In this edition:
Nutrition Unpacked – Navigating The Complex Food Environment
Nutrition shapes every stage of our lives, yet access to healthy food and reliable knowledge remains deeply uneven.
In this episode of Humanising Healthcare, we sit down with three leading experts, Dr Zoe Bell, Dr Fiona Lavelle and Dr Rachel Gibson, to cut through the noise of social media and return to the fundamentals of what truly nourishes us.
Despite the constant flood of wellness trends and conflicting research, the core pillars of good health haven't changed. We all need diets rich in fibre, fresh fruit, vegetables, and lean protein, while keeping sugar and saturated fats low. But knowing what's healthy is only half the battle - having access to it is another story.
Together, they unpack why nutrition matters so profoundly and how food insecurity continues to affect communities. From the science of early‑life feeding to differences in cooking behaviours and the realities of shift work - this conversation shines a light on the challenges, the misconceptions, and the opportunities to support better nutrition for all.
Speakers:
Dr Zoe Bell:
Dr Zoë Bell is a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) research associate in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London. Her research portfolio focuses on understanding and addressing dietary and health inequalities amongst women across the life course. Specific interests include food insecurity, obesity, gestational diabetes, and menstrual-related conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis.
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Dr Fiona Lavelle:
Dr Fiona Lavelle is a Lecturer at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, King’s College London, with a background in Behavioural Nutrition and Sport Science. Fiona investigates the why, how, when, where and under what conditions individuals prepare and consume food. Her work focuses on diverse and vulnerable populations including children, pregnant individuals, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and athletes. She also explores the intersections between cooking and sustainability, child development, mental health and wellbeing
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Dr Rachel Gibson:
Dr Rachel Gibson is a Senior Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at King's College London.
Rachel is a Registered Dietitian and works at King's College London researching how our work environment impacts food choices and health. Rachel's research is focused on occupational groups that work shifts and irregular hours such as police, health care and manufacturing workers. Prior to training as a Dietitian, Rachel studied retail marketing and worked in business management roles across various industries, including the food service sector.
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