In the ever-evolving culinary landscape of Britain, the spotlight shines brightly on Emily English, a 30-year-old nutritionist who has captured the hearts of millions. With her innovative approach to cooking, English is redefining what it means to enjoy healthy meals. As we delve into her journey, we uncover the secrets behind her remarkable success and the philosophy that sets her apart.
Is Emily English, a 30-year-old nutritionist, the hottest chef in Britain? With over three million social media followers, three cookbooks published in just two years (two of which are bestsellers, with a third expected to follow suit), partnerships with brands like M&S and Le Creuset, and a successful supplement line named Epetome, not to mention her having amassed over £1 million, it’s safe to say the answer is a resounding yes.
Each generation has its standout culinary personality that influences home cooking. In the Nineties, it was Delia Smith, teaching Britain the art of boiling eggs and creating the perfect omelette. Next came the Noughties and Nigella Lawson, the glamorous goddess of the kitchen who would bake brownies in her dressing gown, famously using a leopard-print shower cap to knead dough. Meanwhile, chefs like Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein, and Gordon Ramsay were busy building restaurant empires through their primetime TV shows. How things have shifted since then.
Enter Emily English. She may not own a restaurant, have a Michelin star, or host a cooking show, but with a BSc in nutrition from King’s College London and her trusty iPhone, she has become a beloved recipe source for countless followers—most of whom are young, busy women seeking health-conscious meals. On TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, where she is affectionately referred to as “Em the nutritionist,” she shares hundreds of delicious and nutritious recipes for free.
While Ottolenghi may reign supreme in the world of dinner parties, English is the undisputed champion of healthy weeknight meals. Forget about boring carrot sticks and bowls of bran flakes; she embraces all the so-called “unhealthy” favorites: pasta, bread, and dessert. Her recipes strike a delightful balance between taste and health, appealing to the busy Gen Z and millennial crowd with their meal prep ease, clever cooking hacks, and a healthy dose of protein; they’re also heavily influenced by the air fryer trend. Plus, she concludes each video with her enticing catchphrase: “So good.”
It’s no wonder her videos for “prep-able protein sandwich fillings” and “salads that won’t go soggy” have garnered millions of views. High-profile followers, including Carrie Johnson and supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, can’t get enough of her recipes. In fact, when English shared her hot honey cottage cheese toast recipe, Marks & Spencer reported a direct surge in sales, moving 18,000 pots of cottage cheese as a result. Rather than the “Delia effect,” this can only be termed the “Emily effect.”
All of her polished recipe videos are shot on her phone in her beautifully renovated kitchen located in desirable southwest London, where she resides with her husband, Aaron. This is where we meet today, surrounded by the pristine marble countertops adorned with copies of her latest book. Her first publication, So Good, achieved the remarkable feat of being the best-selling debut cookbook of 2024, moving 35,000 copies in its first week. It’s no surprise that English radiates joy as she opens the door, especially considering that her radiant skin is largely attributed to her love for pomegranate seeds, beetroot, and sweet potatoes.
“I receive numerous messages from followers sharing how frequently they incorporate those ingredients into their diets,” she notes, as she enthusiastically mentions the various benefits of cottage cheese. “It’s versatile, packed with protein, and offers a creamy richness. Today’s cottage cheeses are a far cry from what we used to have.”
English reveals that an important aspect of her role is helping women mend their relationship with food after years of exposure to harmful diet culture. If you’ve grown up believing carbohydrates are the enemy and that health means eating as little as possible, your journey starts here.
Like many of her followers, English navigated her formative years amid a tide of fad diets and unrealistic body images, often portraying women with measuring tapes on cereal boxes.
“Can you imagine having that messaging on food packages? It’s astonishing. And remember the Special K diet?” she reflects. This background has fostered a damaging narrative: that nutrition is about restriction and deprivation. “I strive to create food that is enjoyable and nutritious, transforming what people expect from their plates. I want you to eagerly anticipate each meal, bridging the gap between nutritional science and deliciousness. My love for food drives me.”
