About Us

As the founder of Ideal Nutrition, I have worked in the arena of health care and nutrition since 1985, and have become very passionate about the association of a good healthy balanced diet and the relationship with health and well being.

Primarily as a nurse I quickly realised the impact diet had on recovery and long term health. Some 13 years ago as a Ward Sister I worked closely with the Dietitian’s and encouraged uninterrupted mealtimes on the ward and ensuring those that needed special diets and assistance to eat received it to enhance their nutritional intake and promote recovery. Protected mealtimes are now common place in many hospitals nationally.

In January 1998 I joined one of the largest Nutritional companies, Nutricia, as an Infant Feeding Advisor with extended roles, including teaching. I spent a very interesting and rewarding 7½ years increasing my knowledge of nutrition, being at the forefront of area’s of research, particularly the association of Essential Fats and brain development in infants, and the role of pre and probiotics. I was privileged to be able to share the information with a wider audience of Health Care Professionals of Health Visitors, Midwives, Dietitians and Paediatricians around the country.

In 2004 I undertook the Diploma in Childhood Nutrition to enhance and consolidate my knowledge, passing with distinction. To enhance my qualifications in the field of Health and Nutrition I am currently studying at Degree level.

My passion to share my knowledge and make a difference has particularly led me to the ever expanding area of children’s nurseries. It is all very well having campaigns that focus on schools, but the first key years of growth and development are not being addressed. A large percentage of our young children utilise nurseries and therefore it is an opportunity to make a huge difference to the foods they are exposed to.

I initially worked closely with one of the leading nursery chains, Child Base Limited who are proactive in their approach to childcare. I developed a Distance Learning Pack for the Nursery Nurses, provided training for the cooks and Nursery Nurses and working alongside a Dietitian providing balanced healthy seasonal menus. The feedback was so positive Child Base Limited have included the pack as part of their statutory training.

My aim through Ideal Nutrition is to provide reliable information that underpins the importance of the nutritional value of food and the relationship with health and development with a specific focus on the early years of life. ‘The Health of the Nation’ set national targets to reduce illness and disease that are preventable and I want to be able to play a role in protecting our children’s health and wellbeing from debilitating illness’s like heart disease, strokes, diabetes and obesity.

Mel Greenway
RGN ONC Dip C Nut (Distinction)