Mature student alert, I’m back at school!

Tomato soup w/ lentils, quinoa & kale and a bit about my BSc degree

Hello Friends, how’s this week going? I really loved putting some of the wintering self care tips into practise, have you? For the first time, I’ve been hibernating but not hiding from winter. I’ve been gently nudging myself outside for 10 minutes, most of the time with coats and fleece over my PJs, I’ve shut my laptop at lunch & I’ve been lighting a candle in the eve to signal to my brain it’s time to wind down my work mind.

I’m excited to tell you what I’ve been squirrelling away on for the last 6 months.

tired but happy ‘mature student’

I want to talk about something a bit different this week as it involves a long held dream of mine and, bit dramatic, a life changing new avenue for my career. Today’s letter is about me going back to school and signing up to a four year part-time degree in nutritional therapy. Best decision by me, for me, I’m thrilled to be doing this.

Further learning, mature student-ing, later life studying - I mean, these terms make me chuckle as they suggest that education is just for the youth yet I know 60 year olds who are smashing their PhDs and I’ve been on courses with 80 year olds. I’m thrilled I made this decision for myself after spending years regretting not doing it and I’m excited for where it takes me.

I know it’s a bit cheese but let’s shout it from the rooftops..

‘You are not too old & it’s not too late’

I thought lots of you might be interested in reading about this too for yourselves as I know from what you tell me that you most like hearing from me on nutrition, gut health, tips from experts and of course healthy but not boring delicious food! Did any of you go back to school? Is anyone else interested in changing careers?

Quick soup shoutout first - it wouldn’t be a newsletter from me without a recipe so scroll on down and you’ll find a very cosy hearty soup that’s very easy on effort too.

Back to the business of going back to school. A little back story first…

You might have heard me mention before that as a child, I decided I wanted to be a doctor. And I really meant it and felt it in my bones. It was a done deal. I studied biology, physics, chemistry at A Level (and did spectacularly badly at maths too). For a few sad reasons - maybe I’ll talk about another time - age 18, I had a hugely low period and put off pursuing my ‘doctor dreams’ which was blow-me-down devastating as the pursuit towards university had already formed so much of my - life to that point- identity. Anyway long story short, in my early 20s I thought about medical school again and then and discounted it. But in the 20 years between then and now, I have gone back and forth on ‘going back to school’ and chatted to lots of nutritionists I know for advice and gone to lots of open days and umm and ahhddd….

And so with turning 40 on the horizon - whoop - last year, I decided to invest in myself and invest in my dream of becoming a mature student of nutrition. And who knows, maybe a masters or post grad in the future because I am absolutely loving it. Well, my brain hurts quite a bit but also it feels alive and kicking and happy. In all honestly, for the first month, I thought - what have I done? How am I getting to continue this long term? It took longer that I thought to get back into the swing of studying (it’s been over 20 years) and the rhythm of learning and also juggling as a family to prioritise the time it takes to do so because that cannot be underestimated. It’s a huge amount of energy studying for a degree (especially while working too) and I recognise that it’s a privilege to be able to afford further education and I’m fortunate to have family nearby.

Trying to find time to revise here and there. Each week’s study achievements look different.

How I picked my course

My college offers short courses up to full time and part time degrees. ( If you’re interested in pursuing your studies, this link from me gives you a £250 discount on courses too)

I’m currently on the Biomedicine year of a BSc degree in nutritional therapy. I’ve got major exams in a month and I really should be revising right now (but was excited to share this with you). Saturdays are usually one of my main study days when Henry & Summer head out to the chaos of soft play and go train spotting. But in order to get the hours in, every week I usually have to get up an hour earlier every morning and do an hour later once Summer is asleep plus most of a Saturday. You’re looking about 16 hours - 20 hours studying a week. For me, anyway, to be fair I am easily distracted.

What I love most about this degree is the flexibility (I’m currently doing it part time and online) and that we are studying both Allopathic treatments and Naturopathic too. By that I mean that we are studying modern conventional Western medicine (that broadly speaking is doctors and medical professionals aiming to treat the symptoms) AND we are also studying the ways we might be able to prevent diseases and address the root underlying causes through what’s known as alternative or complementary medicine. Fascinating and valuable to understand and benefit from both ‘sides’.

I know lots of us reading this will have been through or are still going through our challenges with mental and physical health or supporting loved ones through illness. And after my 15 year career in food and wellbeing industry and experiencing my father go through pancreatic and liver cancer and then 5 years on a fertility journey culminating in IVF, along with a diagnosis of ADHD and GAD (generalised anxiety disorder) etc ….I am keen to study both conventional western medicine treatments AND know my holistic alternative options too that could compliment each other.

I now, gratefully, have a much longed for daughter through the science of IVF with its multiple doses of oral hormones, injections as well as a host of minor procedures and major surgeries. I take daily medication for anxiety AND alongside those I take medicinal mushrooms & herbal support and see a therapist. In the last 15 years, I’ve been under the care, on and off, of a team of gynaecologists, embryologists, endocrinologists, nutrionists and psychiatrists AND I have also seen and greatly value the expertise of acupuncturists, functional nutritionists, herbalists and homeopaths.

