5 things I've changed since becoming a Nutrition coach
- Anne-Marie V.
- Apr 19
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 21
I get this question all the time: "have you made any changes now you're in Nutrition?"
Now, you probably guessed right: most people in this field aren’t exactly living off Maccas and Coke. I was already eating pretty well before studying Nutrition and becoming a Nutrition Coach.
But with all the evidence-based knowledge I’ve picked up along the way, I’ve made a few tweaks. Today, I’m sharing five of them… though trust me, there’s plenty more where that came from.
Read on to find out what's changed...
I obsess over variety
Each whole food offers a unique mix of macronutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. By diversifying my diet, I’m more likely to meet my daily nutrient needs and enjoy a broader range of health benefits, including a happier, more diverse gut microbiome.
For example:
I’ve never been much of a fan of orange-coloured vegetables beyond carrots. But by branching out to include small quantities of pumpkin and sweet potato, I’m boosting my intake of beta-carotene — the precursor to vitamin A, which supports healthy vision and immunity.
In the fruit aisle, while I’ve always loved yellow and orange produce like bananas, pears and gold kiwis, I used to be sceptical about berries. I found them a bit austere due to their tartness, and they weren’t a staple in my native southern France. But after learning about their impressive antioxidant content and relatively low sugar levels, I decided to move past my preconceptions. Now, when they’re in season, I happily enjoy a punnet a week.
Nuts & seeds have also been a major new addition to my diet. Before studying nutrition, I’d consume them sparingly, mentally putting them in the “old people’s food” category. But after discovering their healthy fats (mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated), protein, and fibre content, I’ve fallen for them. I can now officially say I’m nuts… about nuts.
I enjoy alcohol like the French snob I am
I was never a big drinker, but when I moved from France to the UK, after-work pub gatherings became essential for fitting in. And trust me: ordering water or a soft drink wasn’t exactly the done thing.
As I gained confidence with age, I began questioning this automatic habit. And even more so after learning about alcohol’s effects on the body: it’s been shown to negatively impact almost every body system. The World Health Organization actually advises there’s no safe level of consumption. It’s also surprisingly energy-dense at 29 kilojoules per gram.
These days, I choose to drink only when it truly matters to me, and when it sparks joy. Quality over quantity. A glass of quality wine that's beautifully matching with my food? Yes, please. A random midweek pint because “everyone else is”? No, thank you.
Ultra-processed food makes me icky
Growing up, I rarely ate ultra-processed foods. My old-school parents were instinctively suspicious of them. I did indulge a little after moving in with my future husband: those beautifully packaged products were such novelties!
As I started cooking more seriously in London, I naturally pulled back. But it was my Nutrition studies that really opened my eyes. Learning about trans fats, additives, and the industrial processes behind hyper-palatable, shelf-stable products made me reconsider them entirely.
Reading Ultra-Processed People was the final push: I honestly don’t see these items as food anymore. The more I’ve distanced myself from them, the less I crave them.
I choose whole grains whenever possible
Not the easiest shift when you grew up eating baguette every day!
But once I understood the benefits of whole grains versus refined grains, I made a conscious effort to include more. I’ve swapped to wholemeal bread and started experimenting with grains less common in the Western diet, like bulgur, freekeh, and quinoa.
Whole grains offer more fibre, essential nutrients, and gut health benefits, and they keep me feeling fuller for longer. What’s not to love?
I embrace greater compassion
I was born and raised in France, where the culture is, let’s be honest, fatphobic.
As Mireille Guiliano describes in French Women Don’t Get Fat, there’s this subtle, almost unspoken surveillance. Women constantly observe each other’s habits, appearance and behaviour. She suggests it’s one reason why French women tend to stay relatively slim without resorting to extreme diets.
While that may have its perceived benefits, I believe it also fosters disordered eating behaviours and a socially accepted disdain for people living with overweight or obesity.
One of the first subjects I studied in my Diploma of Nutrition was Nutrition & Society, which unpacked the social determinants of health. These include factors like income, education, job type, neighbourhood, and social support.
They directly influence people’s access to healthy food, safe places to be active, healthcare, and nutrition education. When these determinants are poor (like when nutritious food is too expensive, fast food outlets are more common, or people work long sedentary hours) the risk of overweight and obesity rises.
Understanding this through both research and hard data has helped me reframe the issue with greater compassion. It’s made me a more empathetic practitioner and human being.
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