Dietitian Nutritionist Bowral NSW Southern Highlands
Dietitian Nutritionist Bowral NSW Southern Highlands – about me
Hi, I’m Fofe*, the principal Accredited Practising Dietitian nutritionist at Bowral Nutrition in the NSW Southern Highlands. I pride myself on having a common-sense approach that complements my scientific training. As regional dietitians, we welcome clients of all ages with nutritional needs, and urge you to contact us for an obligation-free chat.
What is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and how is it different from a nutritionist?
All dietitians are also qualified nutritionists or, more specifically, nutrition scientists. We study at university for 4 or 5 years (Bachelor vs Master credential) to become allied health professionals able to work within the Australian health care system. Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) is the only credential for dietitians recognised by the Australian government (Medicare), state governments, and private health insurers. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist in Australia, it is not a regulated title. Only APDs are uniquely qualified to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT): a tailored nutrition therapy service for medical conditions.
What made me become an Accredited Practising Dietitian and nutritionist?
My eldest child is a neurodivergent NDIS participant. He was diagnosed with ADHD at age six, and autism and ODD three years later. However, the ‘Oppositional Defiance’-labelled behaviour did not last long thanks to some dietary changes. These made an enormous difference to his quality of life, inspiring me to return to university and study to become a nutrition scientist. I graduated the Bachelor of Science (Nutrition) from the University of Wollongong with Distinction.
Working in the disability sector further inspired me to undertake postgraduate study and become an Accredited Practising Dietitian. I graduated the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Wollongong with Distinction. More recently, I have completed post-graduate study to become a credentialled eating disorder clinician (CEDC-D).
Over time, the practice has developed a particular interest in digestive health, disability, eating disorders, food intolerance, and mental health. We have expanded our team to include a dedicated disability dietitian and administrator.
I identify as neurodivergent (AuDHD), and at Bowral Nutrition, we proudly embrace a neurodiversity-affirming approach. Our practice is grounded in the trauma-informed Neurodiversity Affirming Model, which recognises the natural variation in human cognitive function and firmly rejects the notion that neurodivergent individuals need ‘fixing’.
* Fun fact about me: My name rhymes with ‘coffee’ – my favourite beverage!
Dietitian Nutritionist Bowral NSW Southern Highlands
The Bowral Nutrition philosophy is that…
- food is key to optimal health. We use a ‘food first’ approach.
- nutrition advice must be personalised
- our gut microbiome plays a significant role in our health and wellbeing
- neurodivergent people deserve respectful and affirming care
Bowral Nutrition dietitians can help you to…
- manage tube-feeding nutritional adequacy and digestive symptoms for NDIS participants
- manage your child’s ‘fussy’ eating and chaotic family mealtimes
- explore suspected food intolerance symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, diarrhoea/constipation
- ensure you are consuming adequate nutrients for optimal health, irrespective of your dietary approach or medical condition
- decipher nutrition-related blood test results
- investigate your gut microbiome
- decipher nutrition labels, so you can navigate supermarket food shopping with confidence
- swap ingredients in your favourite recipes for more nutrient-dense ones
- prepare and cook nutritious foods you may not have experience with
- understand current dietary trends
- educate your staff to promote healthy eating habits and overall wellbeing
Dietitian nutritionist Bowral NSW Southern Highlands practice focus areas
Digestive Health
Digestive Health
Conditions we can help with include: Allergies and intolerances; Barrett’s Oesophagus; Coeliac disease; Colitis; Constipation; Crohn’s Disease; Cyclic vomiting syndrome; Diarrhoea; Diverticular disease aka Diverticulosis; Duodenal ulcer; Dyspepsia; Dysphagia; Eosinophilic oesophagitis; Gastric ulcer; Gastritis; Gastroparesis; GORD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease); Heartburn; Helicobacter pylori; Lactose Intolerance; Indigestion; IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome); Malabsorption; Peptic ulcer; Reflux; SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth); Ulcerative Colitis and many more.
Services include: Medical Nutrition Therapy; Gut Health optimisation; the Low FODMAP diet; Microba™ and CoBiome™ microbiome testing; Oral Nutrition Supplementation, and more.
Resources:
Kfibre – the ultimate prebiotic fibre for digestive health – Australian-made, Australian-owned
Mental health
Mental health
The evidence that diet affects our mood is growing. Find out how the food you eat can help improve your mood, and how what and when you eat can help to optimise the effectiveness of your medication.
The gut microbiome impacts various systems within the human body, such as the digestive, immune, metabolic, and nervous systems.
In addition to general food and mood nutrition advice we can also support drug and alcohol recovery, psychosocial disability and eating disorders.
We can help treat Eating Disorders privately or at no cost for eligible Wingecarribee and Wollondilly residents through Community Links ReClaim program.
Food Intolerance
Food Intolerance
Apart from a buccal (cheek) swab or genetic blood test for lactose intolerance, or a small intestine biopsy for enzymes, the only evidence-based test for food intolerance is an elimination diet. Guidance for this is included in your normal consultation fee, there are no additional expensive tests required!
Find out if you are intolerant of FODMAPs, amines, food additives, glutamates, gluten, lactose, salicylates, and more. Intolerances may show as physical and/or behavioural issues (due to nerve irritation), the latter especially so in children.
If you suspect you may be intolerant of a food or food group, please make an appointment to discuss your concerns before spending money on unorthodox testing.
