Kate Taylor is a nutritionist, food consultant and, fitness coach, here to help people fall in love with food again. Kates clients include people who want to understand what eating well means for them.Good nutrition is different for all of us, so she delivers completely bespoke advice that will show just how eating well for your body and lifestyle is achievable within your means.
In addition to this, Kate also works with businesses of all sizes to develop menus and help educate employees about food. A portfolio of all ranges such includes small independent cafes, for example, to ensure their menus feature some of the more sensible food trends and follow that up with education, so their staff can talk about them confidently. Kate also develops nutritious dishes for companies with a workplace restaurant or cafe alongside providing food education that motivates staff to make changes to their eating habits everywhere from SMEs to big corporates.
“For far too long there’s been too much nitpicky negativity about what we eat. For me, food should be something we relish. It should be at the heart of our social lives and, as well as being absolutely god damn delicious, it should be nourishing.”
Hey Kate, can you introduce yourself to us?
Of course, I am a registered associate nutritionist and founder of The Food Boss nutrition consultancy. I’m also a qualified group fitness instructor and specialise in spinning, aqua aerobics and circuit training. I love anything and everything to do with food, I thrive off educating others and stop myself from getting sucked into the stresses of life by keeping fit and being sociable. I am a born and bred Aussie but have been living in the UK for 12 years now with my husband. I live in Watford and most of my work is in the local area and in London.
Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?
Absolutely. I’ve always had a “thing” for food although it’s not always been a firm favourite in my life I must say. I left Australia in 2003 and worked in a summer camp in America for a year which is really where my love of being independent with a go-getter mindset came into its own. After summer camp I travelled, went back to Aus and then moved over to the UK not intending to stay for as long as I have. I worked in a temp job, met my now husband and put on around 4 stone in weight.
I had always been sporty and into the health sciences at school so thought doing nutrition and sports degree might be up my street and it truly was. In 2011 I completed my degree in Human Nutrition and Sports Science at London Metropolitan University and networked my way into a job within the contract catering industry. I loved it so much I spent almost 6 years there but then it was time for something new. I had toyed with the idea of going freelance but everyone said you need to really want it, that you wouldn’t have a holiday for at least the first year and you’d work every weekend. That initially put me off. As I have my group fitness qualification I started teaching a bit more than I had been whilst I figured out what to do and then realised that the freedom of working for myself was the right move. I spoke with several people about how to get started and pursued my brand development with Deborah O’Ggrady. I had mixed views on if I should do the whole “brand thing” but I’m so glad I did, it honestly made me realise what my strengths are and what my core business is about. In October 2017 The Food Boss was founded and I was officially out on my own.
Nutrition is an interesting area, you have to be a niche within your specialist area and when you are starting out that’s tough, because you don’t really know what area that is. So, as I’ve developed over the last few years, my focus now is very much on adult and sports nutrition coaching and also working with the food industry, predominately catering rather than manufacturing and retail. I do a little bit of work in children’s nutrition too. It’s not true either, I went on holiday, have definitely not worked every weekend and I have never looked back.
How is The Food Boss funded, is it bootstrapped, self-funded etc?
It is solely self-funded. When I left my career in corporate contract catering at the end of 2016 I’d saved up a fair bit of cash. I’d been earning a decent amount and not spending it due to the never-ending workload, which I must say was brought on just as much by myself as the business I worked in, that’s the kind of person I am. Always on the go. It’s also something I’m working on too, as we physically cannot sustain that level of output. I used that cash to get my brand and marketing done and to compensate for the first few months of low income.
Can you tell us more about the brand DNA and ethos of The Food Boss?
The strapline for my business is “She tells it like it is” which is pretty much exactly what I do. In the health and nutrition industry, there is so much crap being marketed, quick fixes, products promising the world, weight loss fads and it’s pretty clear that something needs to be done. I founded the business on the premise to educate others on the truth about food, not to be fearful of it, not to be confused and to have a positive influence on peoples lives. As long as I continue to do that, I will forever be happy.
Where can you see yourself within the next 3-5 years?
I’m working on growing my online business to try and reach more people. Working on a one to one basis with clients is great however it’s clear that online is the way the world is going and I want to have a platform that people can use to get help. I am finishing an additional nutrition course with MNU in September so in 2020 will look at further education to keep me motivated. I will continue my work within the food industry and would also like to start up a YouTube channel featuring short clips of real-life tips on food.
In terms of growing the business, at the moment I am happy with it just being me.
Can you give us 3 tips on how we can avoid the negative connotations around ‘dieting’ and eat well?
- Anything that seems too good to be true, is too good to be true.
- Products endorsed by celebrities are more often than not bullshit. You are not them, your goals are your own and they are the only thing you should be measuring yourself on. No one else.
- Ensure you get your nutrition advice from a qualified nutritionist or registered dietitian. You wouldn’t get a celebrity to give you mortgage advice so why would you let them give you advice on how to nourish your body.
Who does the team involve behind you?
There is no team. There is me. And I like that.
What are the key tools that you use for your trade?
