We might be collaborating now, but our backgrounds and histories, and the stories of how we both came to work in food/nutrition, are pretty different.   

Domini

• was born in the Bahamas and moved to Ireland aged 11 with her mum and sister, after her dad passed away.

• was obsessed with horses growing up.  For a while her dream was to be an international show jumper.  She even ran a tack shop at one point.

• had skin cancer in her twenties, years before being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.

• radically changed her food column in the Irish Times once she experienced the joys of eating low-carb, nutrient-dense grub.

• trained as a chef in London

• runs a chain of cafes and restaurants with her sister, Peaches

• has won awards for entrepreneurship and is an advocate for women in business

• took up jogging for the first time during radiotherapy, after she read a scientific article suggesting exercise enhanced treatment (she’d call it a shuffle though, not a jog) diet.

 

Patricia

• was and is a total sports fanatic: she was a gymnast until the age of 14, then became a semi-professional triathlete and part of the Swiss national junior team from 16-18. One of her training buddies and roommates was Nicola Spirig, who went on to win the London Olympics in Triathlon in 2012. Patricia loves flying down the hills on skis but feels most at peace under water- scuba diving, down to 30 meters and more, preferably. Recently she’s discovered strength and conditioning training.

• went on a beetroot-only diet in a desperate attempt to correct her iron deficiency when she was 18 (much to the entertainment of the whole class).

• gave up her work in corporate banking to be a nutritional therapist (and doesn’t regret it for a second).

• speaks four languages: German/Swiss German, English, French and Spanish. She studied Latin for 8 years in high school.  Now comes in handy with all the medical terminology found in science journals!