Hi, I'm Emma Townsin!
I'm a UK Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specialising in Eating Disorders, a Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor and the founder of Food Life Freedom.
I'm passionate about supporting you to stop stressing over food and get back to all the things that are more meaningful to you.
No more fighting food urges. You will learn how to no longer feel out of control food cravings.
You can't hate yourself into loving yourself. Learn body appreciation as a way to implement healthy behaviours.
Breakdown food and nutrition myths and be left with food knowledge that supports your body and mind.
It's not your body that's wrong. It's the way you have been told to eat that is causing this.
That's why I'm anti-diet, weight inclusive and trauma informed
→ having connection with and appreciation for your body (mindfulness)
→ feeling free of trying to meet impossible body ideals set out in our culture
→ a healthier way of eating and caring for your body (+ improved health markers!)
→ your mood, your energy and your focus is better so you feel happier and less stressed
Dieting is not healthy. Eating is not an isolated part of the human experience. Food pleasure and joyful eating are important for our physical, social, cultural, emotional and mental health.
When we try to ignore the importance of food for pleasure, socialising and comfort it leads to guilt, shame and stress over the food and the experience as a whole.
This is not health promoting.
Healing your relationship with food goes much beyond the food.
Food is no longer on your mind ALL THE TIME
You stop BINGEING or feeling OUT-OF-CONTROL around food
Dinner dates are RELAXED and you feel EXCITED to eat nice food
You feel PRESENT and develop a deeper CONNECTION in your relationships
You naturally teach your children to ENJOY ALL FOODS
On holiday you experience and enjoy the CULTURE through food
You leave celebrations feeling SATISFIED instead of craving cake (or feeling guilty for eating cake)
Your MOOD and ENERGY is better for living your life!
We don't eat in isolation, food serves in our whole life. If food feels stressful, it affects us on a deeper level.
My qualifications
I work with you as a UK Registered Dietitian and practice from a health at every size (HAES), weight inclusive and trauma-informed lens so you can find your food and life freedom.
I am:
A UK registered healthcare provider with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC DT28209) specialised in eating disorders and stressful eating.
A Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor (CIEC) with an official certification through Intuitive Eating PRO with Evelyn Tribole.
University degrees:
Master of dietetics, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia (2012).
Honours research year in food science and nutrition, Deakin University, Melbourne Australia (2010).
Bachelor of Health Sciences, majoring in Nutrition and psychology (2009)
Additional training and supervision:
Advanced Nutrition Counselling for dietitians - in progress
Advanced Eating Disorders - British Dietetics Association
National Autism Training Programme (Anna Freud) 3 day training
Hormone health and eating disorders: clinical and counseling essentials for dietitians with EDRDPro
Trauma informed care with Fiona Sutherland and Tracy Brown
Digestive disorders and eating disorders with Marci Evans RD
Intuitive Eating PRO course with Evelyn Tribole
I am a member of my professional body - The British Dietetics Association as well as specialist organisations EDRDPro and Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellors, through which I complete regular professional development training webinars.
I engage in regular supervision with an eating disorder specialist dietitian and intuitive eating proessionals.
Additionally I work as a Specialist Eating Disorder Dietitian in an NHS eating disorder service.
Facts about me
I moved to the UK in 2015 for a short stay and just never left. Although I grew up in Australia I also have family in the UK so I feel at home here as well.
I took one year of my university degree in Canada and solo backpacked in Europe, South and Central America, East Africa and the Middle East which grew my love of different cultures, new foods and gave me new confidence.
Spending time in green (or blue) space is important for my mental health. I often break up my days with a walk in the local park or along the canal and I love weekends away in the mountains.
I love all sorts of food but the foods I miss if they are not available are my basic everyday things like cheddar cheese and grainy bread.
My current favourite way to “read” is with an audiobook - I particularly love listening to an audio book while walking in a park.
Online courses to walk you through every step of the way to finding a joyful relationship with food.