Resources:
Healthy Eating for Adults
Healthy Eating for Adults
Life stage nutrition: Young, Middle-aged and Older Adults
Autoimmune condition: e.g., Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, coeliac disease, rheumatoid arthritis
Bariatric surgery: preparatory diet and post-surgery diet
Bone health: osteomalacia; osteopenia; osteoarthritis
Cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure (hypertension)
Chronic disease prevention
Connective tissue disorders: e.g., Ehlers Danlos Syndrome; lipoedema
Metabolic health: e.g., pre-diabetes aka metabolic syndrome; type 2 diabetes; fatty liver disease; healthy weight gain (e.g., to join the Police Academy or the Navy); high cholesterol; insulin resistance; malnutrition in older adults
Neurological conditions: e.g., Acquired Brain Injury; Alzheimer’s; ALS, MND, MS, Parkinsons, Stroke / Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
Nutritional adequacy in pescatarian, vegan or vegetarian diets
Women’s Health: e.g., perimenopause; menopause; thyroid disorders
Bowral Nutrition’s weight management practice follows the tailored and respectful Health at Every Size approach.
Bowral Nutrition recommends the Mediterranean diet for managing autoimmune conditions, particularly for clients interested in an anti-inflammatory diet.
Responsive Feeding Therapy
Responsive Feeding Therapy
Is the way your child eats really problematic?
From ‘fussy’ to extreme ‘picky’ eating, we help families navigate societal expectations of what ‘normal’ eating is.
We analyse your child’s diet to provide you with piece of mind as to whether they are meeting their nutrient requirements, helping to correct deficiencies if necessary, and creating calmer mealtimes.
The feeding therapy model we use is Responsive Feeding Therapy, which is trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming. The five inter-related values at the core of RFT are autonomy, relationship, internal motivation, individualised care and competence.
Disability services
Disability services
Capacity-building dietetic services for people living with a disability, including NDIS participants who are plan or self-managed.
We also provide Zoom-based or on-site group training for Disability Support Workers to foster an understanding of participant nutrition requirements and the effects of condition-specific medication and diet on mood.
Our disability area of special interest is neurodivergence. We are a neurodivergent-led practice with lived experience of picky eating, particularly due to sensory processing difficulties and food intolerance.
However, we welcome all self and plan-managed NDIS participants with nutritional concerns, including those that are tube-fed. We treat everyone with the dignity and respect that they deserve, honouring the NDIS policy of choice and control at all times.
If you don’t already have funding for a dietitian: Talk to your Support Coordinator or LAC or Plan Manager about using your existing funding for a nutritional assessment and advocacy letter for Capacity Building or Health and Wellbeing funding prior to your next NDIS review.
Support co-ordinators, carers and other participant representatives can download our NDIS referral form here. We recommend the free program Foxit PDF Reader, which allows you to type onto a PDF. Please contact us if you would like the Word version of this form.
Unfortunately, we are not currently able to assist agency-managed participants unless invoices can be paid privately or sent to NSW Trustee & Guardian (TGA) for payment.
How it Works
For all enquiries you can call or text, or email us using our contact form.
Your initial consultation will take ~50 minutes. We will go through your medical history and dietary habits and discuss your goals. Please ensure you bring along any recent (last 6 months) blood/urine/stool test results or have your doctor email or fax them to us.
Your first review is scheduled 2-4 weeks later. Subsequent reviews are tailored to your individual needs.
Care plans: Please note that Medicare rebates are available to clients who have a chronic condition being managed by their GP under a care plan (Chronic Disease Management Plan or CDMP, formerly known as EPCs). After paying our full fee, you will be able to claim the rebate from Medicare. GP referrals must be accompanied by a signed Referral Form for Allied Health Services to be eligible for a Medicare rebate.
Allied Health Professionals can download our Allied Health referral form here
Care organisations can download our Care organisation referral form and/or nutrition education request form here
Frequently Asked Questions
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Please contact your Private Health Insurance provider directly to confirm your eligibility to claim the services of a dietitian.
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Yes, we offer Telehealth – telephone or video call (Zoom) – consultations. For aged care and disability, we also do home visits.
If you are unable to leave your home for any reason, please know that you do not have to come to our clinic. We can use Telehealth (Zoom video chat or telephone) instead.
A ‘kitchen table consultation’ via Telehealth can actually be mutually beneficial. It allows us to review the kitchen tools we have to work with, as well as pantry staples, medications and supplements in a relaxed way that is less reliant on memory.
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Bowral Nutrition is a registered business. Our ABN number is 64 715 430 479
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We accept bank transfers or deposits into our Commonwealth Bank business account, as well as credit card payments (American Express, Mastercard, Visa) via our Australian-owned and operated credit card merchant provider Pin Payments
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To ensure we receive a copy of your results use: REFFV6LP7Y6 when ordering your microbiome test from Microba
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Yes we do. You can view our privacy policy by clicking the link at the very bottom of this webpage.
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Medicare rebates are available to clients who have a chronic condition being managed by their GP under a care plan.
After paying our full fee you will be able to claim the rebate from Medicare. GP referrals must be accompanied by a signed Referral Form for Allied Health Services to be eligible for a Medicare rebate.
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Unfortunately, we do not have wheelchair access in our Bowral clinic, which is accessed from street level by walking up a flight of stairs. However, we do offer the option of a home visit or Telehealth – phone or video chat (Zoom – for clients with mobility issues.