Carrie Vallance - Founder of Food Troops C.I.C
Carrie Vallance, a devoted mother of four, has always been driven by a deep desire to assist individuals grappling with prevalent dietary-related issues.
Her journey blends her passion for aiding others with her extensive experience working with children.
Carrie's commitment to aiding those in need was furthered during her personal transition to a plant-based diet.
This shift fuelled her focus on crafting nourishing home-cooked meals for her expanding family, igniting her love for vegan cookery and health-conscious foods.
However, navigating her children's dietary habits, particularly encouraging more vegetables and reducing refined sugar intake without mealtime battles, presented its own set of challenges.
In 2020, Carrie graduated from Plymouth University with a BSc in Bioscience, building upon her foundation degree in Food Studies. Her academic pursuits encompassed diverse disciplines, including nutrition, biodiversity, agriculture, microbiology, food safety, quality, production, and new product development. She is certified in DBS, HACCP, and holds a paediatric first-aid certificate.
Carrie's dissertation, titled 'Testing the Perceptions of Vegetables in Primary-Aged Children following Food Education Workshops,' revealed valuable insights into children's needs and their perspectives on vegetables. Her research suggested that targeted food education workshops can positively impact children's perceptions, potentially increasing their overall vegetable intake.
When Carrie isn't actively developing Food Troops, she enjoys spending quality time with her children in the beautiful county of Cornwall. Drawing from her own cherished memories of growing up near the beach, she values embarking on adventures and granting her children the freedom to lead.
These experiences culminated in the inception of Food Troops C.I.C in 2019.