Personal statement

Sarah is a Registered Nutritionist with over 20 years’ experience working and teaching in nutrition and food.  

A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Sarah has also previously worked as a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition at Exeter University and as External Examiner to the University of Birmingham/University College Birmingham.

Closely involved in the promotion of evidence-based nutrition, Sarah is an Assessor for the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists and a media expert for the Association for Nutrition. Alongside her lecturing, Sarah is Director of Pistachio Nutrition, a Nutrition Consultancy that has provided services to major retailers and brands including Sainsburys, McDonalds UK, Yeo Valley, Walgreens-Boots Pharmaceuticals and the Food Standards Agency.

Previously a Buyer for Marks and Spencer Food, Brand Manager for Loblaws Canada and Senior Product Development Manager for Safeway UK, she has extensive industry experience which informs her teaching and provides industry insights for students. 

Her special interests include food product development, food law and labelling, and lifestage nutrition and chronic disease prevention.

Academic qualifications

  • MSc Nutrition and Food Science, University of Reading (Distinction)
  • BSc (Hons) Microbiology, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, University of London
  • RNutr UKVRN (Association for Nutrition)
  • Certificate of Professional Learning in Higher Education, Bath Spa University.

Professional memberships

  • Nutritionist in Industry member
  • SENSE freelance nutritionists member.

Other external roles

  • Registration Assessor for the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists
  • Media Expert, The Association for Nutrition
  • Director, Pistachio Nutrition.

Teaching specialisms

I currently lead the first year Food and Nutrition module and second year module Food Product Development for Quality, exercise and Health.

I also contribute to other modules in the food/nutrition programme and supervise students during dissertation or their Food and Nutrition in Practice module projects where students work with external industry partners.

Dissertation and projects currently include interests in

  • nutritional value of vegan and vegetarian diets,
  • ultra processed foods,
  • Nutrition and health claims,
  • food supplements 
  • food product development.

Students are welcome to contact me to discuss possible food and nutrition roles in industry, or with any questions around freelance practice.