Supporting healthy eating in general practice is one of society’s economic ‘best buys’ for improving population health.1 People regularly engage with general practice in Australia, with an average of five visits per person per year and extensive engagement with priority populations.2 Practice guidelines for general practitioners (GPs) identify nutrition as a fundamental component of high-quality routine care.3 In Australia, the National Preventive Health Strategy and the National Obesity Strategy call for a ‘big shift’ in general practice to focus on healthy eating to build the world’s best healthcare system. Clearly, GPs in Australia, New Zealand and other developed countries are expected to provide nutrition care.