Plant Chat: Australian Dietitian, Lily Chen
I’m so happy to welcome Australian dietitian Lily Chen to my Plant Chat this month. I was really excited to meet Lily and learn more about the food and nutrition scene in Australia, and how dietitians help people live healthier lives in this country. Lily graduated from New York University with a B.S. and University at Buffalo, State University of New York with a M.S., and then moved to Sydney, Australia. Lily has a myriad of nutrition experiences, including management, clinical, and private practice. is currently working in at Sydney Cognitive, a private practice. Besides English, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese and Spanish. You can follow Lily on her active Instagram account to see what she’s up to! Continue reading to learn more about Lily’s work as a dietitian in Australia.
What is unique about Australia’s food and nutrition scene?
Breakfast or brekkie (as they call it here in Australia) is huge! In comparison to New Yorkers who eat on-the-go or don’t eat breakfast at all, Australians make breakfast a priority. Almost all cafes feature a special breakfast menu that is available all day. There is also an emphasis on morning tea. In the workplace, morning tea is often a time where co-workers get together to catch-up over tea and biscuits (or cookies as we call them in America!). This definitely makes work more fun!
What are the overwhelming nutrition concerns that people face in Australia?
I was a bit surprised to see that nutrition concerns in Australia are similar to ones in America. Australians are not eating enough servings of fruits and vegetables per day and have excessive intakes of saturated fats, sugar and salt.
What are the current diet trends going on in Australia?
Gut health has become all the rage and this is reflected in the Australian food scene. Grocery stores are featuring a greater selection of gut-friendly food items. Low FODMAP items are also clearly identified with a visual mark in supermarkets for those with IBS.
What do you prioritize in your work as a dietitian there?
I work in a private practice specializing in neurology so I prioritize in helping patients make healthy lifestyle changes that are easy to incorporate into their daily lives. In order to do this, I do lots of research on not only the latest scientific articles but also food trends and recipe testing.
How does the field of nutrition differ in Australia compared to US?
Australian dietitians-in-training embark on a dietetic internship that is connected with their academic program, unlike in America where you need to apply for a dietetic internship separately. This affects the job prospects greatly. In comparison to America, dietitians go through a competitive dietetic internship application process but are presented with greater job options.
Tell us about your personal journey in the food and nutrition world. How did you get started and what inspired you?
My grandmother inspired me to embark on this incredible journey. I saw firsthand how she struggled with buying the latest health food products, wondering if it was healthy and eating it even though it did not taste good. These seemingly simple decisions can actually take quite a toll on an individual’s quality of life. As such, I became passionate to be a dietitian to help others lead healthy and happy lives.
What is your personal nutrition and wellness philosophy?
Health is definitely the greatest wealth. I have worked in various clinical settings and have seen firsthand patients living with agonizing conditions that could have been prevented by a healthy diet. Eating well is so important and is often taken for granted.
What are your best tips to encourage people to eat more whole plant foods?
Plant foods can show you a whole new world to your taste buds. Be creative and curious. Plant foods can help you to be more innovative with your cooking and also can be a new delicious recipe to your weekly rotation!
If we opened your fridge today, what would we find?
Lots of fresh produce! I also love trying new Australian food products and always buy a new product to taste in each grocery shopping trip!
What are 5 plant foods you can’t live without?
Avocados, lemons, arugula, spinach, mint (all grown in my new garden in Australia!)