Two of the world's most trusted plant-based dietitians and a physician-researcher — together, a lifetime of evidence and experience for vibrant health after 60.
Brenda Davis, RD, is a pioneering plant-based dietitian and internationally acclaimed speaker, recognized globally for her expertise in vegan and vegetarian nutrition. She has delivered keynote presentations at medical, nutrition, and dietetic conferences in more than 28 countries across six continents, inspiring audiences with her evidence-based and practical approach.
A prolific author, Brenda has written or co-authored 14 books, with over one million copies in print in 12 languages. Her work includes Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition, widely regarded as a definitive resource on plant-based nutrition, as well as Plant-Powered Protein, Nourish, Kick Diabetes Essentials, and The Kick Diabetes Cookbook. Several of her titles have received prestigious awards, including Nautilus and Canada Book Awards, and have been recognized by the American Library Association as leading resources in the field.
Brenda has also contributed extensively to peer-reviewed and professional publications. She served as lead dietitian in a landmark lifestyle medicine trial for type 2 diabetes in the Marshall Islands and is a past chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
In recognition of her contributions, Brenda was inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame in 2007 and received the Plantrician Project’s Luminary Award in 2022. She has followed a plant-based lifestyle since 1989 and is dedicated to helping people thrive on diets that support a healthier, more sustainable, and compassionate world. Brenda lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband, Paul Davis. She has two grown children, Leena Markatchev and Cory Davis, and three grandchildren. Her website is BrendaDavisRD.com.
Vesanto Melina, MS, RD is lead author of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Position Paper on Vegetarian Diets for the whole life cycle.
She is a popular and internationally known speaker and co-author of award-winning books that are classics on plant-based nutrition, most with Brenda Davis, now in 10 languages with over a million copies in print in English. Along with Plant-Powered Seniors, their most recent are Plant-Powered Protein, The Kick Diabetes Cookbook, and Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition. These are written for the public as well as for dietitians, MDs, and other health professionals, and are entirely referenced.
Vesanto provides personalized nutrition consulting for those who are moving in a plant-based direction or want to fine-tune their way of eating. She helps clients optimize their diets to support healthy aging, well-being, and vitality. The tips she gives will help you meet your goals while enjoying the process — with tasty food!
Vesanto has taught nutrition at Seattle's Bastyr University and at the University of British Columbia. Her partner is Cam Doré, and together they have 4 adult children and 2 grandchildren — so she has plenty of life experience! Her websites are nutrispeak.com, plant-poweredseniors.com, and plant-poweredprotein.com.
Book a consultation Contact VesantoCharlyn Black, Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, is a physician, researcher, and educator with a longstanding interest in promoting health and preventing disease at both individual and population levels.
Dr. Black completed her medical and public health training in Manitoba, Canada, and her Doctor of Science in Health Policy at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. She began her research career as a founding member of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and later served as Director of UBC's Centre for Health Services and Policy Research. As a researcher and consultant, her work has focused on using population health data to support evidence-based policy and system improvement, with a current focus on preventing and reversing the rising burden of chronic disease.
Charlyn's personal experience of the transformative power of a plant-powered lifestyle inspires her deep passion to promote this approach to others. She loves cooking and sharing vibrant, delicious plant-based meals. As a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, she is committed to its six pillars of lifestyle medicine in her own life. She began teaching yoga at age 16 and recently added Essential Somatics Movement Teacher to her credentials.
In her retirement, Charlyn is dedicated to advocating for the synergy between policy and lifestyle change to build lives and communities that truly support good health.
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