Cooking for the Climate

We all know the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”. So, it is perhaps surprising that nutritional advice is not more commonplace in modern medicine. Of course, we need more than just an apple to sustain us, but it is increasingly acknowledged that what we eat is fundamental to our health, and that of the planet.

Unhealthy diets account for more chronic illnesses and deaths than any other risk factor, while our food systems are a leading contributor to the ecological and climate crises. A number of global organisations and reports now promote plant-based diets for a healthier planet, including the United Nations, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The EAT-Lancet report also highlights that a transition to healthy plant-based eating is urgently needed to prevent further global disease, and to maintain climate stability.

Despite the global health implications of poor food choices and the well-established benefits of sustainable plant-based diets, current undergraduate medical students receive an average of only 11 hours of nutritional education throughout their entire medical training. As often the first point of contact regarding personal health, doctors are uniquely positioned to disseminate information, support behaviour change, empower their patients, and promote healthier communities. Therefore, it is essential to equip doctors with comprehensive nutritional knowledge and practical tools to support dietary transitions.