What is a dietitian?

Dietitians are qualified and regulated health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public-health level.

What do dietitians do?

Latest news

Lord Darzi report: Dietitians ready to play their part in improving NHS services for patients

The BDA welcomes Lord Darzi's thorough report on the state of the NHS in England, commissioned by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting.

The BDA is disappointed with Scotland’s decision to back down on its commitment to provide free school meals for all primary school children

The SNP administration's Programme for Government said funding will be targeted at expanding free school meals only to P6 and P7 (10-12 year old) pupils whose families are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment.

The BDA heads to the Department of Health and Social Care to demand universal free school meals

A coalition of health experts and medical bodies are calling on the Government to follow the example of Free School Meals for All provision across London primary schools, by implementing it nationwide.

Sustainable September 2024

Every year we celebrate Sustainable September, promoting the benefits – to health and the planet – of a sustainable diet. This September, we’re sharing all of the brilliant projects and activities undertaken by the association and our members which promote sustainability.

Sustainable stars!

BDA members Sarah Brook and Faith Toogood have been shortlisted for the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) Greener AHP Award 2024. Here we look at their initiatives and how green schemes are helping the NHS care for patients in a more sustainable way.

New HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics

The Health and Care Professions Council’s (HCPC) revised Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics, which all dietitians should have an awareness of are now in effect.

April Aslett elected as BDA Student Rep 2024/25

A big congratulations to April Aslett, who has been elected as the BDA Student Rep 2024/25. April is studying Dietetics at the University of Plymouth and is about to start her final year in September. We asked April why she applied for the role and how she hopes to champion the voice of dietetic students over the next year.

NHS support workforce feel undervalued and ‘invisible’, report finds

Clinical support staff, including dietetic support workers are crucial to the NHS but still feel undervalued and ‘invisible’ 10 years after a government-commissioned review highlighted ways to improve working practices, a new report has found.

Pay talks for NHS workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland progress

The 2024 NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) report has now been published and the BDA is pleased to see that the government has agreed to implement the recommended 5.5% pay award for Agenda for Change staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

Find a dietitian for your nutrition needs

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Latest articles

Three simple ways to reduce food waste

Read three top tips on how to reduce food waste from Apetito's Development Dietitian, Sophia Cornelius.

Unpacking the myths around plant-based drinks

With the rise in popularity of plant-based diets, demand for alternatives to dairy has also increased, find out the facts when it comes to plant-based drinks.

Managing allergies

Sophia Cornelius considers why food allergens can make it challenging to meet nutritional requirements.

Kyle Kennedy, BDA Student Rep 2023/24, thanks dietetic students for their support

Kyle Kennedy's term as Student Representative for the BDA has come to a close. Here he writes a message of thanks and summarises what he has achieved in the last year.

How does nutrition affect Olympic athletes?

The BDA Sports Nutrition Specialist Group answers some common questions about how nutrition affects sports performance, and how Olympians use food for fuel to gain an advantage.

Say hello to Amy Pratt, the BDA’s newly appointed Clinical Leader

Last month we welcomed Amy to the BDA as our Clinical Leader, a newly created part-time role. Amy is already busy meeting with members and getting a flavour of the challenges and opportunities available.

Dietitians – sports nutrition needs you!

Dr Alan Kennedy speaks to three SENR dietitians about the specific qualities dietitians can bring to the register.

Aligning party manifestos with BDA campaign priorities

Alex Ehrlich, BDA Public Affairs Officer takes a look at how the major UK political parties' manifestos align with the five BDA campaign priorities.

BDA Trade Union: With you all the way

Katrina Evans explains how the BDA Trade Union supported her in her time of need – and how the experience inspired her to get involved.

 

Food Facts

Our Food Fact Sheets are written by dietitians to help you learn the best ways to eat and drink to keep your body fit and healthy.


The BDA Food Facts sheets are free for you to read, download and print for your own reference. They must not be copied to other websites: please link to this site to ensure your readers see the latest version.

 

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New BDA Toolkit for digital dietetic records

We're excited to launch the BDA Toolkit for Digital Dietetic Records and Collecting Outcome Data 2024. This toolkit provides guidance and practical advice to enable you to produce a digital dietetic record, help you to report on the outcomes of dietetic intervention and to use standardised language terms.

Access it here.