Bremner & Co

The impact of sugar on the first 1,000 days. This new study on the impact on sugar in the first 1,000 days is brilliant for many reasons, to name but a few: 📈 The study is based on a ‘natural experiment’, which happened in WW2, where sugar rationing came to an end. When rationing ended sugar consumption doubled. Scientists tracked those born between 1951 and 1956 who had regular health monitoring. 🍭 There was a 30% reduction in the risk of obesity for sugar-rationed babies. Diabetes and blood pressure risk increased faster in those born after sugar-rationing ended. 🍰 The study argues that ‘significant sugar exposure in early life can strengthen this preference’. 🚼 The article draws attention to the baby food industry, the high presence of sugar in baby foods, the lack of regulation and the need for reformulation. 👼 It highlights the importance of the first 1,000 days on shaping future health. It also focuses on maternal health and the impact on children’s future health. Sugar in first 1,000 days linked to poor health later https://lnkd.in/e4m3NEZK

Need a budget break? Have a read of the next 'in conversation with' - my series of blog posts where I speak to brilliant people working in the world of food policy. Today's conversation was with the inimitable Dan Parker, Chief Executive of Veg Power, a fantastic organisation looking to inspire children to eat more vegetables. Dan and I talked about: 📺 How he decided to end his career in advertising because he 'felt like he wasn’t helping the world, but contributing to my his family’s unhealthy cycle'. 🥕 The fantastic Veg Power Eat Them To Defeat Them campaign - the origin story, the inspiration, the psychology behind the work and how they created the 'shared enemy' - the vegetable! 💡 How we need to improve our food environment - 'junk food marketing, Healthy Start, healthier high streets, food education'... but also not forget the importance of personal agency. 🥒 And how to make veg fun! 'The veg are taking over, and the only way to stop them is to eat them. It makes kids laugh, and crucially, it aligns parents and kids instead of pitting them against each other.' Have a read.... https://lnkd.in/ewAWaaEj

🥦 “Eat Them to Defeat Them is about reducing and mitigating the risk for parents” 🥦 Thanks Dan Parker and #VegpowerCIC for an inspirational day. Veg is indeed the superpower to help create a healthier, more resilient and productive population. We heard a lot today about how to drive policy, create powerful incentives, and driving behaviour change. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to give some thoughts on the #schoolfood panel. 🥦🥦#vegpositivity index totally fascinating.

New interview alert: In 2022 I made the decision, after a 20 year gap to go back to university to study food policy. I wanted to pursue a career change, find more meaning and focus on the right to nutritious food, especially for the vulnerable and the young. In this interview with City, University of London I talk about: 👶 The importance of showing my children that I can be a mother and have a career and study at the same time – challenging as that may be. 🏢 My decision to leave Mayor of London and the world of comms planning & strategy consulting to go back to university. 🏆 How when I was growing up, my focus was on finding a job that earned you a lot of money and brought promotion. And how now, my definition of success has shifted to not only finding a job that’s meaningful but one that I feel happy doing. (And one that also allows me to be a good role model for my children and have a healthy work-life balance.) 👩🏼🏫 My personal experience with no longer being the expert in the room, and building up after shifting lanes. 🏢 Finding my home at Bremner & Co working alongside four City alumni, Cecily Darling, Cressida Pidgeon, Rob Kidd and Rosie Osborne. 🍲 The brilliant course that is Food Policy at City, nods to Christian Reynolds, Christina Vogel and Rebecca Wells who amongst many others make the course what it is (which is, brilliant). And finally, every day I went to uni, my kids sent me in with a teddy bear, and insisted I sent photos of them ‘doing uni’, - check out the photo in the article. Redefining success has shown me that it's never too late to pivot and invest in a purpose-driven future. #CareerChange #Motherhood #SuccessRedefined #FoodPolicy https://lnkd.in/eMtVcdCf

🎉🎂 **Celebrating 5 Years of TastEd Tonight, the team at Bremner & Co had the pleasure of attending TastEd’s 5th birthday celebration! It’s incredible to see the impact that TastEd has made over the past five years, educating children across the country on the joy of food and healthy eating habits. 🍎🍽️ It’s amazing to watch this fantastic organisation as they continue to inspire the next generation to of veg and fruit eaters and testers. Here’s to many more years of making a difference! A huge congratulations to everyone at TastEd for reaching this milestone. 🙌 #TasteEd #5thBirthday

My next 'In conversation with' is with the brilliant Professor Bob Doherty, Director of FixOurFood and Professor of Marketing and Dean of the School for Business and Society at the University of York. Prof Bob and I talked about: 📜 What he's hoping for in food systems policy from the new administration (when do I stop saying 'new'?): "I’ve been really pleased with the emphasis on opportunity and equity, and you can already see an intent to intervene in the market whereas the previous government was very reluctant to do so." 🏛 What skill sets the food policy community needs to actively engage the new government: - "Look at the select committees, understand the parliamentary rhythm and key milestones in the year, identify what commissions are asking for, and what the House of Lords is asking for too." We also talked about government buying standards, Fairtrade, sustainable supply chains, working with industry, procurement policies, and school food. And finally, we discussed what Prof Bob had for dinner, which sounded so delicious that we included the recipe! Enjoy! https://lnkd.in/euhhDZrD