“We have this commodity that has the potential to keep us healthy or make us sick, but no one teaches us about it.”

Food is incredibly powerful – physically, mentally and emotionally. It has the power to prevent or create chronic disease. It has the power to contribute to or alleviate mental illness. It has the power to make us feel guilt, shame, anxiety, happiness, and many other intense emotions. The foods we choose to eat can have a profound effect on our physical and mental health. Every cell in the human body is created and energized by the nutrients we put in.

And yet, most of us have been taught next to nothing about food and nutrition. How crazy is that? We have this commodity that has the potential to keep us healthy or make us sick, but no one teaches us about it. Every child should come out of school knowing the importance of food. All of us should have a clear understanding of what foods we should eat for health. Sadly, that is not the case, through no fault of our own. Our society does not yet value this information enough to ensure that it reaches everyone.

“By removing the shame, guilt, and stress, we can all find enjoyment in food.”

Because of this lack of information, working out what we ‘should’ be eating can be extremely stressful, and fraught with guilt and shame. My decision to study nutrition came out of a desire to help others remove those negative emotions from their daily food decisions. I grew up surrounded by “fad” dieters. My family’s disordered eating patterns alternated between restrictive dieting and compulsive eating. As I watched them go through endless unsuccessful cycles, I felt there had to be a more constructive approach to eating – a modest, mindful, and moderate way to eat. It was this quest that has driven me to spend the last decade studying nutrition.

My goal is to help people eliminate the stress and guilt associated with food choices, so that they can feel confident about the food they put in their bodies. Food should be something we eat to nourish ourselves both physically and mentally. By removing the shame, guilt, and stress, we can all find enjoyment in food. And the way to remove those negative emotions is through knowledge – knowledge of what we should be eating for optimal health.

About Esther

I grew up on the tiny British island of Jersey. At the age of 22 I began working as a Barrister (trial Attorney) in London. Five years later, while visiting California, I met my husband surfing in Santa Monica, California. I fell in love and relocated to Los Angeles. During this time I found my passion for nutrition and began my studies. I went back to college to get my degree in Nutritional Science from California State University, Northridge. I am now a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a private practice in Los Angeles.

When I don’t have my head in a scientific journal, I love to surf, tap dance, create healthy recipes, and spend time with my family. I live in Los Angeles with my husband and our two young children.