Food demons & dietitians as decongestants: Episode 134

In a sea of dis- and misinformation, what’s the most important thing dietitians can do to help consumers?

Milton Stokes, Senior Director of Food and Nutrition at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), has some ideas to help RDNs cut through the congestion of information swirling around about food and nutrition.

“Sometimes when we provide more information, we make the problem worse. Let's build connections based on values, especially when dealing with contentious topics,” says Stokes, whose career has been at the intersection of food, agriculture, and nutrition for the last 10 years working on some of the most urgent issues facing people and planet–issues like food and nutrition security as well as sustainability.  Stokes suggests that the profession could benefit from more active listening in the social media landscape.  

Touching on IFIC’s 2024 Food and Health Survey, Stokes shares that taste and price are the most important factors in consumer food choice.  Dietitians can help consumers make more nutritious decisions by utilizing a more positive approach, emphasizing the enjoyment of food, its flavor, and the overall experience.

Stokes also emphasizes the importance of creating connections between dietitians and farmers, and specifically points to Jenny Schmidt (guest on Food Bullying Podcast Episode 102) as a resource for RDs.  He also shares that dietitians can benefit greatly from partnerships with farmers as opposed to assuming expertise in various areas of agriculture.

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