In a longitudinal series on nutrition and diet, we celebrate the longstanding role of nutrition in general practice and its increasing prominence in clinical practice. To set the scene, here are five ways that nutrition care is positively influencing contemporary general practice: First, nutrition care is now recognised to be more effective (but more costly) than usual care in supporting patients to pursue health and wellbeing through diet.1 It may seem straightforward, but ultimately a greater investment in nutrition care leads to better outcomes for patients based on changes in diet and subsequent indicators of chronic disease.1 This new evidence enables policy initiatives that involve nutrition care to be developed with confidence that improved outcomes for patients are likely to follow.