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This episode is going to be different than my usual, but I thought it was important to share how I’m responding to the issues around racism that have rocked the world over the past few weeks. In this episode of Fed and Fearless, you’ll learn how I’m educating myself about anti-racism and how I’m working to diversify dietetics.
LISTEN TO EPISODE 37 OF THE FED AND FEARLESS PODCAST
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About This Episode
I’ve always been outspoken about how the government’s dietary guidelines taught in dietetics pushes a white western diet on everyone, regardless of their ethnicity or race.
But until recently, I hadn’t actually considered this a form of covert “white supremacy” (even if unintentional).
White supremacy is not just about hating black people. It includes the belief that white cultural practices are superior to those of BIPOC people, and that white people have the right to impose their cultural practices – including food and nutrition beliefs – on other ethnic groups. It can be intentional or unintentional, but the effect remains the same.
And while it may be how many of us dietitians have been taught, I don’t believe it’s the right approach to take with nutrition. And we need to consider how we can change it.
Part of this could very well be a lack of diversity in our field. Nutrition and dietetics is not an inexpensive education, and the unpaid internship hours make it hard for anyone without a financial safety net to participate in the internship program. I’m certain this contributes to the nutrition industry behind heavily white and female-dominated.
That’s why I’m making it part of my core values to diversify this podcast and my platform.
I’ve already invited some incredible black guests to come on Fed and Fearless and I’m so excited to share these conversations. These guests are experts in their industries, which is why I’ve asked them to come on, and we’ll be talking about their specific health and mindset expertise, not race (unless they want to!)
If I’m honest, listening to and watching the news causes a great deal of mental and physical fatigue for me. But I also know that it’s important to educate myself in some way. I would recommend watching the documentary 13TH for an examination of what’s going on in our prison system and Just Mercy, which is the true story to overturn the death sentence of an innocent man.
I am certainly not an expert when it comes to anti-racism, not even close. But I’m doing my part to educate myself and, in turn, possibly help educate you. It is possible to make the world a better place without compromising your core values. Making it clear to black people that their lives matter and standing against injustice is what Jesus would do.
If you think there’s something I can be doing better, please let me know constructively what that is. My Instagram DMs are open, so please get in touch with me. Let me know in the comments below!
Got a question you’d love to hear me answer on the show? Leave me a voice message here!
IN THIS EPISODE
- Ways in which covert racism and even “white supremacy” is present in the field of nutrition and dietetics
- Some documentaries you can watch to educate yourself on racial injustice in America
- Why the dietetics industry is difficult for people of color to break into (and what we can do to change that)
- How you can make the world a better place without compromising your core values
- How and why I’m diversifying the guests and conversations I have on this podcast
QUOTES
“I want you all to feel empowered to do your own research and learn things for yourself. If you are Christian, know that you have the Holy Spirit to check things against and you can trust that. You don’t have to fall in line with what culture demands of you, even if it goes against your beliefs in what God says.” (45:11)
“How we label ourselves and others is going to affect the actions that we take, the actions that they take, and the way that we treat each other.” (54:44)
LINKS
Donate to Laura Shoenfeld RD’s Fundraiser to Diversify Dietetics
Documentaries
Follow Steven Bartlett on Instagram
Learn more about business coaching with me
Got a question you’d love to hear me answer on the show? Leave me a voice message here!
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