Jake, a Senior Paediatric Dietitian at Starship Hospital, is excited to join the Camp Purple Diet Team, bringing his passion for food and health to the IBD community.

Kia ora! My name is Jake, I’m a Senior Paediatric Dietitian working at Starship Hospital and I’m excited to be joining the Diet Team at Camp Purple this year!

Born in Auckland and raised in Northland, I’ve always been passionate about food and the impact this has on health and well-being. From growing my own vegetables at home, to work on the wards, I spend most of my time thinking about food and how it interacts with the body, mind, and environment.

After finishing school in 2013, I tossed up becoming a chef, working on a vineyard, or going to university. With some family encouragement, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Auckland in 2014, then completed my Master of Health Science in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2018. I’ve since worked as a Paediatric Dietitian in the community at Counties Manukau, and now as Specialties Cover at Starship Hospital.

Being from a (relatively) large family of six children, and 4th eldest of some 45+ cousins, children have always been an integral part of my life. I’ve therefore focused my career path towards the field of Paediatrics, even taking up a relieving position at the local kindergarten while waiting for my final university results. Working with children and their families is always rewarding, as nutrition is an essential part of the equation to thrive. It’s a privilege to share my knowledge with those I work with and see the direct impact good nutrition has on growth, social interactions, and health management.

So why Camp Purple? Well in 2016, during semester one exams, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. As I’m sure is the case with most others, this was rather inconvenient news. Looking back, I definitely didn’t take the diagnosis as seriously as I should have and proceeded to learn from personal experience the importance of maintaining good medication adherence and control of the condition!

Despite occasional negative interactions with what I eat, the diagnosis has further driven my passion for food, nutrition, and health. My wife and I are both foodies at heart, and while she is the better cook, I am often found in the kitchen baking, experimenting with sourdough, fermenting vegetables, or brewing beer. Outside of the kitchen and work, I’m found in the garden, fishing, running, or on a road trip visiting various family members spread across New Zealand.

I’m looking forward to connecting further with those in the IBD community, and in particular those attending Camp Purple this year.