I have always loved learning. I love educating people about everything health related. My background is in food science and I was one of the first cohorts to graduate in this major in Kuwait in 2008. It was a completely new bachelor program. Most of my friends went into Nutrition which was a popular major back then. I asked a doctor what the difference between food science and nutrition was and he explained that in nutrition they learn about food after it enters the body, they study metabolism, cholesterol, heart diseases etc. On the other hand, in food science, we study the food before it enters the body looking at things like food packaging, processing, and safety. I liked the idea of reformulating and studying food before it enters the body. I did my MA degree in Leeds, UK in 2010 then returned to Kuwait. In 2016, I went back to the UK to start my PhD journey, one of the best journeys in my life! When I completed my PhD I returned to Kuwait, where I am now an assistant professor lecturing in food science in Kuwait. It really was a journey of ups and downs like life, and it’s a learning opportunity from Allah.
During a PhD there’s a first year viva, and depending on this they decide if we can continue the program or not. It was an intense time. I spent the summer of that year working in the lab as my supervisors confidently reassured me that we could apply for an extension for my submission. The day I opened my laptop to start writing knowing that I had time, the university supervisor called me to her office. She said the university had changed their policies and an extension will not be granted. I went to the library, cried and worked for the next 24 hours. A friend looked after my child. I felt like the task ahead was completely impossible. After the most intense day of no sleep, writing an entire transfer viva, I submitted it. I wasn’t too happy with what I submitted, feeling it wasn’t my best work. Turns out my examiners loved it. To the extent that one of the examiners, who was the head of department, ended up inviting me to teach at about 4 classes to talk about how to prepare for your viva. This is Allah’s plan. Imagine if I had spent that entire period stressing? Allah knows you, your capacity and sees the efforts you are putting in.
Academia is a great route if you’re a mother, it’s flexible, when you’re working at a company you can’t do the school run and pick them up. I started my social media on a Thursday night in 2012. My friend had told her husband “Dana has a lot of knowledge and tips to share.” I started this page so I can simplify life for families, people and raise practical awareness around food. Muslims women can achieve a lot. They don’t have to be in full makeup and kitted out in designer clothes to get respect. I’m inspired to use my social media platforms to show people that it’s important to be authentically you. We need to set an example for our younger teens and raise the standards.
One of the biggest challenges for me in our industry is staying aware and conscious of putting information out there. My followers are from a wide range of teens, older, people from different professions, different metabolism so this is something I always need to remember. I love supermarkets and discovering new products so I hope to have my own products in the market soon.
