Nutritionist Wins Prestigious National Award

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Nutritionist Wins Prestigious National Award

Auckland, 2 October 2009 – The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation and Kellogg New Zealand announced last night the winner of the 2009 Nutritionist Development Award, who is awarded funding to attend an overseas conference or course to develop his or her career.

Nutritionist Jenny Bowden won the award for her passion and commitment to improving the health of New Zealanders through nutrition.

Bowden hopes this scholarship, to attend the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity conference in 2010, will help her learn more about the wide range of influences impacting people’s decisions about the food they eat. “Improving nutrition knowledge is one way of influencing the choices people make about food, but many other psychological, social and cultural factors can act as barriers to making the healthier choices.” says Bowden. She plans to use what she learns overseas in her work as a journalist and nutrition consultant, to encourage people overcome these barriers and make healthier food choices.

“I would especially like to thank the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation and Kellogg’s for creating this award and providing New Zealand’s nutritionists with an avenue for professional development’, says Bowden. “I’m certainly looking forward to developing new skills and sharing what I learn with as many nutritionists and consumers as possible. And I look forward to a long career in nutrition and hope my efforts in this field, as a result of this award, will benefit our community”.

Sue Pollard, CEO of the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation says the Foundation is thrilled to award such a deserving and dedicated nutritionist.

“Jenny is an asset to health in New Zealand, and we are sure this award is a stepping stone towards an even brighter future within the New Zealand nutrition community. Her desire to use her nutrition knowledge more effectively is what really stood out to the panel of judges.”

Rebecca Chapman, Marketing & Innovation Manager, Kellogg New Zealand says this award recognises the efforts and ambitions of local talent starting out on their career in nutrition.

“Jenny is a talented nutritionist. Kellogg’s is delighted to be supporting her learn more about communicating nutrition information. Finding new and innovative ways to give nutrition advice and guidance to New Zealanders will make a real difference. We admire her drive to help make New Zealand a healthier country,” says Chapman.

The Nutritionist Development Award was first established in 1995 to promote professional development for newly-qualified New Zealand nutritionists. An investment in the long-term improvement of nutritional status amongst New Zealanders.

Past winners have gone on to work in such diverse areas as public health consultancy, the food industry and academic research. Their initiatives include the free fruit to primary schools pilot study, obesity prevention programmes and research studies into topics such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes and the breakfast habits of adolescents.

ENDS

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