Nutrition Coaching

  • Plant-based eating is a broad term that covers a range of eating patterns, from vegan (not eating or drinking any animal products) to including small to moderate amounts of animal-based products in your diet.

    Plant-based eating means most of the foods you eat are from plant sources, such as fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, seeds, nuts, legumes, beans and oils. ​This eating pattern may include small amounts of animal products, such as meat, fish/seafood, eggs and dairy. Plant -based can also describe food or drinks that don’t contain animal products, including soy milk and ‘meat alternatives’ (usually made from soy, textured vegetable protein, or wheat gluten). (source: The Heart Foundation)

  • I can provide assistance with:

    • Transition to a vegan/ plant-based diet

    • Optimising health on a vegan diet

    • Nutrition advice for children and adults

    • Correcting nutritional deficiencies (eg: Iron deficiency anaemia)

    • Chronic disease management

    • How to eat a low FODMAP diet when vegan

    • Optimising fertility

    • Vegan Pregnancy advice

    • Hormone health management (eg PCOS)

Plant-based Nutrition

  • IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects over a billion people worldwide. Symptoms include bloating, gas, stomach pain and altered bowel habits (constipation/diarrhoea). It is thought that a number of factors play a role in the development of this condition.

    What are the treatment options?

    Dietitians can examine the nutritional adequacy of your diet as well as fibre intake, possible food triggers including FODMAPs, food chemicals and others. You may then be guided through dietary elimination and rechallenge in order to determine your individual food triggers.

  • I can provide assistance with:

    • Irritable bowel syndrome

    • Coeliac Disease

    • Food Intolerances

    • Low FODMAP Diet Assessment & Support

    • Bloating/Pain

    • Constipation

    • Diarrhoea

    • GORD/Reflux

Gut Health

  • There are a number of different methods of addressing weight management. I assess your goals, habits, lifestyle, beliefs as well as food and medical history to determine the best method to suit you to achieve long term results. A non-diet approach may suit you, with a greater focus on healthier eating patterns, practical solutions, habit tracking, portion size guidance and mindful eating strategies to assist with weight management. A more targeted approach such as calorie targets and/or meal plans may be more suited to you, or be a combination of the both strategies.

    ​You can be assured that no matter what stage you are at in your journey, you will be looked after and care and consideration will be taken into selecting the right solution for you. Research shows that the best outcomes are achieved with ongoing education, guidance and support from a Dietitian.

  • I can provide assistance with:

    • Healthy/mindful eating advice

    • Weight loss

    • Muscle building

    • Weight gain

    • Obesity management

    • Hypothyroidism

Weight Management

  • Chronic diseases can often be well managed through diet and lifestyle changes. I can assess your medical/family history to determine the most suitable pathway to manage your health conditions.

    Pre-Diabetes:

    Pre-diabetes is a condition where your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but are not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.

    Type 2 Diabetes:

    Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). With type 2 diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin, or it resists insulin. Without insulin performing correctly, glucose (sugar) builds up in the blood leading to high blood glucose levels which can lead to further health complications.

    ​

    Gestataional Diabetes (GDM):

    GDM is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy (gestation). It is diagnosed when higher than normal blood glucose levels first appear during pregnancy and can affect the baby's health.

  • I can provide assistance with:

    • Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

    • High Cholesterol

    • Hypertension

    • Gestational Diabetes

    • Liver Disease / Fatty Liver

    • Cardiovascular Disease

Chronic Conditions

  • Preconception nutrition is essential in laying the foundations for a healthy pregnancy. I can assist you in planning, tracking and instilling healthy habits to set you up for a healthy pregnancy.

    During your pregnancy, your body's nutrition requirements are constantly changing to support the development of the fetus. Because of this, our body requires higher amounts of some key nutrients, such as folate, iron, calcium, iodine, zinc, omega 3 and choline - as well as protein and energy. If you follow a plant-based diet, getting adequate amounts of these nutrients may be difficult. Therefore, it is important to seek advice from a dietitian to appropriately plan and provide you advice and confidence throughout the pregnancy.

    PCOS is an imbalance of reproductive hormones. The hormonal imbalance creates problems in the ovaries. The ovaries make the egg that is released each month as part of a healthy menstrual cycle. With PCOS, the egg may not develop as it should or it may not be released during ovulation, as it should be. Research in this area has found links between PCOS and other health problems, including obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety.

    ​PCOS affects 12-18% of women of reproductive age and up to 21% in some high-risk groups, such as Indigenous women (Jean Hailles). 70% of women with the condition are estimated to remain undiagnosed. The symptoms of PCOS include irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth, acne and weight fluctuations.

    ​I can assist with dietary and lifestyle solutions, manage PCOS and related conditions, as well as debunk common myths and clear up confusion.

  • Endometriosis is a disease characterized by the presence of tissue resembling endometrium (the lining of the uterus) outside the uterus.

    It causes a chronic inflammatory reaction that may result in the formation of scar tissue (adhesions, fibrosis) within the pelvis and other parts of the body.

  • GDM is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy (gestation). It is diagnosed when higher than normal blood glucose levels first appear during pregnancy and can affect the baby's health.

  • Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea is the absence of a regular menstrual cycle. Factors such as under-eating, stress and overactivity can contribute to causing amenorrhoea.

    Having adequate nutrition is an essential component of the treatment of hypothalamic amenorrhea. Melissa can help to assess your diet to ensure you are meeting your requirements, as well as support you with the appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes required.

  • I can provide assistance with:

    • Dietary and lifestyle strategies to enhance fertility

    • Pre-pregnancy nutrition

    • Pregnancy nutrition - Including education on the safety of foods during pregnancy

    • Postnatal nutrition

    • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

    • Endometriosis

    • Hypothalamic Amenorrhoea

    • Enhancing Fertility

    • Menopause

    • Preparing for a vegan pregnancy

    • Pregnancy Nutrition

    • Gestational Diabetes

Women's Health

  • If you are following a vegan/plant-based diet, you need to be aware of your intake of some specific nutrients. Some key nutrients to keep in mind are:

    • Iron

    • B12

    • Calcium

    • Zinc

    • Omega 3

  • A well-planned diet, with the assistance of a dietitian, is key to long term sustainability and good health.

    I can provide assistance with:

    • Daily nutrition requirements

    • Strategy to meet your individual diet needs

    • If your diet is further restricted with allergies, low FODMAP, coeliac etc., I can assist you with personalised strategies to meet your requirements.

    ​It is beneficial if you have a blood test prior to the consultation to identify any deficiencies/areas of concern.

Nutritional Deficiencies

  • Calcium may be a nutrient of concern on a plant-based diet. Dietitians can help to assess your intake to ensure your diet has adequate nutrition to maintain healthy bones, support growth and development and prevent osteoporosis.

  • I can provide assistance with:

    • Iron deficiency

    • Anaemia

    • Zinc Deficiency

    • Meeting nutrient requirements on restricted diets: I.e: Low FODMAP, coeliac etc

    • B12 deficiency

    • Calcium adequacy

    • Protein adequacy

    • Omega 3 adequacy

    • Growth and development during childhood and adolescence

    • Osteopenia

    • Osteoporosis

    • Osteoarthritis

Bone Health

Let’s get in touch.

Contact me if you have any questions.