Past Events

Doctors For Nutrition’s webinar highlights the proven benefits of plant-based dietary patterns for cardiometabolic health.

In this webinar, Doctors For Nutrition invites you to hear directly from Assistant Professor, Matthew Landry, the lead author of the 'Twin Study,' featured in the Netflix series ‘You Are What You Eat’. Discover how to overcome barriers to dietary change and facilitate lasting success. Health professionals will gain valuable insights on how to guide patients with CVD towards whole food plant-based diets.

The webinar consisted of a live presentation followed by a Q&A session.

Presenter:
Matthew Landry, PhD, RDN, DipACLM, FAND, FAHA

Doctors For Nutrition’s webinar highlights the Five Proven Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet for Sports Performance.

It's exciting to witness a growing body of research supporting plant-based diets for athletes. The findings from recent studies and systematic reviews highlight several key points, including:

1. Nutritional Adequacy
2. Performance Benefits
3. Recovery

The evidence supports the idea that a well-planned plant-based diet can be highly effective for athletes, helping them achieve their peak performance and enhance recovery while meeting all their nutritional needs.

Doctors For Nutrition invites you to hear, first hand, from those who have benefited from a plant-based diet in their own sports disciplines. Health professionals will learn how to provide guidance in recommending whole food plant-based nutrition to their athletic patients.

The webinar consisted of a panel presentation followed by a Q&A session.

Panelists:
Dr Leila Dehghan-Zaklaki, PlantEd Academy, UK
Maeve Frawley, Strongwoman, UK
Ben Eitelberg, Endurance athlete, NZ

Doctors For Nutrition’s webinar addresses the question: What is lifestyle medicine?

In partnership with the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine (IBLM), Doctors For Nutrition is excited to offer the certification pathway for physicians and healthcare professionals in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands to become an IBLM Diplomate (dipIBLM).

Extending beyond the adoption of a whole food, plant-based eating pattern, Doctors For Nutrition also acknowledges the importance of the remaining five pillars of lifestyle medicine: physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection. These pillars play a crucial role in the effective prevention and management of chronic disease. The alignment between IBLM and Doctors For Nutrition reflects a shared vision of a world free from preventable disease, enabling everyone to thrive and live to their full potential.

Learn more about the certification process here.

Panelists
Stephan Herzog - Executive Director, American & Internationals Boards of Lifestyle Medicine
Dr Sam Gartland - GP & Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner
Dr Catherine Gray - GP, Occupational & Lifestyle Medicine Physician

The Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADGs) are under review for the first time in a decade. Doctors For Nutrition has been actively contributing to the ADGs process over the past 18-months to drive a shift towards more plant-centric guidelines. 

The need to update information in the ADGs on sustainable diets  (accessible, affordable and equitable diets with low environmental impacts) has been  identified as a high priority area by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), who are leading the review.

In response, the NHMRC is establishing a Sustainability Working Group that will provide advice on the strength and quality of evidence about sustainability and diets to the ADGs Expert Committee.

Doctors For Nutrition would like to invite our audience to hear what leading experts on sustainability have to say about:

• how our current ADGs stack up
• what unique hurdles Australia needs to overcome 
• why our current dietary patterns cannot deliver on our sustainability goals

The webinar consisted of a panel discussion followed by a Q&A session, during which live participants had the opportunity to have their questions answered by our panel of experts. 

Cancer remains a major public health concern in Australia and New Zealand, with diagnoses expected to exceed 200,000 annually in Australia by 2034 and 25,000 cases per year in New Zealand. This rising burden places significant pressure on healthcare systems, driving up costs and demand for oncology services.

Diet is a major modifiable risk factor. The Western diet—high in processed foods, saturated fats, and animal protein—promotes chronic inflammation and ranks high on the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), contributing to cancer development via immune dysfunction and oxidative stress.

In contrast, whole food plant-based (WFPB) diets are rich in fibre, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, offering anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits that may reduce cancer risk. For those undergoing treatment, WFPB diets can also enhance immune function and support recovery.

GPs and related healthcare professionals play a key role in prevention and early detection. This webinar equips healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based guidance on using plant-based nutrition and lifestyle strategies to reduce cancer risk and support long-term health.

