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VEGAN ACTION
Dr. Joycelyn Peterson
Vegan Dietitian and Professor
by Akua Oppong
Dr.. Joycelyn Peterson is a vegan Trinbagonian dietitian, professor, and Director of Nutritional Sciences in the School of Community Health and Policy at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She founded the Vegetarian Institute of Nutrition and Culinary Arts (nonprofit) and Dimensions in Food and Nutrition, Inc. (for profit) and serves as the Nominating Committee Chair of the Adventist Nutrition and Dietetics International Association (ANDIA). Her published works include Joy of Living Plant-Based Cuisine, and Effect of consumption of dried California mission figs on lipid concentrations. She conducts international nutrition, health, and cooking seminars.
Dr. Peterson's fascination with vegan nutrition began in childhood, sparked by a distaste for meat. Her doctors suggested incorporating beans into her diet, which evolved into a lifelong passion for showing people they too can thrive without meat. She has been vegan for over 50 years, witnessing its evolution from niche lifestyle to mainstream movement.
Featured in Morgan Magazine, Dr. Peterson has highlighted the importance of including people of color in dietetics to reduce health disparities. "I want to see it continue on... want other people [to be part of it]," she says. She taught over 1,000 students, working to improve curricula so that more people can enter and succeed in the field. Given that only 3% of Registered Dietitians are Black, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dr. Peterson emphasizes the need for more mentoring and tutoring. Collaborating with the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the National Association for Blacks in Dietetics and Nutrition (NOBIDAN), and Diversify Dietetics, she helps to better prepare students for the Registered Dietitian exam.
Dr. Peterson believes going vegan at an early stage was the most impactful part of her life. Her passion for veganism and spreading the gospel as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian led her to meet a mentor who encouraged her to preach health and nutrition in churches and other venues.
To promote veganism, Dr. Peterson recommends encouraging simple changes. Focus on positive dietary additions rather than restrictions. Introduce people to different plant-based foods, including beans, nuts, and whole grains. Keeping the message simple and positive can make the transition more appealing.
For activists who may feel discouraged, Dr. Peterson encourages taking time for self-care. Rest, exercise, drink water, and enjoy nourishing, vegan foods. Follow your purpose and listen to the inner voice that guides you.
See: www.morgan.edu/school-of-community-health-and-policy/about/joycelyn-peterson
Akua Oppong wrote this piece while interning with The VRG. She is a senior at the University of Maryland College Park.
