Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Health Promoting Dietitians Network. (NIHPDN)
As a group we have been meeting together regularly over the years with the purpose of allowing Community Dietitians to share information and good practice as well as to work together on Regional initiatives. This year has seen a name change from N.I Community Nutrition Group to the N.I. Health Promoting Dietitians Network.
The NIHPDN meets 3 times per year in different venues throughout N.Ireland. We have representation on the Northern Ireland Board for Dietitians, the Dietitians CPD sub group and the All island Community Dietitians Group. There is also a NIHPDN representative on the CNG committee.
For more information about NIHPDN contact the Chairperson:
Claire Holmes
Senior Community Dietitian
Western Health Action Zone
Strabane Enterprise Park
Orchard Road Industrial Estate
Orchard Road
Strabane
Co. Tyrone
N.Ireland
Ph: 0287188 0221
E-mail:Claire.holmes@whssb.n-i.nhs.uk
Community Dietitians in N.Ireland
Community Dietitians in the province work in a variety of ways, with the majority having a combined role of clinical and health promotion work. There are a number of more recent posts where the primary focus is on nutrition promotion in community groups, schools and in local council areas.
Although N. I. is relatively small, many Dietitians cover wide geographical areas often in very rural parts of the province. Although this means driving through very beautiful countryside it provides challenges too in terms of issues such as food access and social deprivation.
Innovation and achievement
There is a lot of innovative and exciting work taking place by Community Dietitians throughout N.Ireland! We are delighted that Claire Holmes our current Chair has just recently been awarded the CNG innovation award. Gillian Browne, Community Dietitian in the Western Trust won the Northern Ireland Health Service Award for her Bone Fun Day initiative earlier this year.
Glossary of N. Irish foods
Northern Ireland may not have the best health record in the world but we do have some wonderful and distinctive local foods. Here are some of the more common ones.
Soda bread- an unleaved bread made with white flour, buttermilk and baking soda. It can be cooked in the oven or on a griddle (a flat metal pan). It is often shaped into triangles called farls.
Wheaten bread - A higher fibre alternative to soda bread made in a similar way but using wheaten flour. Commonly eaten with butter, cheese or jam.
Potato bread- a flat unleavened bread usually made with cooked potatoes, flour and traditionally a little lard. It’s usually cooked on a pan i.e. fried but can be toasted too.
Egg soda - a soda farl toasted or fried with a fried egg.
Champ - cooked potatoes mixed to a creamy consistency with milk and scallions (spring onions). Usually served with butter and bacon.
Pamphrey - spring greens –usually boiled and served with potatoes and bacon.
Dulse - seaweed harvested on shores of N.Ireland, eaten as a snack or in by some in a sandwich.
