Nualtra: The Dietitian Cafe Nualtra

In today’s debate episode, we’ll be discussing ultra-processed foods. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are a hot topic of conversation at the moment, not only in the nutrition world but also in the media – Everything from their definition to whether we should be cutting them out seems to be up for debate. So, following the publication of the British Nutrition Foundation’s position statement and SACN’s position statement on processed foods and health, we’re taking some time to dig into this topic with two experts - the BNF’s Nutrition Communications Manger Bridget Benelam and Registered Dietitian Dr Duane Mellor.

Dr Duane Mellor is a double award-winning registered dietitian and science communicator. They are the Aston Medical School lead for Nutrition and Evidence-Based Medicine. Having a background in clinical dietetics supporting people living with diabetes they moved into medical education when joining Aston University as well as being the Associate Dean for Public Engagement in the College of Health and Life Sciences. In this role they works to support high quality science and health communication alongside the wider engagement of communities in designing and developing healthcare programmes.
Duane has a keen interest in helping the people understand the science behind health related claims, so they can make more informed decisions about their own wellbeing. They are experienced in discussing a wide range of health topics across a range of media, from print through to television and radio.

Bridget Benelam BSc MSc, Nutrition Communications Manager.
After a BSc in Biochemistry (University of Manchester), Bridget studied for an MSc in Human Nutrition (King’s College London). From 2005-06 she worked at the Food Standards Agency, joined the British Nutrition Foundation in 2006 as a Nutrition Scientist. Bridget’s role at the Foundation is now focussed on the communication of evidence-based nutrition science to help people eat healthier and more sustainable diets.


Show Notes
British Nutrition Foundation position statement on the concept of ultra-processed foods (UPF): https://www.nutrition.org.uk/news/2023/position-statement-on-the-concept-of-ultra-processed-foods-upf/

SACN statement on processed foods and health: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-statement-on-processed-foods-and-health

Duane Mellor twitter: @DrDuaneRD

In today's episode, Corrine is delighted to be chatting to Ellie Bain, senior nutritionist at Gousto, about being a registered dietitian in the food industry.
Ellie is a registered dietitian working as Senior Nutritionist at Gousto. After studying nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, she always had the intention of working in the food industry, rather than take the clinical route. She is a foodie who loves to cook and is passionate about making it easier for everyone to eat a healthier diet. Ellie started her career at Gousto as an intern, working in the recipe development team, she then became a recipe developer, focusing on healthier recipes and ranges and suggesting tips to make everything a bit healthier too (like reducing salt and adding veg). Now, as health and nutrition has become even more of a focus for Gousto she is full time nutritionist covering everything from nutritional analysis, health claims, PR and comms, reformulation, recipe guidelines and longer term health strategy.


Alongside her role at Gousto, Ellie is currently studying for a masters in Food Policy at City University and is on the committee of the BDA Industry Specialist Group as social media officer.


Show notes:
Gousto: https://www.gousto.co.uk
BDA Dietitians in Industry group information: https://www.bda.uk.com/specialist-groups-and-branches/dietitians-in-industry-specialist-group.html#:~:text=About%20us,in%20all%20areas%20of%20industry

This episode coincides with South Asian Heritage Month which runs from 18th July to 17th August every year in the UK and is an opportunity to celebrate, commemorate and educate about South Asian Culture and history.
Our guest today is Fareeha Jay RD.
Fareeha Jay is an anthropologist turned Dietitian based in Plymouth. She has been working as a Diabetes Specialist in the NHS for the last 6 years. Delivering educational sessions to people newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Fareeha has a specialist interest in South Asian diets and provides specialist advice to South Asians across the globe. She is extremely passionate about providing the best available nutrition advice to the people with South Asian background which is what led her to develop the South Asian Eatwell Guide. It is now widely being used in many NHS trusts and various charity organisations.

She has expertise in healthy eating and sustainable diets for ethnic minority groups. She is also a dietitian with a high social media profile and uses evidence-based nutrition to support communication messages to the public, again focusing on ethnic minority groups, regularly featuring in print, broadcast, and social media. Fareeha Jay has a social media following from over 99 countries across the globe. She has built up a following of more than 700,000 on social media platforms.

She has the experience of conducting talks and workshops to schools, and community groups organisations like with Diabetes UK and Alzheimer’s research. Some of her recent work entailed talks on sustainable eating, planetary diet, immune optimisation, and healthy eating on a budget.

She has been writing blogs for My Nutriweb, Planet Nourish and Fuchsia as well as being a column writer for NHD-Network Health Digest, a magazine for dietitians, nutritionists and healthcare professionals.

Show Notes:

Fareeha’s Socials:
Website: https://www.fareehajay.com/
Instagram: @dietitian_fareehajay
Twitter: @FareehaJay
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fareeha-jay-457a34209/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1575269765877135/?hc_ref=ARRDlbL5nmNjRj2MT_Hd3gyQaDUMwnMiqKtrh5H2Xpm2FABLB5xGkrw6V5jVHsTIIQ8

The South Asian Eatwell Guide: https://mynutriweb.com/the-south-asian-eatwell-guide/

In today’s debate episode we’ll be discussing the question, do you have to be wealthy to eat well? In the midst of the cost of living crisis we’re keen to find out more about the current state of the UK and consider the impact of rising bills and food costs on food insecurity. We’ll also touch on how we as dietitians and nutrition professionals, can help promote a healthier, more sustainable diet, that doesn’t break the bank.
At the end of June, the Broken Plate Report was published which considers, amongst other things, the affordability of a healthy diet. The figures show that the most deprived fifth of the UK would need to spend a startling 50% of their disposable income on food to have a healthy diet as per the government recommendations.

