A recent Vegetarian Journal article by John Westerdahl, PhD, MPG, RDN, FAND, features information on Lenna Frances Cooper, co-founder of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). Not many people know that she was vegetarian and a pioneer in vegetarian nutrition and dietetics.

Lenna achieved much in her nutrition and dietetics career. To give structure and professionalism to the field of dietetics, she was the first to propose the formation of and co-founded the American Dietetic Association (now known as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) in 1917. She became the Academy’s first vice president and later served as the fourteenth president in 1937. During World War I, she was the first Supervising Dietitian for the U.S. Army (1918-1919). In 1929, as a charter member, she became the first president of the Michigan Dietetic Association. Lenna served on the staff of the U.S. Surgeon General and created the Department of Dietetics at the National Institutes of Health. Her greatest renown came as senior author of Nutrition in Health and Disease, used as a textbook for 30 years in dietetic and nursing programs throughout the world.

You can read the complete article here: https://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2018issue3/2018_issue3_nutrition_dietetics.php

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