Culturally Appropriate
Food for Nutrition
Dr Carolyn Dean is a medical doctor and naturopath. She has authored and co-authored over 35 books
Dr. Carolyn Dean
The field of nutrition science in the US needs more cultural diversity, according to several recognized registered dieticians. While nutrition itself is a science, the way people eat and what they choose to eat will be affected by numerous factors, including cultural background, availability of food and personal preferences. The Commission of Dietic Registration shows that of all dieticians in the US, 78% identify as white.
C ult ur a l ly S e n s i ti v e Nu tr i ti on A dv i c e No matter what the cultural background of the dietician, any nutrition advice given needs to be sensitive to the culture of the person receiving it. Income can also play a role in nutrition – those on low incomes are unlikely to be able to afford healthy foods such as avoca-
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Dr. Carolyn Dean
does or salmon, for example, so dieticians need to provide advice that is practical and affordable.
E t hnic Backg r o und s Moving to a new country can be a culture chock in more ways than one. The different types of food on offer can be one of the hardest things to deal with, according to one dietician who moved from Japan to the US as a child. Food plays an important role in Japanese culture in ways that it does not in the US, so establishing healthy eating patterns while adapting to new foods and new customs requires careful consideration.
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Dr Carolyn Dean
More information about Food Justice can be found by visiting the blog of Dr. Carolyn Dean.