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WHY I DIDN’T TRY VEGANUARY! Unless you were hiding in a box for the whole of January, you would have heard about Veganuary,1 where people challenged themselves to follow a vegan diet for the whole month. The main reason for Veganuary was to encourage a more sustainable, plantbased diet. For some people, it was also about highlighting animal cruelty, whereas for others, it was about health. Following an entirely plant-based diet is a challenge in my eyes, but, with careful planning, it’s not entirely unmanageable. I follow a few vegans on social media and I know they cook some fantastic, well-balanced recipes. As I work in inherited metabolic disorders with patients on low protein diets, I know that there are so many vegan terrific alternatives. But Veganuary? As a mother and a dietitian, It wasn’t for me. This is why: • Although, I could give up meat for the month, giving up fish, eggs and dairy would be hard. I have tried some of the dairy-alternative products and don’t like them. The nut milks and some of the yoghurts are lacking in protein, which is the satiety factor. Eggs are such a large part of my diet, eaten daily and I don't think I would want to swap for smashed avocado on toast, nut butters, nuts, or a non-dairy yoghurt and fruit. I'm also not a cereal person anymore. • I would have concerns about consuming an adequate protein intake and gaining optimal nutrition. I would have to remember to take at least a vitamin B12 and a vitamin D supplement and would have to ensure I was getting enough omega-3. I would need to consider the trace elements zinc and selenium,
Sarah Howe Specialist Dietitian
similarly to my patients who avoid meat, fish and dairy. There are many plant-based ways to get iron and calcium, but I'd worry that I wouldn’t manage this daily. I look after a cohort of patients who cannot have lactose at all and are on calcium and vitamin D supplements, despite many having non-dairy alternatives. We always give out advice on how to get calcium from other sources. It's not impossible of course, but it is a challenge. • It would mean a lot of separate meals for my family. Personally, I would never make my young girls follow a vegan diet, as they would need to follow and eat well-planned meals to the letter. It is very easy to fill up on carbohydrates and not get enough protein, calcium, iron, vitamins B12 and D. I'd be reluctant to give them supplements and constantly rely on fortified breakfast cereals and alternative products to try and get iron and calcium into them. I know I couldn't follow a vegan diet, but I would like to try my family on more plant-based meals. For sustainability, we need to monitor how much meat we are consuming too, aiming to be more vegetarian. Some people will have had a successful Veganuary. It is doable with very careful planning, research and some supplementation. Maybe I’ll rethink when the children are older!
Sarah is an experienced NHS Dietitian specialising in the fascinating area of Inherited Metabolic Disorders in adults. In her spare time she enjoys helping her work colleague and good friend, Louise Robertson run her blog 'Dietitian's Life'. She also loves fitness and spending time with her two girls. www. dietitianslife.com
Reference 1 https://veganuary. com/
www.NHDmag.com February 2019 - Issue 141
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EVENTS & COURSES THE ROYAL MARSDEN FOUNDATION TRUST STUDY DAYS: Adult Tracheostomy Care – All You Need to Know 18th March – EVENT ID 696 Enhance your knowledge and skills to care for adult patients with a tracheostomy. The programme consists of lectures, participation, practical sessions and emergency scenarios.
Upcoming events and courses. You can find more by visiting NHD.mag.com
Foundation in Oncology for Speech and Language Therapists 27th June – EVENT ID 680 For healthcare professionals (SLTs and nurses) caring for oncology patients with communication and or swallowing disorders as a result of their oncological diagnosis or treatment, based in an acute setting, community or hospice. The Long-term GI consequences of Cancer Treatment 8th July – EVENT ID 798 For healthcare professionals with a keen interest in cancer survivorship and more particularly GI and nutritional consequences of cancer treatment within a holistic context. Click here for full details . . . www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and-events/conference-centre/ study-days-and-conferences NUTRITION SOCIETY TRAINING ACADEMY - Webinar Nutrition and the ageing immune system 12th February – 1 pm - 2 pm Click here for more . . . www.nutritionsociety.org/events/nutritionand-ageing-immune-system BNF CONFERENCE Nutrition and CVD: The Heart of the Matter 27th February 9 am to 1 pm Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BA Click here for more . . . www.nutrition.org.uk/component/ rseventspro/event/55-bnf-conferencenutrition-cvd-the-heart-of-the-matter.html
DIABETES CONFERENCE 6th to 8th March - ACC Liverpool Click here for more . . . www.diabetes.org.uk/Diabetes-UKProfessional-Conference NUTRITION AND HYDRATION WEEK 11th to 17th March Click here for more . . . www.nutritionandhydrationweek.co.uk RECIPE ANALYSIS: MAXIMISING ACCURACY 22nd March On behalf of Nutrition and Wellbeing, Susan Church Nutrition - Leeds Cookery School Click here for more . . . www.susanchurchnutrition.co.uk/recipeanalysis-training
dieteticJOBS.co.uk DIETITIAN - THE FOOD CHAIN (3 DAYS PER WEEK) - £27,000 PRO RATA The Food Chain is a unique charity that exists to support people living with HIV in London to access good nutrition. We now have an opportunity for a part-time Dietitian to join our small staff team. The Dietitian is a vital link in The Food Chain. You will be our in-house expert, ensuring that each and every one of the people we support every year gets the correct nutritional support to help them get well, stay well and live independently. You will ensure that we reach the right people, and get the right level of support and education to them, at the right time. As the first and regular point of contact for referrers as well as service users, you will
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www.NHDmag.com February 2019 - Issue 141
have a good knowledge of nutrition for people living with HIV. For further information and a detailed job description please see our website here . . . To apply for this role please email recruitment@ foodchain.org.uk with a CV and covering letter (approx. 1000 words) explaining how you meet the experience, knowledge and competencies as set out in the job description, be sure to clearly state the job title in the subject of the email. Deadline for applications is 18:00 on Wednesday 6th February. Interviews will be held w/c 11th February.
Coming in the March issue: • Paediatric food allergy
• Congenital hyper-insulinism • Healthy eating on a budget
• Pancreatitis: new guidelines • Food-first approach _______
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