To discuss today’s debate question, I’m delighted to welcome two experts in the area. The author of the Broken Plate report and Policy Research Manager at The Food Foundation, Shona Goudie is here alongside the Food Foundation’s Senior Business and Investor Engagement Manager, Rebecca Tobi.

Rebecca joined the Food Foundation in January 2020, leading on the Peas Please initiative which has obtained pledgers from over 100 organisations and businesses in the UK to sell and serve more vegetables. These days she manages our business and investor engagement team, with oversight of our work engaging food businesses, investors and policy-makers with the need to transition the UK towards a more sustainable and healthy food system. Rebecca is a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr, Public Health) with a background in science communication, joining the Food Foundation from the Nutrition Society. Prior to moving into public health nutrition and obtaining a MSc in Nutrition for Global Health at the London School of Hygiene and Medicine, Rebecca worked in business engagement within the marketing and tech sectors.

Shona joined the Food Foundation in 2019 and has worked on a range of projects at the Food Foundation including working on policy and evidence for our high profile children’s food campaigns, and consulting on the Government-commissioned National Food Strategy, She currently leads on our dietary inequalities work and food insecurity monitoring. Shona is a Registered Associate Nutritionist with a background in biomedical science and clinical nutrition.

The Food Foundation charity authored the Broken Plate Report and are on a mission to change food policy and business practice to ensure everyone across the UK can afford and access a healthy and sustainable diet.

Show Notes

The Broken Plate Report 2023: https://www.foodfoundation.org.uk/publication/broken-plate-2023
The Food Foundation Twitter: @Food_Foundation

Shona Goudie’s Twitter: @Shona_Goudie
Rebecca Tobi’s Twitter: @The_A_To_V

In today’s Big Dietetic Debate episode, we’ll be discussing the hot topic of preconception and fertility nutrition. Research has confirmed the importance of prenatal nutrition; the evidence shows that a woman who is healthy at conception is more likely to have a pregnancy without complications. But how much research really is there in this area and is it good quality evidence? I’m sure I won’t be alone in having heard a whole host of thoughts about nutrients to eat and avoid when trying to conceive…Will avoiding caffeine help you get pregnant? Does plant protein actually better support fertility than animal protein? We’ll discuss all this and more in today’s episode.

To help us answer some of these tough questions and clarify the science behind prenatal nutrition, we’re excited to welcome back to the podcast, Specialist Fertility Dietitian, Ro Huntriss.
With over ten years of experience in research, academia and clinical practice, Ro is recognized as one of the UK’s leading fertility dietitians, including awards from the British Dietetic Association and CN Magazine for her work around fertility nutrition.

Show Notes

Ro’s Instagram: @dietitianro and @fertility.dietitian.uk
British Dietetic Association Maternal & Fertility Nutrition Group Twitter: @BdaMaternal
Ro’s book, ‘Deliciously Healthy Fertility’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deliciously-Healthy-Fertility-Nutrition-Conceive/dp/024159331X
Ro’s course, ‘Fertility Nutrition for Healthcare Professionals’: https://fertilitydietitian.co.uk/fertility-nutrition-for-healthcare-professionals-course/

For today’s interview episode, Corrine is joined by the British Dietetic Association (BDA) CEO Liz Stockley and co-chair of the BDA’s equality, diversity & inclusion committee Susan Price. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing the vital topic of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in dietetics and considering the role and work of the BDA in addressing all forms of inequality in the profession.

After 19 years working in senior leadership roles in New Zealand, Liz Stockley returned to the UK, joining the BDA As CEO mid-2022. The BDA has a growing membership, currently over 10,500 strong and as well as being the professional body for dietitians is also a trade union. Prior to this appointment Liz was CEO of General Practice New Zealand and was on the board of a number of high-profile organisations. She has an MBA from Massey University and received her Chartership from the Institute of Directors in New Zealand in 2021. Liz is passionate about equality and about developing future leaders.

Susan Price was born and brought up in North Wales and it was while at school and doing her GCSEs that she knew that she wanted to be a Dietitian.
After graduating from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen in 1995, Susan got her first graduate post in a NHS acute hospital trust.
She has worked in a range of adult acute and community posts, as a sports Dietitian and as a research Dietitian.
Susan was the Head of Nutrition and Dietetics at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust for over 10 years where she also undertook her clinical caseload in the areas of ICU and gastroenterology.
In 2020 Susan was appointed to the role of Deputy Director for Health well-being and Inclusion and continues to practise within ICU as a Dietitian.


Show notes:
British Dietetic Association (BDA) website: https://www.bda.uk.com
BDA Twitter and Instagram: @BDA_Dietitians

Liz Stockley’s Twitter: @BDALizStockley
Susan Price’s Twitter: @SusanPriceRD
Susan Price’ Instagram: @dietitian_susan