I am a dietitian and the CEO of Edinburgh Community Food and an advisory board trustee advocating the development of equitable and sustainable community food systems. My priorities are supporting nutritionally vulnerable groups in homelessness, food poverty and health inequity.

Poverty impacts nutritional health and the UK currently responds via foodbanks. However, this stopgap aid compromises dignity, choice, cultural and religious beliefs and a healthy diet. Young mums especially are poorly served in terms of their and their children's future health. Alternative approaches (in UN states such as Canada and Columbia) encourage hybrid nutrition and 'cash first' (CF) models, promoting choice, dignity and independence, while improving local economies and supply chains.

Scotland's cost-of-living crisis accelerated the CF approach: 'everyone needs sufficient access to food and essentials with dignity and choice'. The new human rights-based Good Food Nation Act should establish a food system prioritising health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability and social justice. I hope to build systems of support that give young mothers and their children a future of wellness, vitality and optimism.