Following the recorded presentation is a question and answer section that was answered live by Dr Handolias.

Speaker

Despina is a clinical medical oncologist with over 15 years of experience in private practice. She has previously worked in Australia and the UK in both clinical and research roles. Despina earned a research higher degree (MD) from the University of Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, specialising in therapeutic and molecular oncology. Her work has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications in this field.

Her clinical interests include gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, and lung cancer. She has a special interest in integrating lifestyle medicine in cancer care for risk reduction. Despina is a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician (2021) and a member of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine (ASLM). She actively promotes lifestyle medicine, with an emphasis on nutrition in clinical practice and through social media platforms (@veganoncologist) to empower patients and the general community through evidence-driven education on lifestyle measures to reduce cancer risk. She’s an invited speaker by local and international community and medical groups, on the impact of nutrition and other lifestyle measures in cancer care.

This Food Vitals webinar provides GPs with vital information on how an eating pattern focussed on unprocessed, whole plant foods can help patients to prevent, reduce and manage age-related diseases and multimorbidity. They can use this knowledge to provide effective care and make recommendations regarding diet and lifestyle modifications for their ageing patients.

The Standard Australian Diet rates high on the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) due to the high intake of saturated fat and cholesterol from animal products and processed foods. An inflammatory diet is linked with chronic disease, faster ageing, the development of frailty and Alzheimer’s Disease. Conversely, a diet centred around whole plant foods, containing fibre, phytonutrients and antioxidants, is very anti-inflammatory.  As ageing can be thought of as an inflammatory disease, a whole food plant-based diet can help mitigate the onset of age-related diseases. With currently more than one in three general practice encounters being people aged 65 or older, the pressure on our healthcare system will only continue to rise.

Following the recorded presentation is a question and answer section that was answered live by Dr Greger.

Speaker

A founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, Michael Greger, MD, is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition. He has videos on more than 2,000 health topics freely available at NutritionFacts.org, with new videos and articles uploaded almost every day. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, testified before Congress, and was invited as an expert witness in the defense of Oprah Winfrey in the infamous “meat defamation” trial. He is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. Three of his recent books— How Not to Die (with over a million copies sold), the How Not to Die Cookbook, and How Not to Diet all became instant New York Times Best Sellers. His latest two books, How to Survive a Pandemic and the How Not to Diet Cookbook, were released in 2020. All proceeds he receives from the sales of his books go to charity.

This Food Vitals webinar will explore the evidence that a plant-based diet can manage menopausal symptoms.

Most women will go through physical and emotional changes, and experience unwanted symptoms, during the transition through perimenopause to menopause. Around 80% of women will experience a variety of menopausal symptoms that interfere with daily life, with around 20% of women experiencing moderate to severe hot flushes. These changes in hormonal levels can extend to overall health and mental wellbeing. Menopause is also associated with increased prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis.

The standard Western diet is pro-inflammatory due to the high prevalence of processed foods, saturated fats, and cholesterol. The diet of Australians and New Zealanders rates high on the Dietary Inflammatory Index and is linked with a higher risk of the development of chronic diseases and menopausal symptoms.

A diet centred around whole plant foods can help mitigate the symptoms experienced during menopause, including hot flushes.

Speaker

Dr Nitu Bajekal, MD is a Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in London, UK with nearly 40 years of clinical experience in women’s health. Her special interests include Lifestyle Medicine, Menopause, PCOS, Endometriosis, period problems, complex vulval problems and medical education. She is a keyhole surgeon with experience in laparoscopic procedures including robotics. She is a Fellow of the Royal College and recipient of the Indian President’s Gold medal. Dr Bajekal is one of the first board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physicians in the UK. She has written the women’s health module for the first UK plant-based nutrition course at Winchester University. She has co-authored the women’s health chapter for an academic book for health professionals (Plant Based Nutrition in Clinical Practice, Sep 2022). She is a speaker at Holistic Holiday at Sea (HHAS), speaking on menopause, PCOS and women’s health issues.

