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Listen "Challenging Whiteness and the Mediterranean Diet "
Episode Synopsis
In this episode, Dr. Katherine Burt delves into how the Mediterranean diet plan is a white diet that perpetuates racist systems of oppression through being framed as the gold standard of healthy eating. She also discusses the need to diversify the field of dietetics and better include culturally rich food into dietary recommendations.
Katherine Burt Gardner Burt, PhD, RD is an assistant professor and Undergraduate Program Director of the Dietetics, Foods, and Nutrition Program at Lehman College, City University of New York. Dr. Burt is a registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist who teaches courses in cultural humility, cultural foodways, and professional practice. Dr. Burt’s research explores how systemic racial bias and the normativity of whiteness impact the dietetics profession and dietary recommendations.
“You need to be able to work one-on-one with people and in doing so, I would recommend cultural foods regularly. If it was something that my client told me that they enjoy, that they wanted to eat, we would work it in.”
Question of the Day: What is one cultural food you want incorporated into dietary recommendations?
On this Episode you will Learn:
The Mediterranean Diet
Systemic Racism in Nutrition
Including Diverse Cultures in Dietary Plans
Diversity in the Dietician Field
Connect with Yumlish!
Website
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Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Connect with Katherine!
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Key Points:
0:00 - Intro with Shireen!
2:30 - What sparked your interest in challenging inclusivity and equity in nutrition?
4:55 - What is the Mediterranean Diet plan?
5:41 - How is the Mediterranean Diet promoted by healthcare professionals as the “gold standard diet” in the United States?
7:40 - How has the lack of diversity in dietetics influenced the infusion of the Mediterranean diet into dietary recommendations?
8:45 - What issues exist with marketing the Mediterranean Diet as the healthiest possible diet?
13:40 - How do nutritional guidelines constructed within the Mediterranean diet plan perpetuate systemic racism and harm minority populations?
17:45 - How can healthcare and dietetics professionals work to create more inclusive food environments that incorporate non-white cultures’ diets?
21:10 - How can our listeners connect with you and learn more about your work?
22:03 - Outro with Shireen!
Katherine Burt Gardner Burt, PhD, RD is an assistant professor and Undergraduate Program Director of the Dietetics, Foods, and Nutrition Program at Lehman College, City University of New York. Dr. Burt is a registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist who teaches courses in cultural humility, cultural foodways, and professional practice. Dr. Burt’s research explores how systemic racial bias and the normativity of whiteness impact the dietetics profession and dietary recommendations.
“You need to be able to work one-on-one with people and in doing so, I would recommend cultural foods regularly. If it was something that my client told me that they enjoy, that they wanted to eat, we would work it in.”
Question of the Day: What is one cultural food you want incorporated into dietary recommendations?
On this Episode you will Learn:
The Mediterranean Diet
Systemic Racism in Nutrition
Including Diverse Cultures in Dietary Plans
Diversity in the Dietician Field
Connect with Yumlish!
Website
YouTube
Connect with Katherine!
Key Points:
0:00 - Intro with Shireen!
2:30 - What sparked your interest in challenging inclusivity and equity in nutrition?
4:55 - What is the Mediterranean Diet plan?
5:41 - How is the Mediterranean Diet promoted by healthcare professionals as the “gold standard diet” in the United States?
7:40 - How has the lack of diversity in dietetics influenced the infusion of the Mediterranean diet into dietary recommendations?
8:45 - What issues exist with marketing the Mediterranean Diet as the healthiest possible diet?
13:40 - How do nutritional guidelines constructed within the Mediterranean diet plan perpetuate systemic racism and harm minority populations?
17:45 - How can healthcare and dietetics professionals work to create more inclusive food environments that incorporate non-white cultures’ diets?
21:10 - How can our listeners connect with you and learn more about your work?
22:03 - Outro with Shireen!
More episodes of the podcast Yumlish: Diabetes and Multicultural Nutrition
Rethinking Type 1 Diabetes Nutrition
18/12/2025
Trusting Your Body Again with Mallory Page
02/10/2025
Breaking Free from Diet Culture
04/09/2025
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