Our 6 & 12 week
Mood food program

DFES was excited to offer the Mood Food – Nutrition for Mental Health program to its emergency services staff and volunteers alike. Healthy eating and nutritional literacy is a key modifiable component of wellbeing and is applicable to everybody, the program therefore resonated with our people in all areas of the organisation. The program was people focused and enabled the inclusion of families to participate in relevant activities for instance the individual dietary consultations (this was a key highlight of the program). The sessions were short, sharp informative allowing for easy weekly completion and were complemented by numerous healthy eating resources including meal guides and recipes. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Mood Food program to individuals or organisations as the programs outcomes were extensive and the benefits to individuals and their families significant. We are proud to have delivered a truly proactive and preventative wellbeing program and to share in the health benefits achieved by our workforce.

Amanda and Holly are responsive, warm and personable which made for a great client experience. I felt I could rely and trust on them to deliver the agreed product and service. The Mood Food program is easy to understand and digestible content, information was just the right balance of accessible for a non-dietitian, but informative enough to be powerful to understand the 'why' behind the recommendations and suggestions. Mood Food met our needs for providing a diversified wellbeing program in a corporate setting, outside of the typical yoga / workshop etc etc, with a focus on practical individual tips for mental health. Mood Food is a great service offering, with a high level of personal support provided - over and

Working with Mood Food has been an amazing experience. Holly and Amanda are passionate, knowledgeable, and accommodating to work with. I found that they always made themselves available for any queries, to offer support or to schedule a Teams meeting to discuss in person. As well as the business side of things, they were always keen for a passionate discussion about nutrition and holistic health. Holly and Amanda have created a heart centred business, that takes the most recent research in the effects of nutrition on mental health and translates it into an accessible, achievable, and supportive program. The Mood Food program allows participants to access the information in simple formats, implement it into their lives and does so in a manner that has minimal pressure. This sets the participants up for success, as the program demonstrates the smallest of changes making significant impact.

The results of Neami’s staff pilot program have been positive. It has shown a significant increase in diet quality and quality of life, and a decrease in likelihood of mental disorders. The informal feedback has also been very exciting. I have heard many stories of how it has positively impacted staff, educated them on some food myths and provided deeper understanding of their nutrition and how it relates to mental health. One aspect of the program that I find very meaningful is how they track social impact. This has been able to illustrate that for every staff member that participated in the program, there is a ripple effect on family members, friends, colleagues, and consumers. Holly and Amanda do not just provide a service, they build relationships. They have a clear mission with Mood Food and are passionate about improving the mental health of everyone. There are so many misleading diets, fads and foods of convenience these days, that a service like Mood Food strives to set the record straight on what good nutrition is, and what it can do for you.

I highly recommend Mood Food to individuals, families, businesses, and community. The small changes that you make will change your life, and the lives of those around you. I look forward to a continued working relationship with Mood Food for years to come.

Holly and Amanda’s approach was warm, welcoming, and highly knowledgeable, making them ideal for Hutchies to collaborate with. They were always there to provide support, answer questions and ensure a smooth roll-out of the program, which was greatly appreciated. Our primary goal in engaging with Mood Food was to enhance our employees' overall wellbeing. We understand the connection between nutrition and mental health and wanted to address this in a proactive, friendly, and accessible manner without shaming anyone. We were really surprised by how many people signed up and completed the program from Hutchies, particularly people that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to be interested. It was great to see a genuine change from pre-program to post-program in people’s mood scores too. For anyone considering incorporating Mood Food into their employee wellbeing program, I would definitely recommend it. It's a unique blend of education, community and practical application with a bit of fun and light-heartedness too. The program also helps to connect people within the workplace, with experiences of trying recipes and sharing ideas. It was something different to offer to our people in terms of their personal wellbeing, as opposed to the usually more passive corporate offerings like discount health insurance.

As an educator of young men, I have experienced a continual increase in the number of students experiencing mental health challenges. These can range from upset tummies, anxiety before exams and even school refusal. It was wonderful to recently have Amanda and Holly present to our College community the links between diet and mental health. We are aware that what we fuel our body will impact our physical health, but to now hear the impact it can have on our mental health is profound. Educating our parent body and our students is a step in the right direction in understanding the important role we all play in the mental health of the young people in our care. Small changes to our diet can have a huge impact on our mood, cognition, and behaviour. All things we need working in harmony for success in the classroom. I look forward to working with Holly and Amanda again as we explore changes we can continue to make for the mental health of our students.

It was incredibly rewarding and enjoyable to work alongside Holly at the St Margaret’s Year 9 Leadership Summit last Friday. As the founder of Mood Foods and a St Margaret’s old girl, we were very appreciative that she could volunteer her time to explore the importance of nutrition with respect to mental health and to lead discussions with the students about the opportunities that passion-driven leadership can offer.

Amanda from Mood Food Nutrition offered us an excellent demonstration on healthy and simple cooking. Amanda was well informed and able to explain the benefits of a nutritious diet to attendees, as well as offering simple but tasty recipes to enjoy. I would highly recommend Amanda and Mood Food Nutrition for events and hope to be able to utilise the organisation in the future.