This Food Vitals webinar explored the evidence showing that a plant-based diet can help manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and even put it into remission.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition characterised by chronic inflammation that can result in joint tenderness, swelling and severe pain. The disease affects about 456,000 Australians and 40,000 New Zealanders accounting for approximately 13% of all arthritic conditions. Although the cause of RA is not completely understood, lifestyle factors and dietary intake can have a significant influence on levels of inflammation in the body. Western diets, especially those high in red and processed meat and dairy, increase inflammation. Many studies have demonstrated that a whole food plant-based (WFPB) diet, low in saturated fat, reduces symptoms and improves function in RA patients. In addition, maintenance of a healthy body weight, achieved on a WFPB diet, further reduces the risk of developing RA.

Speakers

Dr Wendy Walrabenstein is a registered (clinical) dietitian, researcher and lecturer. She works as PhD researcher (Amsterdam UMC) at Reade rehabilitation & rheumatology in Amsterdam, and is a lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Science. In addition to research Dr Walrabenstein now speaks, teaches and writes about health & lifestyle. Her mission to make people feel better through lifestyle improvement, to extend the healthy lifespan.

Australian-born stand-up comedian Clint Paddison's career rise was abruptly halted in 2006 when he was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and within two years he could barely walk with inflammation spreading to more than 20 joints in his body. After conventional treatments failed him, Clint turned his health around with a unique plant-based diet and exercise combination to become symptom free and drug free.

This Food Vitals webinar explored the evidence that a plant-based diet can prevent a diagnosis and recurrence of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed and the second most common cause of cancer death in women, with one in seven women developing the disease. Lifestyle factors, especially the standard Western diet, appear to play a major role in the development and progression of breast cancer. Eating a whole food plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans - while avoiding meat, dairy, and other animal products - promotes breast health.

Speaker

Dr Kristi Funk is a board-certified General Surgeon who completed a Surgical Breast Oncology Fellowship. She specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of all benign and malignant breast diseases. She is an expert in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr Funk's compassion and skill together create a caring, comprehensive patient experience. She embraces ideas of prevention and alternative therapies, but when illness is real, she knows how to cure it.

Skin conditions comprise 17% of all problems encountered in general practice, and GPs require a wide range of expertise in assisting patients with these. Acne is a common skin condition, and although it is most common in adolescence, acne can occur at any age. In Australia and New Zealand, it is estimated that 93% of young people experience the condition, which can continue into adulthood.

This webinar provides GPs with information on how an eating pattern focussed on unprocessed, whole plant foods can reduce the occurrence and severity of acne. They can then use this to make recommendations regarding dietary modifications to their patients to treat the common condition.

Speaker

Dr Niyati Sharma (MBBS | FACD | MPH) is a qualified Dermatologist and is a fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists. She is a consultant dermatologist at the Box Hill Hospital and the Monash Medical Centre.

Raised in Melbourne, Dr Sharma undertook her undergraduate medical degree (MBBS) at Adelaide University before coming back to Melbourne to undertake her internship at Royal Melbourne Hospital. After a few years of working in different parts of Australia, including remote areas, she decided to specialise in Dermatology.

As part of her four year postgraduate training, Dr Sharma spent one year in Singapore at the National Skin Centre learning the nuances of treating Asian skin and their diseases. After finishing her Dermatology fellowship exams (FACD), Dr Sharma undertook a sub-speciality fellowship at Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago in paediatric dermatology. This institution is a world leader in treating children’s skin diseases. Dr Sharma worked under the guidance of Professor Mancini and Professor Amy Paller, two prominent figures in dermatology.

Dr Sharma has also undertaken her Masters of Public Health (MPH), specialising in nutrition, policy and advocacy, at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. Dr Sharma opened Inside Out Dermatology to help patients approach their skin diseases in a holistic manner.

This Food Vitals webinar explored the evidence that a plant-based diet and other lifestyle modifications can reduce the risk factors and comorbidities associated with the development of chronic kidney disease.

With approximately 1 in 3 Australians and New Zealanders at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). many are unaware they likely have CKD yet it is still under-recognised and may go undiagnosed. Prevention, early detection and treatment are especially important for kidney disease because chronic kidney damage is most often permanent. The two most common and significant risk factors of CKD are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are often a result of energy dense, nutrient poor, highly processed Western diets. A diet centred around eating whole plant foods has been shown to be protective of the development of CKD and can directly address the root cause of the majority of CKD cases.

