Anna is currently completing year four of a six-year part time degree in nutritional science.

Having completed the Diploma in two years, Anna set out to gain practical experience in the nutritional field with as broad a range of subjects as possible:

• Taking school assemblies as part of school campaigns to promote healthy eating; presenting to children of all ages on a variety of food and health related topics, using drama, experiments and worksops - the universal theme being that the children participated and learnt from their involvement
• Running cookery and information workshops
• One-on-one consultations analysing clients’ diets and devising specific nutritional programmes
• Volunteer work with with disadvantaged 16-18 year olds, cooking meals with them and teaching them the fundaments of healthy eating
• Giving talks to various groups on specific subjects such as the menopause, essential fatty acids and sports nutrition
• Working in a health food shop for two years, gaining an understanding into the products people buy, how influenced they are by the media and their level of knowledge of food

Anna is studying to complete her degree and in her spare time offers:

Boot camps – Anna has teamed up with a personal trainer and they offer residential weekends in which clients follow a carefully designed exercise and personalised nutritional programme.The idea is to have fun, exercise and eat well but with an emphasis on education and changing habits.

SWAP camps – a mini version of the boot camps; a 3 hour session involving 1 hour of exercise in the park, 1 hour of indoor circuits and stretching and 1 hour for lunch. Anna cooks and explains the reasons behind the food served and answers specific questions on the ingredients, menu, food preparation or general dietary issues. These events are held locally in Bedford but can be tailored for corporate events and away-days.

Initially Anna wanted to specialise in sports nutrition but loves the practical side of what she does. “I love the cooking, demonstrating and lecturing part of my work coupled with the immense satisfaction of helping clients achieve better health by manipulating their diets and making them aware of the purpose, benefit and power of food.”

Anna’s interest in food as a science sprung from her lifelong experience of eczema and the various 'diets' that she was put on. “I wanted to sift the fact from the fiction about food and chose the most scientifically based course that I could find. Understanding the interaction of nutrients at cell level turns the possibility of food as a medicine into a reality.”

Anna's first degree was a BA in English and French at Durham University.