Introducing a member of the HPN Advisory Board- Mikki Williden

Mikki Williden is a registered nutritionist who many of you may know through her regular contributions to Bite Magazine, in the NZ Herald. With her large Facebook following she inspires many New Zealanders to live a healthier and happier lifestyle. Mikki Williden has a Degree in Science (Human nutrition), PhD, MSc (Hons) and a BPhEd so we feel privelleged to have her on board here at HPN! 

We thought we would do a Q&A with Mikki to get a bit of inside into her day to day life: 

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When and how did you first become interested in nutrition?
I've been interested in nutrition since my early teens and I was an overweight teenager! My mother and I used to go on diets, so I learned from early age the role food played in body composition - I did fall into nutrition science by accident when I needed another degree to back up my physical education degree and all of my PE friends were doing it so I thought, why not?

What is the silliest nutrition myth you’ve ever heard of?
Interesting question, as this has changed a lot over the last few years as I realise how many of our 'accepted' nutritional beliefs would fall under this category! However, I do like the one that states if you break a cookie into pieces then all of the calories fall out....

What is your go-to easy mid week meal?
Has to be kale leaves, chopped with garlic, rubbed in olive oil at the bottom of a casserole dish with a salmon fillet (pesto on top) on top - baked in oven for 20 minutes. Served with stir fried brussel sprouts and steamed broccoli

What is your favourite way to sweat?
I love to run, and there is nothing better than training in the morning with friends, then heading to a café for a long black and an omelet

Biggest food weakness?
Do not leave me alone with a jar of almond butter!

What are your top 3 tips for staying healthy and happy?
Focus on getting enough sleep, managing stress on a day to day basis and try to appreciate and spend time with people who add value to your life. These are clearly not related to food per se but our food and activity decisions made every day are determined by how well we do these things. 


You can find Mikki on Facebook here