About Me
Cariad Family Nutrition is a service born form both professional experience and a personal journey.
After nearly two decades working in the NHS as a Public Health Nutritionist I knew I wanted to do more for families and communities here in South Wales. I started working with children’s charities providing one to one and group-based family support alongside my NHS work. I found this really rewarding and was inspired by the families that I worked with as they faced challenges with hope and strength. I spent this time listening to parents, carers and children, understanding real-life situations and giving practical support.
In 2023 I became a parent through adoption. Becoming a mam was a dream come true for me, one I didn’t think was going to happen for the longest time. This is when I jumped into learning about trauma, early life experiences, and the ways that this can affect relationships with food. I learned more about effective connection-based parenting approaches and how to apply these. We experienced first-hand that standard advice didn’t fit our family, and that tailored guidance is needed that meets families where they are.
This strengthened my belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive and that starts with connection, care and access to nourishing food. I became very aware of the limited nutrition services for families. As I grew in passion and purpose I felt a pull to share my learning and continue supporting families.
I know it can be hard to reach out but please don’t be worried, I am already looking forward to welcoming you.
Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate to work across many areas of public health nutrition. From award-winning community weight management programmes, working with GP practices, local councils, childhood and early years professionals to embed nutrition and wellbeing into their services, training hundreds of staff, to leading work on healthier food environments and influencing policy at a national level. I’ve managed teams, secured funding, designed and delivered programmes, built partnerships and networks. My approach has always been collaborative, evidence-based and grounded in understanding what matters to people’s lives.
More about my career in public health nutrition
My career began in the NHS in 2003 encouraging and enabling patients to eat well during their rehabilitation in hospital, this quickly evolved into community health promotion where I discovered my passion for helping families and communities build healthier, happier lives. Whether delivering healthy cookery skills groups with local communities, working with retailers and caterers to champion healthier foods and meals, or delivering educational workshops with young people – from this point on I worked through a principle of making healthier eating understandable, realistic and empowering for everyone.
Let’s take the first step together - get in touch to see how I can support you.
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BSc. (Hons) Applied Human Nutrition
Certificate in Health Promotion
Master’s in public health (MPH)
Specialist training in coaching, mentoring, behaviour change, leadership and trauma-informed practice.
Professional training to deliver family support with MEND (Mind, exercise, nutrition, do it!), HENRY, Barnardo’s and The Centre for Emotional Health (Family Links) The Nurturing Programme.
Level 2 Food Hygeine and Safety for Catering
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Registered Nutritionist (Public Health) with the Association for Nutrition -Protecting the public and promoting high standards in evidence-based science and professional practice of nutrition.
Registration Number 845.