Dietitians are uniquely qualified to translate scientific information about food into practical dietary advice. As well as providing impartial advice about nutrition and health, Dietitians also advise about food related problems, and use dietary therapy to treat disease and ill health. A Dietitian in Ireland must have a minimum of 4 years of training at university level.

The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI) is the professional body for Dietitians in Ireland. Before you commit to seeing a Dietitian, always check they are a member of the INDI first (www.indi.ie). All members of the INDI will have the letters MINDI after their name.

No. Clients may themselves choose to visit a Dietitian or it may be recommended by their GP or Consultant. For self referrals, simply phone or email to make an appointment.

Any information you may have that is related to your condition is relevant. For instance, if you have any recent test results, letters from your Consultant or a list of medications, you should bring these with you.

Your first appointment will take one hour. During this session, you will have an anthropometric assessment which includes taking your height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (using Tanita Body Fat Monitor). Following this, we carry out a comprehensive nutrition and dietetic assessment, looking at current dietary habits, nutritional status, exercise and lifestyle habits, medical history, medications, stress levels, and any relevant blood test results. We then provide nutrition counseling, supporting diet sheets and resources tailored to your exact requirements.

The number and frequency of follow up appointments are very much specific to individual cases. Once we have jointly agreed your nutritional requirements and goals in your first appointment, we can assess how many follow appointments may be necessary.

If you have private medical insurance your insurance company may cover some of the cost of your dietetic appointments. The criteria for this, and the level of cover provided, will vary between companies and policies and so you should check with your insurer prior to your appointment.