06:00, 09 April 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
Emily Warburton-Adams is far from your average food entrepreneur. As the co-founder of Pow Food, a chef-prepared ready meals company, Emily has drawn on her personal journey of recovery from an eating disorder to fuel her passion for healthy eating and high-quality nutrition.
Teaming up with her mother, she founded Pow Food in 2017 with a clear mission: to revolutionise the way we approach food, from workplace catering to meals enjoyed at home.
We spoke to Emily last year for Eating Disorder Awareness Week, but caught up again to speak more about where she is a year on.
In this candid conversation, Emily shares how her recovery reshaped her relationship with food, where she is now studying to become a registered nutritionist, the importance of mindfulness in eating, and how Pow Food is helping others embrace the power of nourishing their bodies—and minds.
What Inspired You to Start Your Food Company, and How Did Your Personal Experience With an Eating Disorder Shape Your Approach to Healthy Eating?
We launched Pow Food in 2017, driven by my recent qualifications as a health coach and my mum's desire to start a new venture (she used to have an events company). By joining forces we combined our expertise in high-end hospitality and nutrition with an aim to redefine workplace catering, recognising that this setting offered a unique opportunity to influence people's long-term wellbeing— as you consume one to three meals at work daily. What we fuel our body with not only influences focus but also profoundly affects our overall health and longevity.
My recovery journey has taught me many invaluable lessons, particularly mindful eating and the importance of tuning into our bodies. Being grateful for the nourishment we receive from food is vital. So much work goes into growing ingredients and making food, yet we can become disconnected from this process. For me, eating is an act of respect and nourishment for this work and time, as well as my body —it's about feeling good from the inside out.
How Do You Ensure That Your Products Cater to Individuals Looking for Both Nutritional Value and Emotional Healing Around Food?
The food we create at Pow Food celebrates quality rather than quantity and advocates for balance over restriction. Our strong nutritional ethos drives us to source ingredients with high provenance, which supports not only the environment but also the nutritional integrity of our offerings. Our core values are taste, nutrition, and sustainability—resulting in meals handmade with passion that nourish both mind and body.
What Challenges Did You Face in Transitioning From Your Personal Recovery Journey to Creating a Business That Promotes Healthy Eating?
Recovery is a transformative journey, and by the time my mum and I founded Pow Food, I had several years of recovery under my belt. I had built up the resilience I needed and have a deep commitment to helping others build healthy eating habits. Through my journey, I transformed my former negative obsessions with food into a positive force, embracing the understanding that food is medicine and appreciating the privilege of being able to nourish ourselves.
How Do You Balance the Need for Delicious, Convenient Food With the Commitment to Nutritional Health and Mindfulness?
Our business has a dual focus: catering and ready-made meals. Our catering service provides fresh, wholesome meals for workplaces and events every day, seamlessly combining convenience with nutritional health. Our ready meal line, which evolved out of lockdown, gives people access to our nutritious offerings in the comfort of their homes. By freezing our meals, we maintain their shelf life while preserving nutritional value, as prepared chilled food can lose its quality over time. This approach ensures we deliver both convenience and the same high-quality ingredients, without any artificial additives.
What Advice Would You Give to Others Who Are Recovering From Eating Disorders and Looking to Build a Healthy Relationship With Food?
I would emphasise that developing a healthy relationship with food is one of the most crucial steps you can take for your own future and the happiness of your loved ones. Eating disorders significantly affect those around you. This journey will be challenging, but it’s important to take it day by day, prioritising self-care and learning to love yourself—understanding that recovery goes beyond the number on a scale. Personally, I haven't weighed myself in ten years. Embrace living beyond your eating disorder and forge a new identity. Keep pushing forward; every effort will pay off.
Overcoming "fear foods" is crucial, yet it's essential to recognise that every individual's journey is unique. Establish mindfulness in your eating habits and pay attention to what makes your body feel good —take small steps with your self-talk and behaviours around food, and the rest will follow as you experience what it feels like to really live again!
How Did Pow Food Become a B Corp, and Was This an Important Part of the Ethos?
We opted to apply for the B Corp certification for several reasons, despite it being a year-long and rigorous process. This certification enables us to clearly convey our values and mission simply by being associated with the accreditation. It also holds us accountable for continual improvement—after all, you can’t mark your own homework. Finally, being part of the B Corp community is invaluable; it is full of engaged, like-minded individuals and companies who support one another, a sense of camaraderie that can be elusive in the business world.
What Role Do You Think the Food Industry Plays in Mental Health and Recovery, and How Does Your Company Contribute to This Conversation?
The food industry plays a huge role. Two significant ways I believe it impacts our mental health and recovery is through how food is marketed, and the food products themselves.
How something is marketed impacts our perceptions and influences our purchasing decisions. For years, the focus has been on advocating low-calorie or low-fat options, but more recently, it has shifted toward high-fibre and high-protein choices. Progress has been made in food messaging and people are more aware of marketing tactics. We are still vulnerable to fostering unhealthy fears surrounding eating and must remember we’re individuals and look beyond the surface of a product or campaign, educating ourselves on the foods we eat.
With 95% of our serotonin being produced in the gut, along with vitamins crucial for brain health, the food we consume greatly impacts our mental well-being.
What we eat is what nourishes our cells and affects our overall bodily functions, ultimately influencing our mindset - everything is connected. The prevalence of convenience-driven choices leads us to consume foods laden with unfamiliar ingredients. And so, prioritising delicious foods, sourced responsibly, and balance, can powerfully support both our mind, as well as body health.
What Has Been the Reception to Pow Food?
The reception to Pow Food has been overwhelmingly positive - I feel very grateful for this! We’ve built a loyal and strong client base for our catering services in London, along with thousands of customers nationwide who enjoy our home-delivered meals.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Beat (The Eating Disorders Association). This is the UK’s leading charity supporting people affected by eating disorders. They provide support, resources, and guidance for individuals struggling with food disorders and helping them towards recovery. Find out more.
The Food Trust. This aims to improve access to healthy and affordable food while promoting sustainable and healthy eating habits. Learn more here.
British Nutrition Foundation. This nonprofit organisation promotes health and wellbeing and prevents diet-related ill health through evidence-based nutrition science. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN Good Health and Wellbeing, Zero Hunger.