Speaker

Dr Anis Ta’eed is a Nephrologist from Melbourne, currently living in Fiji, who is passionate about the benefits of whole food plant-based diets for kidney health as well as for overall chronic disease management.

Dr Ta’eed has been a member of Doctors For Nutrition since attending the inaugural Nutrition in Healthcare Conference in February 2019. He has since presented at the second conference in 2023 on the topic of Type 2 Diabetes. He’s become one of the charity’s valued expert volunteers.

This webinar explored how GPs and other health professionals can support their female patients to use dietary modifications as a first-line therapy for the management of PCOS.

Speakers

Dr Nitu Bajekal MD is a Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in the UK with over 35 years of clinical experience in women’s health. Her special interests include Lifestyle Medicine, PCOS, Endometriosis, period problems, perimenopause and menopause, precancer, complex vulval problems and medical education. She is a keyhole surgeon with experience in laparoscopic procedures including robotics. She is the co-author of Living PCOS Free along with her daughter and nutritionist, Rohini Bajekal. Dr Bajekal is a Fellow of the Royal College and recipient of the Indian President’s Gold medal. She is one of the first board-certified Lifestyle Medicine Physicians in the UK. She has written the women’s health module for the first UK University based plant based nutrition course. Dr Bajekal is passionate about spreading health awareness, providing reliable medical and lifestyle information for the general public, doctors, workplaces and schools.

Rohini Bajekal (MA Oxon, MSc Nutrition and Food Sciences, Dip IBLM) is a nutritionist and board-certified Lifestyle Medicine professional. Having previously worked in Mumbai, India and Singapore, Rohini is now based in London and provides 1-1 evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle advice to her clients around the world. An avid recipe developer, Rohini is passionate about making delicious and nourishing plant-based meals. In her spare time, she volunteers as a cookery teacher at Made in Hackney, the UK's only plant-based cookery school and charity. Rohini leads communications at Plant-Based Health Professionals UK and is part of the Dietitian and Nutritionist Advisory Committee at Diet ID. Together with her mother, Dr Nitu Bajekal, ObGyn, Rohini co-authored Living PCOS Free: How to Regain Your Hormonal Health with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in 2022.

This Food Vitals webinar explored how a whole food, plant-based lifestyle can help prevent, manage, and reverse many common lifestyle-related diseases and improve quality of life. Dr Luke Wilson delved into key conditions that affect men, how they develop and how these are linked with poor nutrition. A panel discussion explored how GPs and other health professionals can support their male patients to prevent and even reverse many common health conditions affecting men through diet and lifestyle changes.

Speakers

Dr Luke Wilson is a General Practitioner from Wellington, New Zealand, and is Board Certified by the International Board of Lifestyle Medicine and is a Director at Doctors For Nutrition. He has experience helping hundreds of people transform their lives by adopting a whole foods plant-based lifestyle, particularly through his work on the BROAD Study.

Ryan Alexander is co-founder & Managing Director of No Meat May, a growing global movement inspiring and supporting people to shift to a plant rich diet during May, and beyond.

Ben Adusei is a Men's Health Trust New Zealand Ambassador and is on a mission to help change the face of men’s health. To support, educate, and create plans that are focused on personalisation, prevention, protection by being proactive and creating the environment that allows men to thrive.

This webinar explores how GPs and other health professionals can support their patients with autoimmune disorders to put this condition into remission through nutrition. Dr Brooke Goldner, MD, presents compelling information on the role of nutrition and autoimmunity.

Speaker

Dr Goldner is a board certified medical doctor and the author of 3 best-selling books. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with honors for genetic research in leukemia and neurobiology, was a graduate of the Temple University School of Medicine, was Chief Resident at UCLA-Harbor Residency, and is the sole autoimmune professor for the Plant-Based Nutrition Certification from Cornell University.

This webinar explores how GPs and other health professionals can support their patients with T2DM to put this condition into remission through nutrition. Dr. Neal Barnard (MD, FACC, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C.) presents compelling research on nutrition and T2DM.

