Page 22 - Natural Health (February 2020)

AMELIA FREER

“I want to make it a trend for

us to be more MINDFUL and

COMPASSIONATE about food”

Nutritionist, author and NH’s newest columnist, Amelia Freer tells

us why healthy eating needn’t be so complicated

While living and working in London in my 20s, I developed suggestion I make is not necessarily advice about nutrition. I think
a whole host of health concerns that probably sound we can get a bit caught up in the details of exactly what and how
familiar – IBS, acne, bloating and recurrent infections. much to eat, but lose sight of the bigger picture. You can’t make up
After seeing what felt like every practitioner under the sun, my for chronic sleep deprivation with a green smoothie, or undo years
flatmate mentioned that I might want to look at my diet – which of smoking and drinking to excess with some turmeric! I am being
was predominantly made up of croissants, baguettes and ready flippant, but it’s very much a part of my role to ‘zoom out’ and see
meals at the time (I thought this was the height of sophistication where, really, the pertinent lifestyle issues lie. But it’s rare a client
having come to London from the remote countryside). So I couldn’t do with adding a few extra green vegetables into their diet
booked an appointment with a nutritional therapist and gradually and I do find myself suggesting that people have some protein at
overhauled my diet and lifestyle. I was hugely inspired by how breakfast again and again! But, there is no ‘one size fits all’.
effective the changes were and crucially, how different I felt. A fire
was ignited in me and I eventually trained as a nutritional therapist While there is some research linking specific ingredients
myself. That was almost 15 years ago and I’ve never looked back. or nutrients to mood states, I’m not sure we’re at a place
to say ‘eating x will definitely make you feel better’. It’s not
In 2017 I became a mother. I love cooking – the kitchen is that simple. But there is more to eating well than just nourishing
very much my ‘happy place’, but the realities of caring for a ourselves (which of course, is still important – essential nutrients
baby, while running a business and doing everything else that life are also essential for our brains). The mindset of self-care and
requires, meant that I simply didn’t have the time (or energy) to gentle creativity required to bring a meal to the table can be a very
cook as much as I did before. However, I still knew how important therapeutic process, while sharing a meal with loved ones (for me at
it was to eat well. So, I worked on creating a handful of meals least) is a powerful antidote to low mood. There is something about
and recipes that tasted good, were incredibly simple and easy and eating together, and the relaxed conversation that flows over food,
crucially, properly nourished my family too. I basically wanted it all. that in itself, can be wonderfully cathartic.
My new book, Simply Good For You, really grew from there – as
I felt like I probably wasn’t alone – I’ve spent the past couple of I think it would be hard for my daughter not to get
years writing and cooking the 100 or so recipes you’ll find in the involved in the kitchen given how central food and cooking is
book. They really are the meals we eat day-in, day-out (my proof to our lives. The joyful thing is that she is just about old enough
copy of the book is already splattered in food and looking rather now to start helping and is very much enjoying getting messy
shabby as I use it so much!). and involved.

I think healthy eating has become spectacularly over- I want to make it a trend for people to be more mindful and
complicated, which inevitably leads to anxiety and compassionate around food. I am so saddened by how divisive
confusion. But really, the fundamental principles of eating well are and judgemental the food discussion has become recently – at least on
pretty simple. And so I often find myself coming back to the brilliant some platforms. People have widely varied nutritional needs, tastes,
summary by American author Michael Pollan: ‘Eat (real) food. Not cultural and familial preferences and resources. What’s good for one
too much. Mostly plants.’ I couldn’t have said it better myself. person might not be good for another, and that’s OK. But we don’t
need to shame each other for having those differences. Nor do we
The advice I give to clients is entirely dependent on need to feel guilty for being different. Kindness is an underrated part
their unique circumstances. Sometimes, however, the first of good nutrition – to ourselves, to the planet and to others.

22 NATURAL HEALTH