The great portion debate

EDITORIAL (1ST PARAGRAPH) I recently led a longitudinal, multi-disciplinary project that included the development of evidence-based nutrition resources to assist general practitioners (GPs) in the prevention and management of common chronic conditions. 1 These included arthritis, nutrition-related cancers (e.g. prostate, breast and colorectal), coronary heart disease (both males and females) and diabetes. We also developed a resource for use during pregnancy. Each of these resources include a 14 day meal planner that was designed using nutritional modelling, to meet the specific nutritional requirements of each of these groups of people, at a population level.2 A user manual for GPs and allied health professionals was also developed that summarised the evidence on which these resources were developed.3 The manual also provides data to allow substitution of foods within the modelled parameters. These resources were not developed to replace the need for referral to nutritionists or dieticians, rather to assist GPs to provide basic evidence-based nutritional information to clients who will benefit from dietary intervention as part of their medical management