One reason why so many women trust Emily is that she leads a relatable lifestyle. She enjoys nights out, shares her favorite restaurants, like the chic Martino’s in Chelsea and the highly regarded Dorian in Notting Hill—a favorite of the Beckhams. “The community I’ve nurtured is composed of individuals who desire to be healthy and meal prep, but they also appreciate lasagna and a good burger,” she emphasizes.
English’s own nutrition essentials are straightforward: she starts her day with a vigorous hour-long walk, makes time to bask in the morning sun, and enjoys three balanced meals daily, focusing on fiber and protein intake.
Her interest in nutrition sparked during her school years. Raised in a council estate in Bedfordshire as the second of five children, she earned a full scholarship to attend a local private school for her sixth form. A self-proclaimed science enthusiast, she excelled in chemistry, and initially planned to pursue biochemistry or biology at university. However, at the age of 17, she was scouted by Asos, the fashion giant of the 2010s.
During a time when thigh gaps and Victoria’s Secret models dominated the scene, Emily initially thrived as a model. But after a summer of traveling, a new agency advised her to lose weight, claiming her legs had become too fat.
This critique drastically altered her relationship with food, causing her to experience an eating disorder that disrupted her life. “I grew up in a family that cherished food. We never discussed dieting or body image, and suddenly I lost touch with that normalcy.”
After six months and the support of a therapist—whom she credits with saving her life—Emily left the fashion industry and returned to her original goal of studying nutrition at King’s College London.
In the summer of 2020, while working as a private nutritionist, Emily began posting recipe videos on Instagram. Her following grew steadily until a transformative moment occurred when her Greek salad with garlic bread recipe went viral. This marked the beginning of an exhilarating upward trajectory for her career.
‘My proudest achievement’
Since then, English has soared to incredible heights. Along with three cookbooks— and a fourth on the way—she launched her scientifically-supported gut-health supplement brand Epetome in early 2024, which successfully secured a multimillion-pound funding round in February and initiated clinical trials. “This is my proudest achievement so far,” she declares.
English impresses as a polished, articulate, confident, and ambitious individual. By the age of 29, she had amassed a fortune primarily through lucrative brand partnerships—often referred to as “collabs”—with premium brands like Le Creuset and online retailer Cult Beauty, who pay her to promote their products. Her influence is so significant that her followers are eager to purchase not only her books and supplements but also the makeup and even the toothbrush she uses.
“I vividly remember the moment I looked at my account and saw £1 million for the first time. My dad was the first person I called because he’s incredibly entrepreneurial too. I’ve never met anyone as resilient and hardworking as he is,” she shares, recalling the triumph of her father, who built a sign-making business that thrived during lockdown.
However, despite her success, Emily eschews the term “influencer”—“I dislike being labeled that way”—though she is not immune to the challenges that come with an online presence, including trolling.
‘People told me I looked too skinny or ill’
Much of the feedback she receives tends to focus on her appearance. Surprising comments often come from accounts run by women in their fifties or sixties. “Isn’t it strange? The remarks are rarely about the food,” she remarks.
Does she believe some people feel disdain towards her success? “Definitely. I’m just a small blonde girl, and while I’ve had many fortunate opportunities—my family, my education—people might think I couldn’t have achieved this on my own and must have had help,” she responds.
The harshest comments she receives often target her body, calling her “too skinny or ill.” “That’s body shaming. You never really know what’s happening in someone’s life—whether they’re dealing with health issues or have faced extreme stress. It’s disheartening. There were times when I felt self-conscious about my body and considered not posting because I appeared too small.”
Today, following her own therapeutic journey, Emily has learned to rise above the negativity, implementing Instagram’s safety features to filter out aggressive comments. “I feel strongly that society needs to stop commenting on women’s bodies. I’ve learned to disengage from trolls. At the end of the day, I create delicious recipes for everyone, and if someone doesn’t want to make my tuna melt toast, they can simply unfollow me.”
So Good Express by Emily English (Seven Dials, £25) is due for release on May 7. To order a copy, visit timesbookshop.co.uk or call 020 3176 2935
Hair and make-up: Alice Theobald at Arlington Artists using Armani Beauty and Cloud Nine. Dress and jumpsuit, self-portrait.com
