Interview with Sophie Bertrand: AfN Registered Nutritionist

Sophie Bertand is an AfN (Association for Nutrition) Registered Associate Nutritionist.

She has quickly risen to prominence in the nutrition community with her approach to the human diet encompassing a wide array of delicious foods and recipes which help people develop a healthy, non-restrictive and a well-balanced relationship with the food on their plate.

Something we can all benefit from.

If that wasn’t enough:

As part of her work as a qualified nutritionist, Sophie provides evidence-based nutrition, diet and lifestyle consultancy work for individuals on a one-to-one basis in a clinic in the heart of London.

So,

Whether you’re an athlete, a regular gym goer or someone simply looking to make better food choices, Sophie’s credentials makes her one of the leading experts in her field to consult with.

Let’s get into the interview.

For anyone who is not familiar with you, could you briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Sophie Bertrand and I am a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) with a BSc Psychology degree and an MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Eating Disorders.

I have also obtained a diploma in Nutritional Interventions for Eating Disorders accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and i am due to complete my Intuitive Eating course.

I work with clients at the Rhitrition Clinic on Harley Street in London, helping individuals to cultivate a non-restrictive diet and develop a healthy relationship with food as well as working as a nutrition consultant for various different companies.

I use my Instagram page to share evidence-based nutrition and a variety of recipes that are both delicious and nutritious.

How did you first start getting into diet and nutrition and what made you pursue it as your full-time career?

I originally created Sophie’s Healthy Kitchen to share simple yet nutritious recipes for those who wanted to experiment more in the kitchen.

As I started blogging more about food, I realised I had a lot to learn and I became passionate about sharing evidence-based nutrition.

After completing my Master’s degree at University College London (UCL) I set up my own business and used my Instagram page to broaden my network and work for myself as a nutrition consultant.

What is your approach to nutrition and do you generally include or exclude certain foods into/from your diet?

I don’t like to take a weight loss approach with my clients and I never encourage exclusion of any foods.

I like to take the approach ‘all food is fit’, which is why you will find a whole variety of recipes on my page – not just the ‘healthy’ stuff.

Your health is way more important than the number on the scales!

What are 3 foods you could not live without? What is your guilty pleasure if any?

That’s a tough one!

If I had to say:

It would probably include chocolate, pink lady apples and broccoli (yep, I love my greens!) – I have a massive sweet tooth but I never feel guilty about it.

Do you believe someone can get healthy without sacrificing taste and flavour? If so, what do you normally recommend?

Absolutely!

This will very much depend on the individual but I like to place a huge focus on enjoying food.

You should never have to give up foods that make you happy.

I like to help individuals recognise what they can add into to their diet as opposed to what they think they need to take out.

If you could persuade the general public to change three things about their diet, what would it be and why?

Based on the stats that are currently out there, as a whole, we need to increase our fruit and veggie intake.

Secondly,

A lot of people don’t drink enough water and staying hydrated is very important for overall health. 

Finally, I would suggest switching some meat meals to plant based meals to help our environment out!

There are some really shocking stats around this and we can all make such an impact by reducing meat intake even just once a week.

Are there any ‘accepted truths’ out there regarding diet and nutrition that you would, through experience, research or otherwise, confidently debunk?

There are probably too many to mention but one that always comes up is the idea that we can ‘detox’ using teas, juices or lemon water etc.

Your liver is what ‘detoxes’ you – these silly teas and juice cleanses will cause more harm than good!

What are your thoughts on influencers who might market particular products as ‘healthy’ but have little to no understanding of their benefits or effects?

I find this very irresponsible.

Particularly when what they are promoting can be damaging to both someone’s health and relationship with food!

I often see ‘skinny teas’ or various supplements being promoted and I completely disagree with it.

These people are just trying to make money.

How often do you use supplements as part of your diet? What supplements would you recommend for those looking to optimise their performance inside and out of the gym?

I am not a huge advocate of supplements and if you are eating a varied, well balanced diet, it is highly unlikely you will need to supplement.

For committed gym goers, nonetheless, protein shakes may be a convenient way to ensure you are getting enough protein – but apart from that, there is very little research behind supplements.

Food should always come first.

However,

If you’re a vegan, then there may be certain nutrients that will need to be supplemented.

I would advise anyone enquiring about supplements to talk to a Registered Nutritionist or Dietitian as this is very unique to the individual.

Do you ever have days where food cravings seem to be uncontrollable? What are your best tips, hints, suggestions or quick wins for someone to keep them at bay?

Not very often as I respect my bodies needs. ‘Cravings’ are usually a result of restriction.

For someone experiencing regular cravings, I would recommend they look at their overall diet and question whether they’re meeting their bodies physiological needs.

Are there any books, podcasts, websites or other resources you would recommend for those who want to become better clued up about diet and nutrition?

I have loads of helpful blogs on my website and my lovely mentor Rhiannon Lambert’s podcast ‘Food for Thought’ has some really informative episodes!

Finally, do you have any parting thoughts you could leave our readers?

We are all unique and you shouldn’t compare your diet and lifestyle to anyone else’s.

If you feel like you need guidance, seeking advice from a qualified nutrition professional (registered with either the AfN or BDA) is very important.

More about Sophie Bertrand

In addition to learning more about Sophie Bertrand on her website, you can also follow her across all major social media platforms including:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Did you enjoy this interview?

Have you got any questions for Sophie?

Let us know in the comments section below!

Joseph Gregorio

Joseph is the Founder and Editor in Chief of CheckMeowt. When he is not sat at the computer guzzling down the nearest thing with protein in it, he can be found pulling up the world in the gym. Occasionally, he is best described as socially unreliable and easily distracte.