When you think that a meal is only food, Irana Hawkins reminds you that it is much more!
Every plate tells the story of a tightly woven network of interconnected systems: agricultural, economic, political, and environmental.
Irana Hawkins book does not merely add information to what we already know; each chapter pushes us to look beyond the plate, to see that what ends up on our tables is the result of complex connections between society, the environment, and individual choices.
Nutrition Security for Planetary Health is a book that helps us go furtherand we read it that way: notebook open, eyes alert, minds ready to run.
Hawkins guides us into a story that traces food from the elds where it is grown to the tables of those who consume it, from production to distribution, from markets to public policy, from the planet to human health.
It is a story that presents food as a complex tapestry, made of many intertwined threads that hold together production, distribution, society, and the environment: from cultivated elds to agricultural biodiversity, from supply chains to distribution networks connecting people and places, from the economy that tells of incomes and the working conditions of those who produce it, through the winding paths of laws, regulations, and public policies, all the way to their eects on water, soil, climate, and emissions.
Nutritional security thus becomes less of an abstract concept and more a tangible possibility: the ability to nourish ourselves through resilient networks that sustain both human health and the health of the planet, while respecting equity and social justice.
Moreover, Hawkins anticipated ideas that the EAT-Lancet Commission 2025 now conrms with data and recommendations: human health and planetary health are inseparable. She was able to see the connections between agriculture, public policy, food access, and social justice before they became widely recognized evidence.
Hawkins guides us through this mosaic without simplifying, without weighing it down, with surgical precision and narrative clarity.
Reading this book means understanding even more deeply that food is systems science, responsibility, and a compass for guiding a safer, healthier, and fairer future for everyone.
Ms. Ersilia Troiano, Dietitian and President of Italys Scientific Association for Food, Nutrition and Dietetics (Associazione Scientifica Alimentazione Nutrizione e Dietetica/ASAND) and Ms. Stefania Vezzosi, Dietitian and editor of ASAND Notizie
I am so incredibly moved by the passion that Irana poured into this text. It's an inspiring read that speaks to the time for collective action being now (as it always is!). Thank you, Irana, for your dedication as a dietetics professional to planetary health and for challenging us to reframe our view of health as an interconnected issue that can't be separated from the web of life.
Dr. Mariana Wetherill Marianna Wetherill, PhD, MPH, RDN, Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Dr. Irana Hawkins achieves a rare feat in scientific storytelling with her latest book, Nutrition Security for Planetary Health. By making complex, interconnected problems accessible, she demonstrates how nourishing humanity can be accomplished with minimal impact on animals and ecosystems. The book is chock-full of resources and solutions, grounded in science, indigenous wisdom, and proven practices. Solutions span individual, collective, and policy levels, ensuring actionable guidance for every reader.The book's short, informative chapters and helpful illustrations make key concepts easy to grasp. Supported by extensive scientific references, Dr. Hawkins addresses themes such as 'one health for all,' chronic disease burdens, nutrition insecurity, health equity, food waste reduction, agroforestry, and biodynamic farming. Each topic is thoughtfully explored, highlighting its relevance to planetary health. Dr. Hawkins writes with compassion, intellect, and grace, guiding readers toward sustainable nourishment for humanity and the planet. This book is a must-read for those interested in nutrition, sustainability, or environmental stewardship. Five stars all the waydo yourself and your loved ones a favor: buy the book!
Kumara Sidhartha MD MPH, Physician, Author, Leader in Public Health Nutrition and Health Equity.
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