Emma Cunningham: Holistic Nutritionist & Writer Harnessing Communication To Build a Better World!

In a world where the symbiotic relationship between human well-being and the health of our planet is becoming increasingly evident, individuals like Emma Cunningham emerge as beacons of positive change. Emma, a holistic nutritionist, writer, and activist, possesses a unique fusion of expertise that transcends traditional boundaries. As a dedicated freelance writer, she skillfully harnesses the power of communication to construct a bridge between individuals and the urgent need for a better world. With a passion for holistic nutrition, Emma endeavors not only to inform but also to inspire, weaving words that hold the potential to catalyze regenerative change for both the well-being of people and the planet. Join Delivery Rank as we delve into the world of Emma Cunningham, where the synergy of nutrition, words, and activism converges to create a narrative of profound impact and transformation.

How did your childhood experiences, particularly spending time outdoors and being close to nature, influence your decision to become a holistic nutritionist and activist?

I was born and raised a true Midwestern kid. Instead of endless beaches and mountains, we have strip malls and cornfields. It’s as boring as it sounds.

Luckily, I grew up with a mischievous and clever older brother who knew how to make something out of nothing when it came to playing outside. So summers were spent in our small neighborhood forest preserve, catching frogs in the creek and coming home covered in mud and burs or helping my mom in her garden. I rode my bike to swim practice in the morning and caught lightning bugs with the neighborhood kids in the evening. Winters were spent packing snow into snowmen or racing each other in sleds down the nearby (small but fierce) sledding hill. 

Part of me believes that growing up in a place of nothingness really gave me the tools and insight to find beauty in silence, trees, stars, lakes, etc. Being deprived of oceans, beaches, and mountains growing up made me appreciate it so much more when I eventually got to spend time in each. I guess void shapes a hell of a lot of gratitude for tenure.

In a way, the work I do now and the life I lead is a childhood dream come true. Working with nature, sometimes in nature, telling stories about nature, all while protecting it through advocacy work –– my 8-year-old self would have never dreamed of this. I finally feel like I no longer have to make something out of nothing.

As a holistic nutritionist and activist, how do you navigate the intersection between personal health and global issues such as environmental sustainability and social justice?

My personal beliefs are rooted in the understanding that health cannot and will not be achieved without addressing the social, environmental, and economic issues of today. Personal health, environmental sustainability, and social justice issues are all intricately linked. Period. I will die on that hill. So we can’t even consider discussing anything until we discuss (and fix!) how our food system is making us sick, the planet sick, and because of that, marginalized communities are even sicker. 

I do my best to advocate for practices that promote access to healthy, sustainably produced foods for all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status. This looks like supporting local community gardens and farmers' markets, but more importantly, voting for legislation that addresses food insecurity and environmental degradation. Which I encourage everyone to do!

I fully believe collective action can create meaningful change. By elevating businesses that are doing "good," voting with our dollar, shopping mindfully, and amplifying voices of underrepresented groups, healthcare professionals, and community members who are helping address systemic barriers to health and promote holistic solutions that benefit both individuals and the planet, we can create regenerative (and demand) change.

Can you share an instance where your background in holistic nutrition and your passion for activism converged to create positive change, either at an individual or community level?

I’m very fortunate to work full-time with Gaia Herbs, an herbal supplement company with a mission to connect people, plants, and the planet to create healing. 

Contributing to an organization with a LONG list of certifications and credentials rooted in putting people and the planet first makes it very easy to show up every day, put my best foot forward, and go to bed at night knowing my work has made an impact. 

I've also never seen a supplement brand honoring traditional wisdom and practices the way Gaia does—an ESSENTIAL element to incorporate in efforts to address climate change and restore our personal health. 

In your writings, you often express a love for creativity, art, and yoga. How do you incorporate these elements into your holistic approach to nutrition, and do you believe they play a role in promoting overall well-being?

Above anything else, I am a yogi. It’s my biggest inspiration and I really owe my entire life path to the practice. When you practice yoga, you can't help but cultivate awareness. This led to awareness of what I was putting into my body (nutrition), awareness of what was happening to our planet (activism), and awareness of beauty in the world around me (art). 

When we integrate mindfulness and art into food/nutrition, we can create a more holistic and fulfilling relationship with food and nourish our bodies, minds, and spirits. Even if it's something as simple as setting a beautifully decorated table or plating food in an aesthetically pleasing manner, having thought-provoking conversations around the dinner table with your community, or expressing gratitude for our food.

When we add art and mindfulness into the meal, it no longer becomes something we're doing because we're hungry; it becomes a human experience. 

Your solo travel journey lasted three years. How did this period of solitude and self-discovery shape your understanding of holistic health, and how do you think it contributes to your ability to connect with and guide others on their wellness journeys?

It’s hard to describe how those years abroad to over 35 countries completely on my own shaped my work (and life) in just one short paragraph.

But suffice it to say that being fully immersed in new cultures, languages, cuisines, and ways of life without question, made me question everything. Is Eastern medicine superior to Western medicine? Why do certain cultures have time, energy, and resources to cook from scratch and mine doesn’t? How did I just find a Doritos wrapper on a beach in Indonesia? 

So as the months went on, I shifted the focus of my travels to do a lot more work centered around health and conservation to start getting answers. I meditated at ashrams in India, took cooking classes with Indigenous women in Sri Lanka, volunteered with WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) in Indonesia, the list goes on. 

When you're in the thick of these places, you start to see the effects of our food systems, food waste, and food justice, and you really begin connecting the dots between what we eat and how it affects EVERYTHING. I view it like a domino effect; once you know things, you cannot un-know them, and it continues to unfold.

Without a fair, sustainable, and healthy food system, we're just chasing our own tail when it comes to healing. So before we as nutritionists can use our education to help someone with their IBS, or whatever it may be, we need to educate people on how to source quality, nutrient-dense, properly prepared, whole foods and their importance. Not just because it can help alleviate symptoms, but because voting with your dollar for what you want to see more of while at the grocery store, sourcing seasonal and local food at the farmer’s market, and buying organic, can actually change the world. 

If you would like to find out more about Emma Cunningham, visit https://www.emmachristine.co/