From her personal journey with multiple sclerosis to the power of plant-based nutrition, Rebecca Stonor shares why she believes food deserves a much bigger role in healthcare — and why progress matters more than perfection.
"I'd love Australians to see food as a form of everyday healthcare: something that can actively protect health, not just something to restrict or feel guilty about."
That's the shift in thinking Rebecca Stonor, CEO of Doctors For Nutrition (DFN), wants to inspire.
Founded in 2018, DFN is an Australian health-promotion charity working to put evidence-based nutrition at the heart of healthcare.
Ahead of DFN's Lifestyle Medicine Conference in Sydney on 28 November, we spoke with Rebecca about her personal health journey, the science behind plant-based nutrition, and how we can make healthy eating a more achievable part of everyday life.
A personal journey
Rebecca, how did you first become interested in the relationship between nutrition, lifestyle and health?
My interest grew from a science background—particularly nearly two decades in plant science—and a growing awareness of how strongly food, environment and lifestyle shape long-term health. When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 11 years ago I explored the evidence, and it became clear that nutrition is one of the most powerful, yet underutilised, levers for preventing and managing diseases like MS.
How has living with MS shaped your views on nutrition, lifestyle and healthcare?
Being diagnosed with MS in 2015 changed my relationship with health completely. I became much more intentional about evidence-based nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management—and over a decade later, I’m symptom-free and thriving. It taught me that lifestyle changes are not a replacement for good medical care, but they can be a powerful complement to it.
Looking back, is there anything you wish you'd known earlier?
I wish I’d understood earlier that small, consistent choices compound over time. I also wish more people knew that nutrition and lifestyle support are legitimate, evidence-based parts of care—not simply “nice to have” extras.
It's never too early or too late to change your lifestyle; the most important thing is that you start where you are comfortable and progress from there.
How did you become involved with DFN, and what led to you becoming CEO?
I was drawn to DFN because its mission matched my own: translating rigorous research into practical, hopeful action. My background in science, nutrition and advocacy, combined with a deeply personal understanding of chronic illness, led naturally into a leadership role where I could help scale that impact.
Putting nutrition at the heart of healthcare
For people who haven't heard of Doctors For Nutrition, how would you describe the organisation and its mission?
Doctors For Nutrition is an independent, health-promotion charity led by medical and dietetic professionals. Our mission is to create a world free from preventable disease so that everyone can thrive and live to their full potential.
What inspired DFN's creation, and what challenges are you trying to address?
DFN was founded in 2018 to bridge the gap between strong nutrition evidence and how little of it is consistently translated into everyday healthcare.
We’re working to address the rising burden of preventable chronic disease, limited nutrition education for health professionals, and confusion among the public about what healthy eating really means.
We promote plant-rich diets, which can be difficult when keto/carnivore diets are rising in popularity!
What does nutrition-led lifestyle medicine mean in practice, and why does nutrition deserve a more prominent place in healthcare?
It means treating food—and the broader pillars of lifestyle, such as movement, sleep, stress management and social connection—as central tools in preventing and managing illness, alongside conventional care.
Nutrition, particularly a focus on whole plant foods, deserves a more prominent place because dietary patterns profoundly influence the risk and progression of many chronic conditions, yet are often underused in clinical practice.
You can improve all the other pillars of lifestyle but if you don't fill your plate with plants you won't see health improvements.
Progress, not perfection
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about plant-based nutrition?
One common misconception is that plant-based eating is complicated, restrictive or nutritionally incomplete.
In reality, a well-planned whole-food plant-based pattern can meet nutritional needs and is strongly associated with better long-term health outcomes; another is the idea that protein is the main nutrient Australians are missing, when fibre and whole plant foods are often the bigger gap.
A selection of meals from Rebecca's ‘what I eat in a day’
Do people need to adopt a completely plant-based diet to experience meaningful health benefits?
No. Meaningful benefits can come from progressively adding more whole plant foods to your diet—vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fruit, nuts and seeds—while reducing ultra-processed foods and animal products.
The goal is progress and a sustainable pattern, not perfection.
What advice would you give someone who wants to eat more healthily but struggles with the time, planning and preparation involved?
Start with simple repeatable meals: batch-cook grains and legumes, keep frozen vegetables on hand, and build meals around a few reliable examples such as a grain bowl, soup, stir-fry or salad.
A little planning upfront saves far more time later—and it makes healthy choices the easy choice.
If you could change one thing about the way Australians think about food and health, what would it be?
I’d love Australians to see food as a form of everyday healthcare: something that can actively protect health, not just something to restrict or feel guilty about.
"That shift from deprivation to empowerment would change the conversation."
Bridging the gap between knowledge and action
What interested you in what we're doing at Just Add Vegan?
Just Add Vegan stood out because it makes plant-based eating approachable, practical and enjoyable—exactly the qualities needed to turn good intentions into lasting habits.
I admire businesses that meet people where they are and make healthier choices feel achievable rather than intimidating.
What role can businesses like Just Add Vegan play in helping people translate nutritional knowledge into everyday eating habits?
Businesses like Just Add Vegan are a vital bridge between knowledge and action.
They can make nutritious, plant-forward food visible, convenient, delicious and normal in everyday life—helping people move from knowing what’s healthy to actually eating that way.
Attendees at Doctors For Nutrition's 2025 Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine Symposium in Adelaide
Looking ahead: DFN's Lifestyle Medicine Conference
What can people look forward to at the upcoming Lifestyle Medicine Conference in Sydney, and what do you hope they'll take away from it?
The Lifestyle Medicine Conference in Sydney on 28 November 2026 will bring together leading experts, clinicians, researchers and community members to explore the latest evidence on nutrition-led lifestyle medicine.
I hope attendees leave with practical strategies, renewed motivation, and confidence that prevention and better health are genuinely within reach.
There will be great food, amazing sponsors and networking sessions where you can meet an aligned community.
Everyone is welcome, you don't need to be a medical professional to attend!
Join us in Sydney on 28 November
We're delighted to support Doctors For Nutrition's Lifestyle Medicine Conference for the second consecutive year, this time as Morning Tea Sponsor.
Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in the role of nutrition and lifestyle in preventing and managing chronic disease, the conference promises to be an inspiring and informative day.
Find out more and register: Doctors For Nutrition