Speaker

Dr Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, Adjunct Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. and President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), is also an author of a great many books on nutrition. Dr Barnard’s research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, paved the way for viewing type 2 diabetes as a potentially reversible condition for many people. Dr Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research. His research contributed to the acceptance of plant-based diets in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In 2015, he was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2016, he founded the Barnard Medical Center in Washington, DC, as a model for making nutrition a routine part of all medical care.

In this Food Vitals webinar we explore the evidence around and benefits of eating for planetary and personal health, the role and importance of GPs in encouraging communities to shift towards healthy and sustainable diets, and learn skills and develop confidence to communicate to patients how to eat sustainably and improve their personal health.

Speakers:

Dr George Crisp, General Practitioner; Dr Nicole Sleeman, General Practitioner; Dr Cristina Cleghorn, Senior Research Fellow @University of Otago; Dr Chris Vogliano, Technical Advisor @Food Systems at USAID Advancing Nutrition; Dr Peter Johnston, Accredited Practicing Dietitian @Perfect Human Food

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

In this Food Vitals webinar Dr Shireen Kassam, Consultant Haematologist and founder of Plant-based health professionals UK explores what the latest evidence shows is the best diet for health and how clinicians can better support patients and communities with healthier eating patterns.

Speaker:

Dr Shireen Kassam, MBBS, FRCPath, PhD

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

In this Food Vitals webinar, Dr Alan Desmond, Consultant Gastroenterologist discusses the healthcare burden of colorectal cancer in high income countries including Australia and New Zealand and the roles that common dietary components play in influencing the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Dr Alan Desmond teaches us how to provide clear evidence-based diet and lifestyle advice to help patients and clients reduce their personal risk.

Speaker:

Dr Alan Desmond, MB, BCH, BAO, BMEDSC, MRCPI, FRCP

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

In this Food Vitals webinar, award-winning neurologists Drs Dean and Ayesha Sherzai join Hannah from Doctors For Nutrition to illuminate the steps to long term brain health, with a focus on nutrition. They answer the question: Is it possible to prevent and reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and cognitive decline? If so, what role does a healthy diet play and how can health professionals support patients to eat well?

Speakers:

Dr Dean Sherzai and Dr Ayesha Sherzai

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

This recording is from the fourth and final "Food Vitals" webinar in Series 1, from Doctors For Nutrition, held in December 2020. In this session our panelists shared their expertise and experiences with cardiovascular disease, nutrition and COVID-19.

Speakers:

Dr Kim Williams, Dr Andrew Davies, Dr Ahmad Farshid, Dr Andrew Little and Adam Guthrie

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

In this session of the Doctors For Nutrition "Food Vitals" webinar series, our panelists explored how whole food plant-based nutrition improves health outcomes for women and supports long term health in children.

Speakers:

Dr Gemma Newman, Dr Heleen Haitjema, Dr Preeya Alexander and Deeni Betar-Young APD

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

In this Doctors For Nutrition "Food Vitals" webinar, our speakers explored the evidence on nutrition in the management of inflammatory bowel disease and gut disorders, and a live Q&A.

Speakers:

Dr Alan Desmond, Angela Genoni PhD, Dr Alyce Churchill and Dr Libby Forsyth

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

This webinar was the first in the Doctors For Nutrition “Food Vitals” series 1, providing a detailed exploration of the evidence for whole food plant-based nutrition, and a live Q&A.

Speakers:

Dr Adrian Griscti, MBBS, FACRRM, FASLM; Emma Strutt APD, FASLM; Drew Harrisberg, Exercise Physiologist (and athlete thriving with type 1 diabetes) and Dr Libby Forsyth

Access:

Given the digital nature and immediate accessibility of our on-demand webinars, all associated fees are non-refundable. Paid members will be able to access the webinar recordings for free. Please see our refund policy here.

Doctors For Nutrition were proud sponsors of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine Conference, LM23. The event offered high-level training for health professionals in the application and implementation of Lifestyle Medicine.

The Australasian Nutrition in Healthcare Conference was held in Melbourne from 17-19 February 2023.

We were honoured to welcome world-class speakers to help us unpack the evidence and give our delegates what they need to tackle a wide variety of health conditions, many prevented or reversed through a diet abundant in whole plant-foods.

Missed out on NIHC23? Register to access our on demand recordings now!