Side note - ALL of them have told me to work on my stress levels. Let’s talk about that another day, I know I’m not alone on this!

How I decided on my college

The BSc degree I’m on is certainly a huge financial investment which is why I took my sweet time (years) researching and deciding on which college to trust in and which course to enroll on. I spoke to lots of industry experts and graduates to see how they enjoyed the curriculum and if they felt they were well equipped to put their degrees into practise in the real world with patients in clinic or as consultants for companies, brands, charities, working in food policy etc… And I’m confident I made the best choice for me as it encompasses all the elements I’m so passionate about for my family’s health, my current work and my future work. I also love that in this course as well as scientific knowledge, we will gain 500 hours of practical clinical skills and that’s what I’m most interested in, being with people face to face and helping out.

This time last year I enrolled at this college in the BSc part time degree My college has everything from one day courses, weekend courses, diplomas, full time degrees, part time degrees and post graduate courses covering naturopathic nutrition, nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, massage, environmental medicine etc. There’s multiple months you can start within a given year and 10 colleges to study in - London, Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin, Cork, Galway - or online as many students (and international students) do. I’ve studied online for my first year as Summer is so little still and of course I’m continuing to work but next year I’m hoping to attend the Kings Cross campus as I like the shared learning community side of it all.

***** Click here to receive £250* off online & in person courses at my college ****

I had to really save and budget for this and it’s taking a lot of logistical shuffling and lots of help from my Mum and Henry and friends to help me allocate time to study alongside working. It’s a group effort. And I’m so glad I took the plunge.

My dog is distracting. There’s pros and cons to online and in person studying.

PS if you’re keen to know more, please send me any Questions below, and also if you want to know more from the college themselves, there is an open day on 1st Feb near Kings Cross or an online event on 8th Feb if that suits you better and there’s 5 talks with experts lecturing on Gut-brain connection and stress & anxiety. You don’t need to pay to attend, use code AMBASSADOR25 for free entry and feel free to say you heard about it through me :) It’s a good chance to see if you like their style of teaching.

PPS I wanted to end with a note to say that I have fully paid for my degree and I’ve not received any discount at all or any obligation to write about my experience. The college has an ambassador programme available to all students to encourage word of mouth recommendations from happy students who then receive a kick back for referring any future students.

And I’m here for any questions or let me know if you are or have been a mature student too and how it’s going for you. Any studying tips?! Wish me luck on my exams coming up, I’m going to need it!

The Recipe

Quinoa, kale, lentil tomato soup

It’s got red lentils, quinoa and kale in it, which on the surface feel very ‘January nutrition-y’ and perhaps on the surface aren’t everyone’s idea of dream dinner ingredients but… together with lots of staples you’ve probably got at home - garlic, onions, tomatoes and spices, it all comes together in a delicious crowd pleasing way. I can’t not mention ideas with the leftovers…. Reheat a spoonful with some cooked pasta, serve with homemade croutons if you’ve got any past its best bread. Or stir through some shredded cooked chicken after the weekend. Hope you enjoy!

Feeds 6, takes 30 minutes

2 tbsp oil / ghee / coconut oil/ butter

2 onions, finely chopped (or 1 leek and 1 onion)

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 large carrot, finely chopped

3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tsp grated or finely chopped ginger

1.5 tsp ground cumin

1.5 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground turmeric

2 tbsp tomato puree

200g quinoa, rinsed well and drained

250g red lentils, rinsed well and drained

400g tin of chopped tomatoes

1.5 litre veg stock or chicken broth

200g cavolo nero or kale

Sea salt and pepper

To serve if you like

Drizzle of olive oil on each bowl

Swirl of yoghurt, coconut yoghurt or kefir

Chilli flakes or chilli oil

Feta / Parmesan / your fave cheese

Fresh coriander or parsley or maybe a handle of salad leaves for freshness

1. Heat up the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onions, celery and carrots for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until almost softened.

2. Stir in the garlic, ginger and spices as well as a generous pinch of salt and pepper, fry for a minute. Push to one side then add the tomato purée into the gap and cook it out for a minute or so until a shade darker.

3. Add the rinsed lentils, quinoa and the tinned tomatoes and stock (swish out the last bits in the tomato tin with a little stock). Turn up the heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once bubbling, remove the lid, turn down to a medium simmer and let cook for 12-15 minutes until the quinoa and lentils are cooked. If it’s starting to look a little thick for your liking, pop the lid back on.

4. Meanwhile, chop the cavolo nero (discard any tough leaves or save them for stir fries) and stir the leafy greens in for a final 2 minutes or so until tender but still retaining its beautiful colour.

5. Take off the heat and season to taste. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil, yoghurt, chilli flakes and herbs, if you like.

Studying at my Mums over Christmas. Can you spot Nelly?