Starting at the age of 17, I spent 6 years as a vegetarian. I had always been interested in nutrition and cooking, but being a vegetarian in an entirely meat eating family meant that I had to be very motivated as well as very organised. It was certainly a challenge, but I enjoyed putting thought into researching and creating interesting vegetarian dishes. Eating healthily proved a bit more difficult when I went to Art College; the stress of deadlines, the hectic social life of a twenty-something, and relying often on canteen or ready made food led to poor eating habits and soon I found myself unhealthy and out of shape. I decided to take matters in hand – I tried many different trend diets, often with initial success, but none of which allowed me to maintain a healthy weight and feel well in myself.

After a few years of this yo-yo dieting, I realised what was lacking in my diet and lifestyle: it was Balance. Life can be full of stress and temptations. I found the best way to deal with this was by creating more balance. Learning to cope with stress was important but eating well and regular exercise was the key. I applied the 80%-20% rule which involves eating well and looking after my health 80% of the time then relaxing and letting loose 20% of the time. I am no longer a vegetarian, but I still eat vegetarian food 4-5 days a week. I love to experiment with new recipes and prove time and time again, that healthy and nutritious food can be just as appealing, if not more so, than its unhealthy rivals!

Keen to share my passion with others, I started studying nutrition and graduated as a Nutritional Therapist from IHS in Dublin. The bulk of my practice is Dublin based, but I also enjoy the variety that working outside of the capital brings; through my corporate clients, I have worked all over the country.

Definite trends in the way office workers manage their diets have become apparent to me. Re-education and sparking an interest in their own health is fundamental to change. This proves hugely beneficial to the well-being of the staff, and can lead to an increase in productivity and a reduction in absenteeism through illness. Clients leave my consultations feeling empowered to make changes to their diet and lifestyle.

Another area I am passionate about is nutrition for children. Since the arrival of my son 3 years ago I have been astonished at the low quality food aimed at children. I am dedicated to educating parents about the need for good nutrition from an early age – for this reason, I started running workshops on how to make healthy meals for children. They are accessible, fun and have helped countless parents learn that healthy food for their kids need not be dull or cost a fortune.

I also see clients privately at my clinics in the Sanctuary Dublin 7 and above Restore health food shop on Camden street Dublin 2.