The Nutrition in Healthcare Conference on demand offering is approved for 11 CPD hours (Educational Activities) with the RACGP and ACRRM.

DFN board director Dr Luke Wilson was a speaker at the inaugural South Pacific Society of Lifestyle Medicine Conference where the theme was "Turning the Tide on NCDs – It Starts with Us”. The 3-day event in March 2020 explored evidence-based strategies to empower health professionals as “change agents” in helping combat the NCD crisis.

Virtual medical education conference hosted by the Plantrician Project (USA) focused on the current and progressive scientific research conveying the efficacy of using whole food plant-based nutrition in a food-as-medicine first approach to preventing and treating chronic disease. Read about their upcoming conference.

Doctors For Nutrition's co-founder, Dr Heleen Roex-Haitjema, will be speaking on the last day of 2019's Global Health Conference held by the Australian Medical Students Association in Sydney.

The Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine's 2020 conference was delivered as a fully-online event over the weekend of 4-6 December (RACGP CPD points available).

The inaugral Australasian Nutrition in Healthcare Conference (NIHC2019).

Looking for plant-based recipes that are big on flavour and familiar in feel?

This FREE live cooking demo with Doctors For Nutrition Co-Founder Dr Heleen Haitjema and CEO Rebecca Stonor showcased two brand-new recipes designed to appeal to everyone at the table—not just those already eating plant-based.

Unlike our usual demos, these dishes are crafted with transition-friendly ingredients that offer a taste and texture closer to what many are used to in a standard Western diet. Still oil-free and nutritious, but with a flavour profile that may help your friends and family finally get it.

On the menu:

• Make the Switch Lasagne
• Decadent Chocolate Mousse

Included was a Q&A with Nina Trinquet, Accredited Practising Dietitian, featured in our Make the Switch course.

This session was ideal for those looking to:

• Support curious loved ones in making the switch
• Refresh their meal ideas with more accessible, prep-ahead dishes
• Learn realistic, step-by-step ways to move towards a plant-based lifestyle

During the festive season, it’s important to have some delicious whole food plant-based dishes in your cooking repertoire to share with loved ones.

Dr Heleen Haitjema, DFN Co-Founder and Board Chair, and Rebecca Stonor, DFN CEO, demonstrated how to make some fabulous whole food plant-based Christmas recipes based around what our valued members voted on most: a show-stopping main meal for special occasions! Both recipes were simple, delicious and look sensational on any festive table! These are easy to make ahead of time and are also great ideas to bring along to a gathering. DFN members can log into the membership portal to access the recording and the exclusive recipes.

'Plant-iful Plates for a Purpose' is designed to bring friends, family, and colleagues together over a whole food plant-based meal while raising money for DFN. It’s very easy to do! You simply host a plant-based meal or workplace morning or afternoon tea, and in return your guests bring along a donation!

To kick things off, join Doctors for Nutrition Co-Founder, Dr Heleen Haitjema, and Social Media and Events Lead, Rebecca Stonor, for some inspiring whole food plant-based recipes that everyone at your table will love!

We will prepare two recipes during the demonstration that are simple, delicious and family friendly! These are easy to make ahead of time and are also great ideas to bring along to a gathering.

On the menu:
• Neatballs on garlickly mashed potatoes
• Carrot cake baked oatmeal

The cooking demo will be informal and we encourage you to ask questions throughout.

If you would like to cook along, an email will be sent to registrants two days prior to the event with a list of ingredients, equipment and preparation tips to ensure a smooth and successful evening.

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s important to have some delicious whole food plant-based festive dishes in your cooking repertoire to share with loved ones. 

Join Dr Heleen Haitjema (DFN Co-founder and Chair of the Board) and Rebecca Stonor (Social Media and Events Lead) who will be cooking up a storm and sharing some tips to help navigate the festive season on a WFPB diet.

They will be cooking a couple of delicious recipes that will be sure to please everyone. 

On the menu:

• Lentil and walnut stuffed cauliflower
• Chickpea salad with orange miso dressing

Cook along with us, or you are welcome to just watch and be inspired!

On 11 January 2025, we held a community potluck dinner with special guest Prof Kim Williams, renowned US plant-based cardiologist.

At Doctors For Nutrition, we know the power of coming together. Community events like this potluck dinner are a chance to connect, share inspiration, and learn from one another on the plant-based journey.

