There are moments in life when something shifts
Sometimes it takes finding the right place, like the College of Naturopathic Medicine, to make that shift truly possible.
For me, it wasn’t dramatic or loud. It was quiet. A reflection. A question that wouldn’t go away: What do I really want from this life?
Finding the Right Path: Why I Chose the CNM Natural Chef Diploma
When I first considered taking the leap, I imagined leaving work entirely and enrolling on a full-time chef course. But real life – responsibilities, commitments, practicalities – made that unrealistic.
Then I discovered the College of Naturopathic Medicine Natural Chef Diploma.
It felt like the perfect middle ground. I could continue working while studying something I’m deeply passionate about. More importantly, the ethos of CNM and the course content align beautifully with my personal values around ethics, sustainability, and nourishment.
From day one, this course has shifted my perspective.
I didn’t start with a fixed plan or a clear end goal. I chose instead to trust the process – to let the learning lead me toward foods, ideas, and experiences I never imagined I’d explore. And it truly has.
What I Love About the Natural Chef Course
- Engaging lectures combined with hands-on kitchen days
The theory is fascinating – from understanding ingredients to exploring naturopathic principles – but what makes it stick is putting it into practice. Cooking, tasting, experimenting. Learning with your hands as well as your head. - A diverse, inspiring student community
My fellow students come from all walks of life. Each brings unique creativity, stories, and perspectives. It makes every session richer. - Supportive, knowledgeable lecturers and real kitchen experience
The lecturers are warm, generous with advice, and incredibly knowledgeable. And the internship experience – something I initially felt daunted by – has been transformative. Professional kitchens can feel intimidating from the outside, but I’ve found them to be welcoming, friendly environments where people genuinely want to share what they know.
That experience alone has helped me grow in confidence – confidence to trust my instincts, trust the team around me, and most importantly, to say yes to new opportunities.
What Being a Natural Chef Means to Me
To me, a natural chef is deeply considerate – of both people and the environment.
We cannot thrive on food that is devoid of nutrients. As a Natural Chef, you create meals that are not only delicious but nutrient-dense – food that supports the body to heal from the inside and truly flourish.
One concept that has particularly influenced me is the ‘Naturopathic Terrain Theory’: the idea that the body cannot properly heal, function, or thrive when its inner or outer environment is compromised.
And that principle extends beyond food.
The same is true of our personal environments. If the people or circumstances around you aren’t uplifting or supportive, it’s essential to seek those that are. Growth requires nourishment – in every sense of the word.
This course has become part of that nourishing environment for me.
If You’ve Ever Felt the Pull…
Perhaps you once dreamed of working with food.
Perhaps you feel disconnected from what you’re currently doing.
Perhaps you simply want to understand nutrition on a deeper level – for yourself, your family, or your community.
You don’t need to have a five-year plan.
You don’t need to leave everything behind.
You don’t need to know exactly where it will lead.
Sometimes, you simply need to say yes.
Training as a CNM Natural Chef has already changed how I see food, health, and myself. It’s expanding my skills, my confidence, and my sense of possibility.
Explore the Natural Chef Diploma. Stay curious. Trust your gut. And allow yourself to grow in ways you never imagined.
Because sometimes, revisiting an old dream isn’t going backwards.
It’s finally moving forward.
Dave Belshaw – CNM Natural Chef student
Where Could This Path Take You?
Choosing to train as a Natural Chef isn’t just about learning new recipes. It’s about stepping into a different way of seeing food, health, and your own potential.
Whether you dream of hosting supper clubs, developing nourishing products, working in retreat kitchens, supporting community wellbeing, or simply deepening your understanding of food as medicine — our training opens doors you may not even know exist yet.
The College of Naturopathic Medicine offers workshops and open days where you can experience the course environment for yourself, meet the lecturers, and speak to current students about their journeys.
If you’re curious, explore the Natural Chef Diploma and see where it might lead you. You don’t need to have the whole plan mapped out.
Sometimes the most powerful step is giving yourself permission to begin.
Join us on Tuesday 3rd March at CNM London for our in-person Natural Chef Open Evening, 5-7pm, to learn more about our course that will empower your potential and surround you with a truly supportive community.
