 Richelle Flanagan, Co-founder, Consultant Dietitian
B.A. Natural Sciences (Physiology)
Trinity College, Dublin
M.Sc. Nutrition and Dietetics
University of Ulster Coleraine
PgCert Allergy
University of Southampton
Professional Associations
Member of the Irish and Nutrition Dietetic Institute (INDI)
Co-ordinator of Sports Nutrition Interest Group of the INDI
Member of Weight Management Interest Group of the INDI
Member Diabetes and Oncology Interest Groups of the INDI
Why I became a Dietitian:
After more than 10 years working in sales and marketing, I was a bit disillusioned and decided I wanted to use my commercial experience to promote a subject I had a real passion for – that of nutrition. So I packed up my job and with my primary degree in Physiology was accepted to a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics through the University of Coleraine. I know it may sound corny but I feel I can make some difference by easing clients pain, improving their quality of life or simply helping people to feel healthier.
If I could only say one thing about food/nutrition:
If you look at all things that are really important in helping us to live – it’s not the material goods but the body we live in and how we treat it. Without food, we would not exist and, without good nutritious food we do not exist well as we can.
Favourite meal:
I am partial now and again to steak, chips and béarnaise sauce with a glass of red wine. When I was pregnant with my little boy I craved fresh salmon and to this day I eat it regularly – just as well as some pregnant women crave coal so I was lucky!
Expertise and areas of interest:
Weight management, heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, childhood obesity, female nutrition for PCOS, fertility and pregnancy, food allergies & intolerances and sports nutrition
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Meave Graham, Attending Paediatric Dietitian for NutritionWiseBSc Human Nutrition & Dietetics
Trinity College, Dublin &
Professional Associations
Member of the Irish and Nutrition Dietetic Institute (INDI); Member of the Paediatric Dietitians’Interest Group of INDI; Member of the Disability Interest Group of INDI
Why I became a Dietitian:
Having worked in the Meath Hospital, Dublin in various areas of adult medicine since graduating from TCD in 1995, I then took a year out in 1998 to carry out nutrition research work in various paediatric settings in Romania. This was the beginning of my interest in childhood nutrition and the enormous impact it has on the health, well-being and development of the child for the formative years and onwards into adult life. On my return to Ireland, I took up a position in the newly opened National Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Tallaght and gained fantastic experience there working within various paediatric specialities. In 2002, I moved to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin to work in the areas of Haematology and Oncology and then returned to NCH Tallaght in 2007. I also provide Paediatric Dietetic services in Cheeverstown House, Templeogue which is a residential and day care service for children and adults with Intellectual Disability. Being a Paediatric Dietitian is a fantastically rewarding career especially given the important role of nutrition and the satisfaction to be gained from working with families to improve the health of their children.
If I could only say one thing about food/nutrition:
As parents, we want health and happiness for our children. So many things are beyond our control, but one area which we can influence and which will have a huge effect throughout their lives is nutrition....how and what we feed our children and what we teach them about food and eating will be extremely important throughout their lives so it’s something we need to get right. Good nutrition makes for healthy and happy children, which is what every parent wants! em>
Favourite meal:
A bowl of French onion soup, followed by a juicy fillet steak, garlic spuds and some crunchy greens.....bon appétit!
Expertise and areas of interest:
All areas of paediatric nutrition including infant feeding and weaning, faltering growth, childhood obesity and weight management, food allergies, nutritional deficiency conditions including anaemia and rickets; feeding problems including fussy eating, selective eating in autism, behavioural feeding problems, and feeding problems in developmental delay; gastro-intestinal disorders including coeliac disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux, constipation and lactose intolerance.
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