Meet Dr Aqsa Mukhtiar, PhD in Nutrition

• Course author: plans each course, writes the lessons and designs the trackers, planners and checklists that go with them.
• Nutrition content reviewer: checks that food and nutrition advice in each New Zealand course matches current New Zealand guidance, that numbers such as food-group servings, kilojoules, standard drinks and supplement amounts are quoted correctly, and that every claim is backed by a named source.

1. Start from official New Zealand sources, such as the Eating and Activity Guidelines, Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora guidance, and New Zealand Food Safety advice.
2. Use New Zealand terms, foods, labels and units: the four food groups, the Nutrition Information Panel and Health Star Rating, kilojoules and standard drinks.
3. Write in plain English, without promises of results or claims that food treats or cures anything.
4. Add a check first list for people who should speak to a health professional before making changes.
5. Add a when to get help section that points to the right New Zealand service, such as your GP, LMC midwife, Plunket, Healthline or 111.
6. List the sources at the end of the course so you can read the original advice.

Some courses cover topics beyond nutrition, such as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT, also called HRT), mood and anxiety, sleep problems, relationships and parenting. These courses are written as general education from official health information. They explain your options and help you prepare questions, and they tell you when to speak to your GP, pharmacist or another qualified professional. They are not clinical advice.

Her title 'Dr' comes from her doctorate in nutrition. She is not a medical doctor, so our courses never replace advice from your GP, midwife, Plunket or Well Child Tamariki Ora nurse, pharmacist or other health professional who knows your situation.

In New Zealand, 'dietitian' is a protected title for practitioners registered with the Dietitians Board, so we describe her by her qualification: PhD in Nutrition. If you need one-to-one dietary advice, ask your GP whether a referral to a registered dietitian is right for you.