“Thank you for removing those polyps during the colonoscopy today. If I change my diet, can I reduce the risk of developing more polyps or colon cancer in the future?” This is one of the most commonly posed questions by our patients, after being informed of the outcome of their colonoscopy. It is admittedly tempting to answer somewhat flippantly that they will be returning for surveillance colonoscopies in the years to come, so they should take advantage of this and enjoy an unrestricted diet in the interim! However, recent data on the relationship between diet and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, combined with the knowledge that colonoscopy is certainly not completely protective against CRC,1 increasingly supports the need to answer our patients with a considered, scientifically valid and practical response.