Amelia Freer | A healthier, happier life through optimum nutrition

Some of our favourite recipes at HM are by the super talented Amelia Freer. Amelia is a qualified nutritional therapist who has written 3 best selling cookbooks and we love all of them.

Amelia has undertaken extensive training over many year,  firstly, at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in Richmond where she completed the 4 year Diploma in Nutritional Therapy and where she continues to sit undergraduate and postgraduate training on a regular basis to gain increased expertise and to keep abreast of the ever pushing boundaries in this scientific field. Some of the areas Amelia has worked in include gluten sensitivity and coeliac disease, gastrointestinal health and digestive challenges, thyroid health & Adrenal dysregulation, body composition, insulin resistance & weight management, autoimmune Diseases and FODMAP principles.

Amelia loves food but when she began suffering with a multiple health issues she knew changes had to be made and is now living a gluten, dairy and refined sugar free life.

When Amelia began her journey in understanding the effects food has on the health, she felt afraid of the negative and restrictive impact it could have on her life. As Amelia’s knowledge about medicinal powers of food grew, so did her confidence: ‘This journey isn’t about impressing others, or fitting into a smaller dress size, or beating myself up for past mistakes. This is about honouring the extraordinary body I have been blessed with, so that I may live the life of my desires’.

When working with clients Amelia doesn’t have a ‘my way of the high way’ approach. Instead she recognises that we are all unique and what may work for her may not work for others. ‘When dealing with clients, I call upon my extensive study, training and experience (practical and academic) to help clients achieve their health goals which can be many and varied.’ This translates into all of her recipes which are versatile and delicious.

We love the simplicity of Amelia’s step-by-step easy to follow plan which is full of vibrant and nutritious meals that anyone can try. She uses a Positive Nutritional Pyramid to show the principles of positive nutrition which is based on an adapted version of the Mediterranean diet.

Staying hydrated is one of the building blocks of the pyramid followed by vegetables, fresh fruit, protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and at the very top is nuts and seeds. One of her ideals is that a healthy lifestyle is more than just a healthy diet. One of our favourite tips Amelia shares is how to detox your kitchen: “good intentions can often go out of the window in a disorganised and poorly stocked kitchen. To maintain a commitment to eating better, set aside a couple of hours to have a good clear-out of the old, and bring in the new. Start by getting rid of cereals, biscuits, cakes, chocolate, sweet, fizzy drinks or sugary drinks (cordials, squash etc), refined flour products – things like pasta and bread, ready meals, cooking sauces, margarine, sunflower oil and vegetable oil and fruit juice. Please don’t think of this as wasteful as your health, vibrancy and happiness can NEVER be a waste – but do consider donating any appropriate food to your local food bank”.

We love reading Amelia’s blog as she gives such an honest account of how she lives and eats – check out this blog post – A day on a plate – to find out what she typically eats during the average day. Also, if you’re curious as to what Amelia recommends to look great on the outside as well as the inside  – take a look at this brilliant post written for GOOP.

We’ve got all her books but the latest is our favourite: Nourish & Glow: The 10 Day Plan which was published in March 2017. If you’re looking for a reset after the holidays this is the book to inspire you! In this book, Amelia shares the secrets of her exclusive practice that includes Victoria Beckham and Sam Smith as clients. With her engaging and encouraging commentary, including client case studies and scientifically researched guidance, Nourish & Glow: The 10 Day Plan showcases Amelia’s unrivalled easy-to-follow 10 day meal plan and promises to fundamentally transform the way you shop for food, cook and eat: now and forever.

The exclusive 10 day plan included in this book is a version of the plan Amelia gives to her clients, which has been developed and refined over her decade of work as a nutritional therapist. It is NOT about deprivation. It is a liberating, energising plan that will equip you with the building blocks needed to develop and implement a lifetime of balanced eating that is unique to you. Leaving behind all the confusion and negativity surrounding diets and healthy eating, this book helps you find out exactly how and what it means to eat well for you, for the rest of your life.

This ultimate guide includes over 50 exclusive gluten, dairy and refined sugar free recipes, complete with vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

And lastly for an everyday dose of inspiration follow Amelia on instagram here.

Image credit – Amelia Freer