- My kitchen, laptop, and my voice. The kitchen, for obvious reasons, is where I love to spend a lot of my time, to test new recipes but also to cook yummy dinners and to entertain friends and family.
- My laptop is a key tool although I spend far too much time on it and not enough in my kitchen. I need it to keep connected and to communicate.
- My voice, not in the true sense of the word but in a sense of my communication with others. That may be through social media, on the phone or actually chatting in person. Emotional intelligence is something not many people (particularly in the health and fitness industry) are blessed with so I try to use mine as positively as I can.
What outlets do use to market The Food Boss?
I predominately use my existing network of people. Having actual conversations with people means far more than an email or generic LinkedIn post. A lot of my regular work comes from recommendations and word of mouth from people I have met before. I also use my Instagram handle and Facebook is something I’m looking to use to grow my online coaching business in the next 12 months.
What or who inspires and motives you?
My dad has been an inspiration all of my life. He continues to inspire me every day. Growing up he was always there, school, sporting events, graduation, driving lessons and we have always had a strong bond. Dad broke his back in a freak surfing accident almost nine years ago, I couldn’t get back to see him from the UK until several months after which absolutely broke my heart. He also had a stroke last year, two weeks before my wedding which means he wasn’t there. But these things in life are sent to test us and make us stronger and that’s what they’ve done. For both of us. He still runs, surfs and cycles for miles to this day and has a veggie patch anyone would be proud of. Every time life gets tough, I think what dad would do and that gets me through. He always told me I could be whatever I wanted to be.
What is the number 1 critical business lesson you have learned so far?
To prioritise my business development over everything else. It’s too easy to spend hours answering emails, being reactive, rather than being productive with your own list. You can only move forward with things if you prioritise new ideas, making new connections, following up on past conversations, posting consistently on social media and promoting what you do. Work doesn’t just come to you.
A seminal point in your career so far?
I can’t tell you the exact day or month but it was when I realised my knowledge is worth so much. It is basically my entire business. I now make time for reading and doing more research because the more I know in my subject area the more I can empower others. Work used to be about physical work, how many emails have you responded to, how many conference calls you’ve been on but that’s changed for me now. Work is also about growing your mind which will, in turn, impact your career in a positive way.
What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?
When people tell me I have helped them. The ultimate feeling is knowing you have made a positive impact on someone’s life.
What challenges have you seen to have been presented during the growth of your business?
Comfort zones. Growing a business leads you to consistently be out of your comfort zone which isn’t nice. And I must say it’s something you never get used to, you just get better at preparing for it. I still get nervous before new meetings or ones I know may be slightly awkward, my palms still sweat before presentations, even those I have delivered a number of times.
Being alone. As a freelancer, you can become lonely and it’s too easy to slip into the habit of working from home all the time and staying in your pajamas until 4pm. That’s ok occasionally, but you need to get out. Go to a coffee shop, work with a friend or colleague, use the library and if you are near a big city, once a week do the commute in and work from there. You’ll feel inspired if anything.
Which other leading entrepreneurs and pioneering game changers do you also admire and why?
So, this one changes quite frequently depending on what I am focussing on, currently, they are:
- Martin MacDonald, all-around nutrition legend.
- Dr. Hazel Wallace, doctor, influencer, a student she does it all and her recipes are delicious.
- Ant Middleton – for his positive mental attitude and ability to push comfort zones
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
Everything ‘I Know About’ Love by Dolly Alderton. For any female brought up as a teenager in the 90s, it’s comical get away from real life. Educationally, ‘The Angry Chef’ books on nutrition (he has 2) are great and I am just about the start ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’ by Tim Ferriss.
Top 3 go-to Podcast channels?
- Ferne Cotton’s ‘Happy Place,’ this podcast is nothing more than inspirational, it puts life into perspective and you will feel grateful after listening
- ‘BBC The Food Programme,’ the latest in the world of food, restaurants, nutrition, and government policies.
- Danny Lennon’s ‘Sigma Nutrition Radio.’This is one of the best podcasts for evidence-based nutrition education. Aimed more so at nutrition and health professionals.
How do you define your own success?
By being happy and helping others. I have always had the mantra that for every event, talk, Instagram post or phone conversation I have if I can help just one person, make a lasting impression on that person so they learn something to improve their life then I have made a difference. And happiness is something we too often overlook, it plays a pivotal role in our approach to life, if we can’t be happy then what can we be?
What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?
Exactly what it says on the tin. We spend too much time comparing ourselves to others and it’s just not necessary, be you, you are enough and if anyone ever tells you that you aren’t then end the conversation, friendship, online chat. Done
Finally, what are you working on throughout 2019?
Lots! I’m continuing my work in the food industry with a number of clients and working on building my individual coaching business too. I re-discovered my love of reading (actual books) late last year so want to continue that habit as well. I really want to build up my recipe portal on my website so have set some personal goals focussed around that. And I’d like to get one or two holidays in there too!
Twitter: @the_food_boss_
Instagram: @the_food_boss_
Website: http://thefoodboss.co.uk
