Nutrition Therapy for Children & Adults in Galway

CORU Registered Dietitian and Trained Psychotherapist.

Over 25 years experience as a Senior Registered Dietitian working with adults and children in the HSE.

Online and in-person appointments - 20% back on tax and 30-50% back on health insurance depending on provider.

Children’s Nutrition

Valerie has extensive experience working with children in the HSE, including in hospital and community services. As a Mum, Valerie can help you navigate common feeding issues with children, including;

Food allergies: Non IgE cow’s milk protein allergy.
Weaning: Cut through the noise and get up to date scientific advice on how best to introduce solids to your baby.
Fussy eating/food refusal: Nutritional assessment, behavioural strategies.
Concerns about weight: Childhood obesity, underweight.
Gut nutrition: Coeliac disease, constipation, diarrhoea, food intolerance.

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Adult Nutrition

Take control of your health and book an initial 60 minute consultation with Valerie. We are here to help you with:

• Anxiety management, stress management.

In my anxiety and stress management program, I provide tools, support, and solutions to enhance awareness, regulation, and resilience. I work with CBT, mindfulness, breathing and grounding techniques and poly vagal theory to support health and wellness.

Throughout this clinic, we will collaborate to develop supports and tools for managing your mental health. An initial appointment will give you tips and tools to help you achieve your goals.

It is recommended that you attend 7 follow up appointments over 8 weeks to support and guide you with this plan.

• Pre diabetes, newly diagnosed, existing diabetes.

Diet is the cornerstone of diabetes management. If you have type 2 diabetes, seeking nutrition and lifestyle support is one of a number of things you could do to help you manage your blood glucose and reduce your risk of developing complications.

• Coeliac disease, constipation, diverticular disease, IBS Step 1 & 2 diet, low lactose diet, low FODMAP diet, gut directed relaxation methods (including body scan, breath work, grounding and poly vagal exercises).

Improving the health of our gut is one of the most effective ways to enhance our overall health and wellbeing. An initial appointment will give you tips and tools to help you achieve your goals. It is recommended that you attend 5 follow up appointments over 6 months to support you on your gut health journey.

What is Gut wellness all about?

→ Bespoke nutrition, physical activity and mental wellness strategies.

→ Personalised behaviour change counselling to support lifelong healthy habits.

→ Scientifically – backed methods for gut health management.

→ Expertise from an experienced health care professional who can tailor the plan to suit your distinct needs.

• Sports nutrition, nutrition in cancer, plant based nutrition, bone health, skin health, immune support, eating for energy, healthy aging, vegan/vegetarian.

A healthy diet is essential for good health and wellbeing. Eating well not only helps you feel good but helps reduce the risk of many diseases. Here at Galway Nutrition & Therapy Clinic we can help you eat for your health whatever your nutrition concern. An initial appointment will provide you with a plan. For some conditions further follow up appointments may be recommended.

• Weight changes, bone health, heart health, joint health, gut health.

The transition to menopause is a good time to review your current diet. Not only can this help manage menopausal symptoms in the short term, it can lay the foundations for good health through peri menopause, menopause, and the years to come.

There’s an enormous amount of misinformation when it comes to nutrition, and it’s easy to feel confused about what’s healthy and what’s not. Simple dietary changes are the basis of positive change for bone, heart and digestive health, as well as management of some menopause symptoms.

An initial appointment will provide you with a plan. For some conditions further follow up appointments may be recommended

• Weight loss, weight / muscle gain, weight maintenance.

Let me help you work towards safe effective long term weight loss. An initial appointment will give you tips and tools to help you achieve your goals. It is recommended that you attend 5 follow up appointments over 6 months to support you on your weight loss journey.

What is Weight Wellness all about?

→ Bespoke nutrition, physical activity and mental wellness strategies.

→ Personalised behaviour change counselling to support lifelong healthy habits.

→ Scientifically – backed methods for weight management.

→ Expertise from an experienced health care professional who can tailor the plan to suit your distinct needs.

• Lipid lowering, mediterranean diet, hypertension, weight management.

Nutrition has an important role in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. There is strong evidence for the role of the mediterranean diet and weight loss in heart disease prevention. Diet can also help lower cholesterol by up to 30%.

An initial appointment will provide you with a plan. For some conditions further follow up appointments may be recommended.

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Dietitian Services for People with Disabilities

A Registered Dietitian is a specialised healthcare professional with in-depth knowledge of nutrition and its impact on individuals with disabilities.

