Ep. 053 – A Food Media Diet Plan with Rachel Cheatham, CEO of Foodscape Group

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In this episode, we have Rachel Cheatham, the CEO of her own consulting firm, The Foodscape Group. She combines media, policy, and nutritional sciences to make an amazing food communication platform.

This episode is a bit different, one.. because I messed up the audio, Apparently, I had to move my audio equipment halfway through the interview and recording on my end just stopped working! I panicked for about 5 minutes. However, Rachel’s content saved the day. Since Rachel’s answers were so good, I was able to edit in the questions I asked to her

So Rachel’s interview has such amazingly good information. You’ll learn so many things about being a good food communicator. Mainly strategies. For example, what’s the best way to communicate to people about food? Or how can you absorb the right media quickly. She also gives you tips on the best ways to progress through your career.

About Rachel

Dr. Rachel Cheatham holds a doctorate in nutritional biochemistry from Tufts University, where she is an adjunct professor of food marketing and communications. She is Founder and CEO of Foodscape Group, a nutrition strategy consultancy designed to help businesses develop and market healthier foods based on global wellness trends and insights. She has been a commercial television producer, Director at the International Food Information Council, and Senior Vice President at Weber Shandwick, a global public relations firm. She is a Professional Member of the Institute of Food Technologists, and member of the American Society of Nutrition and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Key Takeaways (a lot of good ones this time)

• Rachel has TV experience and has helped her a lot in her job. Her soft skills helped her in her consulting company
• How Rachel doesn’t have to be the best at nutritional science, but rather be unique
• Americans want to be uniquely and exotically healthy
• How marketing and actual nutrition are like ying and yang
• Why it might not be wise to climb up the corporate latter (join a startup!), but you shouldn’t job hop
• Why Point of View matters when reading science articles.
• Media is everywhere. From newspapers, social media, and conferences
• Find a way to line up and skim the sources you find interesting. Read outside of your point of view

Question Summary

Career Map: Marketing and PR, Fitness instructor, doctorate in nutrition science, policy in Food Information, consulting company
My Food Job Rocks: I get to chart my own course
How do you get your first client?: The network that you build up over time. Have some patience around the jobs that may lead to a more ideal job and the connects you make can be unexpected

Other Links

Tufts University
International Food Information Council – Food Policy and Information
Boosted Nutrition- Fortification
Pea Protein
Ripple
Acquisition

Rachel’s Media Diet (only some of them)
Food Politics Blog with Mariom Nestle
Center for Science of Public Interest
American Science of Nutrition
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Mind Body Green
Food 52
Fast Company
Business Insider

Recommended Conferences
IBIE (Gluten free workshop)
New Products Conference for prepared foods
Supply Side West
Food Vision USA
Food Matters Live in London