Q&A with nutritionist Nicola Shubrook

Q&A with nutritionist Nicola Shubrook

WHL catches up with nutritionist Nicola Shubrook to talk about why healthy eating is more than just about making the right food choices…

Q. How did you get into nutrition?

A. My first dabble with nutrition was through my own health when I was told I was dairy-intolerant in my early twenties. Up until then I’d suffered with terrible mood swings and skin. Cutting out the dairy changed this almost instantly. Then towards my late twenties, I started to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks as a result of a poor diet and stress. I found an amazing book called The Mood Cure by Julia Ross, and that was it – nutrition became a central part of my life.

Q. What do you love most about your job?

A. When I advise clients to make the simplest of changes to their diet, or perhaps take a supplement because they are deficient in a certain mineral, and it has a dramatic effect on their health.

Q. What’s the toughest bit of your job?

A. You can’t help everyone unfortunately. I see patients who are desperate to lose weight or have an eating disorder, and I can advise them to eat the best foods and have the most amazing diet in the world, but unless they change their mindset or get rid of negative emotions, they will fail. Willpower alone is not enough.

Q. What’s your favourite healthy meal?

A. At the moment I’m going through a real breakfast craving of steamed kale, avocado and poached egg – delicious! I’m a big breakfast fan; it’s my favourite meal of the day.

Q. What’s your favourite cheat treat?

A. A margarita pizza… but I’ll top it with a bag of watercress and rocket and drizzle with olive oil.

Q. What’s your favourite current foodie trend?

A. Raw baking – making a dessert with four simple ingredients such as nut butter, cacao, coconut oil and almonds can make the most amazing sweet fix. Easy to make, full of goodness and you only need one as they are so filling.

Q. What’s your favourite ingredient to cook with?

A. Kale! It may be on trend at the moment but this veg is so versatile ­– whether it’s raw or cooked, it packs a real nutritional punch. I eat it most days.

Q. Where do you get your recipe inspo?

A. I’m a big Pintrest fan, which has lots of recipes and ideas, but I also love food blogs. Especially Australian ones – they know how to cook and photograph amazing food! I also love sites such as BBC Good Food and Healthy Food Guide

Q. How do you stay in shape/keep fit?

A. I walk as much as I can every day (around two miles a day) and I always walk up the escalators on the Tube. I then try to run three times a week – I love being outdoors and find it really clears my head.

Q. What’s next for you?

A. I have just started working with PUSH reboot camps, which is very exciting and two camps in we are getting some amazing results (pushmindandbody.com). Later this year I am planning on going back to college to study either life coaching or hypnotherapy – healthy eating is much more than just the food we eat, it’s about our mindset too.

Get more top nutrition tips from Nicola at urbanwellness.co.uk.

You might also like to discover how to be a flexitarian or the fast food joints we trust.