Abbie O’Rourke is the founder and owner of Feel Fresh Nutrition, a team of highly qualified and experienced nutritionists who provide science-based nutritional services to help their clients achieve positive diet and lifestyle changes. She tells Verve about her journey building the business of making people feel good.
What inspired you to become a nutritionist?
In my mid-20s I had the realisation that we have one body. I took this for granted prior to being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. After a year of researching how lifestyles contribute to better health, and understanding the role that nutrition played, I changed from a career in design to nutrition. I went back to uni as a mature student, studied nutrition, and never looked back. Being a nutritionist and owner of Feel Fresh Nutrition is an incredibly rewarding experience.
What prompted you to start Feel Fresh Nutrition, and how long has the company been going for now? The company was born from the realisation that nutrition had reached peak confusion levels for the general public! The vision for this was to be a voice of reason and create a team that could take each client case by case and identify the best way to reach personal goals.
The company has been running for six years. We are entering a very exciting phase off the back of the pandemic focusing on digital innovation to further enhance our services.
What words of encouragement do you have for people who might feel daunted about starting this journey?
Every step you take in the right direction has an impact on your health. We remind clients that ‘slow and steady wins the race’. Take one step at a time, be kind to yourself, undo any old habits. Your health journey gets easier with time. We help build the foundation of creating healthy sustainable changes that are embedded for life.
Feel Fresh Nutrition has a new recipe programme coming up; what is that all about?
We have designed an online eight-week programme with the purpose to recreate what we can achieve in the clinic face-to-face but more accessible affordable way for everyone.
The programme provides community support and group coaching for accountability purposes. We provide all the practical tools a person needs when wanting to eat healthier; shopping lists, seasonal recipes for every dietary preference, concise meal plans, and support with habit formation and goals.
We teamed up with some wonderful chefs so your meals are guaranteed nutritious but utterly delicious. The feedback we have had worldwide is incredible and the next programme kicks off 1 June. It’s for those wanting help with weight management, increased energy, better digestion and better habits with food. We believe that nutrition is key to good health and should be available to everyone, no matter where you live or how much money you have.
There are always challenges to running one’s own business. Tell us about a couple of yours?
Managing priorities within the business plus family is the biggest challenge. The best example occurred 14 months ago. I had spent six months preparing Feel Fresh Nutrition for my maternity leave with baby Ruby. However, level 4 lockdown and the arrival of baby Ruby happened at once. Feel Fresh Nutrition had to be completely rebuilt over the last year.
But, with every challenge is an opportunity. In this instance our team fast tracked many aspects of the business online. We created new online products, which strengthened and diversified the business. We run a successful online nutritional programme that the team is proud of. This wouldn’t have happened in 2021 if it wasn’t for the pandemic.
But the rewards are many?
Running a business means that no two days are ever the same. I am motivated by the challenges my work presents. I value flexibility and innovation. Having the opportunity to work with incredibly talented people keeps my enthusiasm levels sky high.
Tell us more about your food philosophy. Food in its simplest form is best for health. It’s important to have a healthy mindset to enjoy food in a celebratory or comforting way. I believe in the 80/20 maxim where 80% of our food choices are unprocessed and nutritious, allowing 20% of our diet the flexibility for less healthy options. Balance is key and high levels of restriction is unhealthy.
For people who might be starting their healthy eating journey, what changes can they expect?
Are the benefits the same for everybody? Benefits most people experience when they start eating well is increased energy levels, weight management, plus pride in themselves. Clients find a new sense of adventure when cooking and confidence with their food choices. Benefits vary as everyone begins at a different starting point. Each and every one of us have different goals, bodies, pasts and expectations.
