These issues are relevant to everyone, and Dietitians and Nutrition (D-N) practitioners are very well positioned to contribute positively because you work in various roles throughout food systems. D-N practitioners around the world define these titles slightly differently, depending on the region and place. What you have in common is work to improve the nutritional health of individuals and groups, from the household to the global level. The sustainability of food systems has direct impacts on your work in many ways.
Watch
Start by watching this video to see some examples of the different ways dietitians can contribute to building a sustainable food system.
How Registered Dietitians are Leading the Sustainable Nutrition Movement (youtube.com) (3 mins)
Presented by Food + Planet
Read
In this section, we encourage you to learn from dietitians sharing about how this knowledge is highly relevant to improved service provision in nutrition and dietetics.
- We ask you to read about examples of roles that D-Ns can, and are, taking to contribute to sustainable food systems. For this we redirect you to Part 2 (pg 6-14) of the Canadian publication, The Role of Dietitians in Sustainable Food Systems and Sustainable Diets, introduced in the previous question in this Learning Module.
- After which, explore the SDG Briefs, which outline not only the relevance to practice but also generate suggestions for potential roles for dietetics. Choose one or two briefs that interest you.
Reflect
After listening and reading, reflect on the following questions.
- In what ways is contributing to SFS relevant to the goals you have in your practice? Think of ways that your clients or your employer benefit from making more sustainable choices. This could be about human, ecological, or social sustainability – or all of them!
- What are 3 ways that you could contribute to SFS in your current role as a D-N?
- Other than the ones relevant to you, what are 3 additional roles or actions that D-N practitioners can use to contribute to SFS?
Keep Learning (Optional Listening)
For those interested in diving deeper into the intersections of food systems, sustainability, and cultural practices, the following podcasts offer rich insights from experts in the field. These optional listening resources provide diverse perspectives on sustainable nutrition and food sovereignty, helping to broaden your understanding of how these topics are applied in practice.
- Voices: Stories about Practice in Sustainable Nutrition talks with D-N practitioners from around the world who share stories about deepening connections between people and food systems and educating future dietitians to face real-world challenges. There are 3 episodes altogether. They were recorded with support from the ICDA SFS Toolkit, but the views expressed are of the speakers themselves.
- Food Sleuth radio with Melinda Hemmelgarn and guest A-dae Romero-Briones (Cochiti/Kiowa), Director of Programs for the First Nations Development Institute explore Indigenous foodways, food sovereignty, and the significance of storytelling in agriculture, offering valuable insights into the history and nature of Indigenous agricultural systems.
Congratulations on finishing Part 2 of Learning Module 2!
Continue to LM2 Part 3: Summary of Learning Module 2 (~10 min)
Return to the Learning Modules’ Main Page
This Toolkit is made to be used & shared - feel free!
Please cite the authors of the resources (and the ICDA SFS Toolkit if you can).
Feedback? Questions? Ideas? Contact the ICDA SFS Coordinator:
ICDAsfs.coordinator@acadiau.ca
