About us
Food Tree is tended to by us,
Rachael and Lorren.
The opening chapter of our story began with one mum helping another mum, supporting each other. That’s what we keep doing today, but now we’re welcoming you to be supported too.
Our story began,
From the first time we got talking at a playgroup for our kids, we knew our values were aligned. Our complementary career paths and parenting approach drew us together. We bonded over navigating the expectations of motherhood, walking the talk of healthy body positivity, and sifting through the overwhelming amount of parenting information out there.
There had to be an easier way to help the whole family enjoy a wide range of food, feel good about their bodies, and feel connected to the world around them.
So we put our heads together. We combined Rachael’s extensive background in nutrition and Lorren’s expertise as a registered early childhood teacher and we came up with The Food Tree. A place where happy families could raise healthy kids, connect with each other and find peace at the dinner table.
Rachael Wilson
BsC (Hons) Food, Nutrition and Health Science
PgDip Nutrition and Dietetics
NZ Registered Dietitian
New Zealand's leading child nutrition expert
Co-founder of The Food Tree
Rachael is a UK-trained registered dietitian specialising in family feeding, feeding disorders, disordered eating and body image. She is only one of seven people worldwide selected to train in SOS feeding therapy by the Ellyn Satter institute in the USA to become one of their affiliate child feeding specialists. She has a background in Mindfulness and trained in mindful eating through The Centre for Mindful Eating and has undergone training with Grace Wong and Dr Katja Rowell in responsive feeding therapy.
Having grown up with a mother who is a psychotherapist, Rachael always had an interest in the psychology of eating and behaviour change techniques. She has completed a series of international workshops in advanced MI (Motivational Interviewing), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) for dieticians, and completed training in body image work and intuitive eating.
Rachael's expertise
Rachael Wilson is one of seven affiliate child feeding specialists in the world accredited by the Ellyn Satter institute in the USA.The Ellyn Satter supports health care professionals in their work with children, adults, and families who struggle with food issues, through trust-centred and science-tested principles.
SOS Feeding therapy
(Ellyn Satter Institute)
Describe one of your services / clinical approaches, with a short and sharp paragraph that doesn't go over five lines of text.
Mindful based
eating awareness
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Advanced motivational interviewing
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Dietitian Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Describe one of your services / clinical approaches, with a short and sharp paragraph that doesn't go over five lines of text.
Lorren Hawkins
Registered early childhood teacher
Forest School Leader [other qualifications]
Education development facilitator
Co-founder of The Food Tree
Lorren lives with her husband and daughter in West Auckland and has travelled and lived all over the world including 8 years in London. Lorren is a Relationship Manager for Fonterra’s Kickstart Breakfast Programme and is also a registered Early Childhood Teacher.
As the Co-Founder of The Food Tree, Lorren helps feed the minds of children.
Lorren has a passion for children’s growth and education and also uses her knowledge and experience to help guide as a board member for the Kindness Collective when working with our tamariki.
Lorren is currently taking leave from The Food Tree to work on another project.
She maintains involvement in an advisory capacity only at the moment.