Prof Kim A Williams is professor of medicine and chair of the University of Louisville Department of Medicine. He has held prestigious positions at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, where he started the Urban Cardiology Initiative. Former President of the American College of Cardiology, Williams’s areas of interest include cardionephrology, cardionutrition, cardiorheumatology and preventive cardiology. He earned his bachelor of arts and M.D. degrees from University of Chicago, where he also completed fellowships in cardiology and nuclear medicine.

A whole food plant-based diet has numerous benefits for human and planetary health. It can potentially prevent, manage and even reverse many chronic diseases facing New Zealanders and the rest of the Western world today. Eating more whole plant foods reduces our carbon footprint and can be something we can do to mitigate climate change. With this in mind, why is adopting a whole food plant-based eating pattern so challenging?

Our panel discussion focused on the ways medical professionals could inspire their patients to sustainably switch to a plant-based diet. Our GPs shared success stories of patients who had experienced dramatic changes after embracing a new way of eating. We also discussed how to arm people with knowledge about why they should eat a more ‘climate-smart’ diet and, therefore, motivate change.

Following the panel discussion, we hosted a Q&A session with the speakers.

A healthy, oil-free, plant-based dinner, curated by the chefs at Khu Khu Eatery, was provided, along with networking opportunities with representatives from our plant-based community, including local dietitians, specialists, GPs and medical students.

Panelists
Dr Mark Craig - GP
Dr Mandy Bergstrom - GP
Ben Eitelberg - Co-founder of ‘The Lentil Intervention’

Doctors For Nutrition were proud to host an exclusive event in Melbourne, the ‘Dine with a Doc’ dinner, featuring US plant-based Cardiologist, Prof. Kim Williams.

Prof. Kim Williams began the evening with a presentation 'What's on Our Plate? Healthful vs. Unhealthful Eating Habits of Physicians' - outlining the results from a study co-authored by Prof. Williams and published in the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention. A Q&A session followed this. 

This discussion provided an opportunity to address ‘Barriers to Change’, and explored how to inspire people to adopt a whole food plant-based eating pattern. 

A healthy plant-based dinner was provided, followed by networking opportunities with representatives from the plant-based community, including local dietitians, specialists, GPs and medical students.

Dr. Kim A. Williams is a professor of medicine and chair of the University of Louisville Department of Medicine. He has held prestigious positions at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, where he started the Urban Cardiology Initiative. Former President of the American College of Cardiology, Williams’s areas of interest include cardionephrology, cardionutrition, cardiorheumatology and preventive cardiology. He earned his bachelor of arts and M.D. degrees from University of Chicago, where he also completed fellowships in cardiology and nuclear medicine.

Each year, the Adelaide Medical Students’ Society (AMSS) welcomes future doctors to the University of Adelaide with an orientation day (O’Day). Last week, this popular event was held at the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences building where 150 new students were provided with sun, music and food in a festival atmosphere. The O’Day lunch in the past included a free sausage sizzle. However, this year the AMSS committee decided it was time to make a more sustainable change to the menu.

Doctors For Nutrition proudly exhibited at the Adelaide Vegan Festival in 2020.

Prominent evolutionary psychologist Dr Douglas J. Lisle (USA) expounds the root cause of weight gain and other self-destructive behaviours. This talk will greatly benefit anyone who has had the common experience of struggling with weight gain with only short-term success.

'The Heart of the Matter: why we have a cardiovascular disease crisis and how we can eat our way (back) to health' – full-day seminar with Dr Kim Williams MD (2016 President of the American College of Cardiology, Rush University, USA) and local experts.

An education session for pharmacists, GPs, nurses and primary health workers with GP Dr Luke Wilson and pharmacist Hannah O’Malley from DFN. Hosted in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand.

Discover the latest breakthroughs in health, nutrition and fitness that you can implement at home. Whether you want to reclaim your health, lose weight, compete as an elite athlete or simply wake up full of energy, this FREE online event is for you. Includes a session with DFN's Dr Andrew Davies.

Enjoy a healthy breakfast, hear evidence-based information from an expert panel and expand your healthcare contacts at this friendly networking and professional development event.