27/11/2025
I was invited onto BBC 5 Live Breakfast this week to discuss UPFās and stigma. I said yes, although I had no idea what was coming.
Itās a fashionable thing to demonise them and people relying on them right now. But⦠Recently Iāve seen a big shift in dieticians and nutritionists being very open and understanding around upfās. Which is great, considering our job includes helping people eat better.
What many will probably admit is we were never really taught about the social economic elephant in the room when it comes to health. We werenāt really taught about food insecurity or poverty.
Yet here we are, pushing back on stigma and trying to help people navigate the cost of living crisis and this crazy food environment. All whilst avoiding judgment. And navigating it ourselves.
Personally Iāve lived it. I was on free school meals at 17. I know what itās like. We didnāt have chicken breast or salmon on our house. We didnāt have berries or fancy breads. It was the basics. I didnāt really think much of it.
Then during my masters I choose to do an assignment on worldwide poverty, nutrition and birth defects. Thatās when I realised I was lucky to have a kitchen, a fridge, safe food to eat and free healthcare.
Iāve worked in public health and mental health services which highlight the struggles even more.
I can categorically say anyone demonising upfās without basic understanding of how many live and how they are simply navigating this current food landscape amongst a cost of living crisis is not worth your time or energy.
Until they work in their local community, in food banks, in rehab, in mental health, in the nhs and in deprived areas⦠they shouldnāt have their opinion listened to.
To all the nutritionists, dieticians and health workers helping people through this without judgement or prejudice⦠keep going. Itās good to see ā¤ļø
If youād have said to me a few years back Iād spend my time defending upfās on national radio Iād have laughed.
But when you work with people in the settings I just mentioned it teaches you an awful lot.
Continued in the comments⦠š