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
New Zealand's leading child nutrition expert
Co-founder of The Food Tree
BsC (Hons) Food, Nutrition and Health Science
PgDip Nutrition and Dietetics
NZ Registered Dietitian
Rachael is a UK-trained registered dietitian specialising in family feeding, feeding disorders, disordered eating and body image.
She has a background in feeding therapy with training in SOS feeding. She is New Zealand's only dietitian trained internationally renowned feeding specialist Ellyn Satter. She is only one of 10 people worldwide selected to train in 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.
Responsive Feeding Therapy
Mindful based
eating awareness
Advanced motivational interviewing
Dietitian Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Lorren Hawkins
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Registered early childhood teacher
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Forest School Leader
Education development facilitator
Co-founder of The Food Tree
Lorren is a registered Early Childhood Teacher, with over 20 years teaching experience. She lives with her husband and daughter in West Auckland and has travelled and lived all over the world including 10 years in London. Lorren is currently working in community engagement as a Relationship Manager for the Kickstart Breakfast Programme.
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.
