5th February 2019
Plant based diet

Mirror mirror on the wall – What’s the healthiest diet of all?

Open any magazine or newspaper, scan any article online and you’d be forgiven for being confused as to what a healthy diet actually is. In the past few years, the best diet, or way of eating as I prefer to call it, has been hotly debated and has reached Brexit-level in terms of the emotions it can stir up. I dare you to search the LCHF (low carb high fat) hashtag on Twitter. Devotees of this way of eating get terribly under the collar if you so much as suggest that, for example, oats can form part of a healthy breakfast. Is there really an ideal way to eat for ‘optimum’ health? This is not a diet for weight loss […]
16th January 2019
Antelope couple

The unexpected secret of a long and healthy life

It’s kale isn’t it? I knew it. If I want to live to a ripe old age, hiking up mountains with all the gusto of a 30 year old, I have to eat kale *weeps*. And if you love kale, I salute you (and think you’re a bit weird). Actually, while what and how much we eat and drink as well as how much we move is very important to our long term health, there’s something else that may have a significant influence on our longevity: how happy we are. You may well be thinking, “Well duh, of course being happy is good for you!” Well, yes but, as a scientist, I need to be able to prove something you […]
4th April 2017

Are super cheap foods good for you?

Tonight a new food TV series begins on ITV called Save Money: Good Food.  The show, starring presenter Susanna Reid and chef Matt Tebbutt, aims to help families eat well for less with tips on meal planning, cooking and budgeting.  I helped compare supermarket own label value foods against the more premium, branded options with some surprising results!  So when you buy a super cheap version of a food, are you really compromising on health or taste or could you be bagging yourself a healthy bargain?   Cornflakes This breakfast staple is actually nutritionally very similar, whichever brand you buy.  All consist of mostly maize with some added sugar, salt, vitamins and minerals.  What’s really interesting though, is the value-range […]
17th March 2017
Healthy eating

I’m a nutritionist and I’m not judging you!

I’ve been a Registered Nutritionist for many years and I really love my job!  However, there are many misconceptions that the public have about nutritionists and dietitians – most revolve around our reputation as ‘the fun police’.  So I thought I’d share with you the questions and comments I experience most frequently when people find out I’m a nutritionist and also tell you what I really think!   “Oooh don’t judge me!” (while eating cake, biscuit, crisps etc.) There is really only one response to people guiltily hiding what they are eating and drinking in front of me: I’M NOT JUDGING YOU!  Seriously, unless you specifically ask my advice, I have no problem with you eating a second slice of […]