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Evidence Base

Making Friends With Food™ by The Root Cause is deeply rooted in scientific evidence from peer-reviewed journals, and has been reviewed by experts.

Dr Charlotte Middleton

INTEGRATIVE GP PROVIDING expert advice to The Root Cause

Dr Charlotte Middleton is an Integrative GP, specialising in Maternity, Paediatric, Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, with over 20 years clinical practice. She is a passionate advocate for educating and empowering people to make simple swaps to improve their health.

As a consultant for The Root Cause, Dr Charlotte provides expert advice on the intricate relationship between nutrition and wellbeing. She says "while health is multifactorial in origin, I am absolutely convinced (with the science and research to back me), what we put in our mouth, is a major causative factor of health issues."

Dr Charlotte supports the Making Friends With Food™ partnership, saying it is deeply rooted in scientific evidence from peer-reviewed journals. These studies establish a robust connection between dietary choices, particularly the consumption of ultra-processed foods, and various health outcomes such as inflammation, sleep issues and chronic illness.

Equally significant is the evidence supporting the positive impact of vegetable consumption on overall health. Dr Charlotte's endorsement of the Making Friends With Food™ partnership for schools is a testament to the wealth of scientific knowledge underpinning the important connection between food and wellbeing. 

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Grounded In Science

supported by peer-reviewed evidence and expert advice

Making Friends With Food™ by The Root Cause is deeply rooted in scientific evidence from peer-reviewed journals.

These studies establish a robust connection between dietary choices, particularly the consumption of ultra-processed foods, and various health outcomes such as inflammation, sleep issues and chronic illness. Equally significant is the evidence supporting the positive impact of vegetable consumption on overall health. 

Australia’s Professor Felice Jacka from Deakin University’s Food & Mood Centre also shares significant research linking what we eat to the health of our gut, and the impact this has on mental health.

Furthermore, research such as that conducted by the Institute of Education London, has affirmed the profound impact of nutrition on individual behaviour, including concentration levels and overall activity. Such behaviours can invariably influence academic performance, peer interactions, and even self-esteem.

Integral to the Making Friends With Food™ approach is the adoption of a multicomponent intervention methodology. By combining interactive, age appropriate educational initiatives, active parental involvement, and the guidance of mentors, the program consistently increases exposure to vegetables within the school and home setting. The significance of this approach is supported by scientific evidence, as demonstrated in research like the comprehensive review of "Promoting Healthy Eating among Young People — A Review of the Evidence of the Impact of School-Based Interventions" published on Pub Med.

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University of Southern Queensland Evaluation

BUILDING OUR OWN PEER-REVIEWED EVIDENCE BASE


The University of Southern Queensland we're commission by The Root Cause to undertake an independent evaluation of Making Friends with Food in the Darling Downs Region, Qld. 

The Root Cause has partnered with over 40 schools in the region. 

Here is a summary of the Independent Program Evaluation completed by USQ. 

* Making Friends with Food was formerly known as The Children's Health Program.

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A fantastic, hands on and fun way for students to learn about their food.
– Teacher Evaluation, Mad Food Science Incursion