When my son said he needed to gain 20kg in a year, I knew we needed sensible and knowledgeable advice to make sure, if it could be done at all, it was done in a safe and healthy way. We needed a nutritionist and specifically a sports nutritionist.

When I contacted Jill I knew 3 things about her. She was a sports nutritionist. She worked with adult long-distance athletes and she worked with cyclists. So naturally I was pleased when she jumped at the challenge of working with a teenager who’s sport was sailing.

There was a lot to learn along the way. When competing you don’t have the luxury of a cooler to keep things from going off. You need to remember that, when on the water, what you eat has to be done with one hand and while keeping it dry-ish. Also it all needs to fit in a small dry-bag.

Then there was the fact that he is still growing, so some products aren’t allowed or don’t provide recommended allowances for younger athletes. Jill took all of this in stride and never lost her can-do attitude and positivity.

She exudes that positivity every time you talk to her.

There was a lot for us to learn along the way too. My cooking skills have emerged. Jill fairly handed me my own cookbook of delicious meals that were easy to make and there was a range of things so when we had some vegetarian friends over, we hade a burrito bake.

There is a downside to bringing Jill on as your athlete’s nutritionist. You will find that cheap ultra processed foods will lie uneaten in your freezer if you are foolish enough to buy them. Likewise, the sausage rolls that came back from a rowing competition.

I cannot recommend Jill highly enough. If you are serious about improving your performance, get the ultimate edge by bringing Jill onto your team!