how healthy food can save lives.

Led by a team of medical doctors and dietitians, the charity provides free educational resources and events for health practitioners in Australia and New Zealand.

Their ‘Food Vitals’ series of interactive webinars has been incredibly popular, with thousands of nurses, midwives, doctors and other health professionals taking part.

Interested in nutrition? Here are three easy ways to start improving your knowledge, step by step.

1. Register for the next free ‘Food VItals’ webinar here, as well as view previous webinars with expert speakers, covering topics from cardiovascular disease to the gut microbiome.
    
2. Order a complementary ‘Plant-based nutrition and health’ toolkit to be sent to you by mail. or download for instant access. Each kit contains an introductory guide, dietary assessment tool, patient handout, shopping ideas list and a poster to display in your workplace.
    
3. Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Emma Strutt, recommends trialling Doctors For Nutrition’s new collection of recipes which are perfect to signpost patients to. This ‘Cooking for Nutrition’ resource provides plenty of tips for people new to healthy cooking, as well as a simple meal plan.

Dr Heleen Roex, Co-founder and Board Chair, explains why these resources are so useful. “A whole food plant-based eating pattern is a scientifically proven approach that empowers patients to treat and prevent disease, starting in their own kitchens.

With the right tools, health professionals can support patients to take steps towards a healthier diet and improve quality of life and health outcomes.”

Learn more about Doctors For Nutrition via www.doctorsfornutrition.org.