A Home Economics teacher at school with the aptronym ‘Miss Kitchen’ (= a name that matches the job, also described as ‘nominative determinism’) inspired Zoe to study Home Economics at Cardiff University. “She was so encouraging, and I really enjoyed the subject. Especially the nutrition and health aspects,” Zoe tells me. Her degree project was on iodine in the UK diet, and this led to her decision to do the MSc in Nutrition at Kings College London.

In 1993, Zoe got her first job, as a health promotion specialist in nutrition with the Somerset Health Authority. She lists the huge diversity of projects she organised. “I advised on healthy catering in schools, workplaces and hospitals. I set up obesity prevention programmes, assessed and helped judge various awards and promotions, and advised many small shops on how to promote healthier items.” She had occasional contact with dietitians, but most of the time was working alone, and only had the pleasure of meeting other nutritionists at occasional professional events and conferences.