S6E02 - Navigating the food landscape for health and early years nutrition with Louise Mercieca

Join us for this episode about navigating the food landscape, the relationship between food and wellbeing, and the importance of nutrition in the early years. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 15 May. 

Louise Mercieca, a nutritional therapist and early years nutrition consultant, emphasises the intricate relationship between food and our overall wellbeing. Moving beyond simply labelling food as 'good' or 'bad', she urges a focus on how different foods affect us. Highlighting the critical impact of early years nutrition on children's long-term health, she stresses the value of educating children about the connection between food and health and engaging them in projects such as allotments and community farms. Louise also addresses the influence of the food industry and the importance of taking ownership over our food choices. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview 03:04 The Impact of Food on Performance and Health Outcomes 08:32 Challenges in the Current Food Landscape 13:54 The Food Industry 16:01 Access to Healthy Food in the Cost of Living Crisis 21:04 Educating and Shifting Mindsets for Better Nutrition 23:15 Distinguishing Real Food from Ultra-Processed Foods 25:08 Going Back to Basics: Colour and Natural Ingredients 25:37 The Importance of Protein for Feeling Full and Satisfied 26:34 Challenges Faced by Shift Workers and the Role of Planning 28:40 Educating Children about Food and Health 39:24 Re-Engaging Children with Food through Allotment and Gardening Projects

 

Want to hear more from Louise?

Website: https://www.thehealthkick.co.uk/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisemercieca/

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