Living with a disability comes with unique challenges, including various nutrition related issues. Early intervention with a dietitian can help prevent and manage these problems. Dietitians collaborate closely with individuals, families, and caregivers to develop personalised dietary interventions tailored to specific needs.

Beyond nutrition, dietitians working in disability play a vital role in educating and empowering individuals with disabilities and their families to make informed choices.

Consulting a dietitian is crucial for individuals with disabilities, as many disabilities present unique nutritional challenges. These may include difficulties with meal planning, preparation, and cooking, as well as side effects of medications, such as weight fluctuations.

Additionally, limitations in daily activities can complicate dietary routines. Dietitians offer expertise to develop customised nutrition plans and provide resources to address these challenges, promoting overall health and well-being.

Certain disabilities can predispose individuals to conditions such as obesity, malnutrition, or gastrointestinal issues. Dietitians play a key role in mitigating these risks, ensuring better health outcomes, and enhancing quality of life.

Disability dietitians understand the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care. They collaborate with GPs, ANPs, nursing staff, occupational therapists, speech therapists, clinical psychologists and other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care.

This teamwork ensures that all aspects of an individual’s health are considered, leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life.

Dietitians play a vital role within the allied health sector. While each discipline contributes uniquely to holistic care, dietitians are essential in promoting optimal health through nutrition.

With specialised knowledge in food science, human physiology, and behaviour change, they address a wide range of health concerns through dietary interventions.

Whether managing chronic conditions, disabilities, or supporting general well-being, dietitians collaborate with other healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive care.

We offer a range of specialised services to meet the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities:

Healthy Food Choices: Guidance on making nutritious food choices tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Management of Chronic Health Conditions: Dietary recommendations to support gastrointestinal health, diabetes, and cardiovascular health.
Addressing Allergies and Intolerances: Strategies to navigate dietary restrictions safely and effectively.
Bowel Health: Assistance with managing bowel-related concerns.
Fussy or Selective Eating: Strategies to expand dietary variety and manage picky eating.
Malnutrition and Unintentional Weight Loss: Assessments and interventions to combat malnutrition and promote optimal nutrition.
Modified Texture Diets: Dietary plans for swallowing difficulties, ensuring adequate nutrition and safety.
Personalised Meal Planning: Customised meal plans to meet individual dietary needs.
Menu Planning, Grocery Shopping, and Budgeting: Assistance with balanced menu planning, grocery lists, and managing food expenses.
Overcoming Mealtime Challenges: Strategies to address food refusal, eating distractions, and social eating avoidance.
Food and Nutrition Counselling: Guidance and support to facilitate behavioural changes related to nutrition.

At Galway Nutrition & Therapy Clinic, we are dedicated to providing tailored dietetic services that address the unique needs of individuals with disabilities, ensuring they receive the care and support they deserve.

Training for staff working with individuals with disabilities is essential to provide effective support. Valerie offers tailored training programmes designed to meet these needs, including:

Special diets training for carers (families and staff) in the community
‘MUST’ Nutritional Screening Training
Dysphagia Training, jointly with Speech Therapists
Type 2 diabetes and weight management to include the following:
Basic Cooking Skills Training
Food Shopping & Meal Planning
Healthy eating and food portion sizing guidance

These training sessions aim to equip staff with the skills and knowledge required to support individuals with disabilities in achieving better nutritional health and overall well-being.

For further guidance on policies and toolkits related to food, nutrition, and hydration in disability services, explore the following:

British Dietetic Association (2023). Dietetic Practice Guidance for Disabilities. Available at: https://www.bda.uk.com
HSE Disability Services (2022). Nutrition and Disability Support. Health Service Executive. Available at: https://www.hse.ie
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2023). Nutrition for Individuals with Disabilities. Available at: https://www.eatright.org
Journal of Disability and Health (2021). Nutritional Challenges in Disabilities. Vol 14(3), pp. 245-260.
HSE Guidelines for Dietetic Services (2022). Dietary Management Guidelines for Disabilities. Available at: https://www.hse.ie
CORU Code of Conduct for Dietitians (2023). Standards of Practice. Available at: https://www.coru.ie
Allied Health Professionals Ireland (2023). Collaborative Approaches in Disability Care. Available at: https://www.ahpi.ie
Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (2023). Nutrition and Disability Resources. Available at: https://www.indi.ie
Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (2022). Role of Dietitians in Disability Care. Vol 35(2), pp. 112-120.
HSE Disability Nutrition Guidelines (2023). Dietetic Services Framework for Disabilities. Available at: https://www.hse.ie

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There may be other nutritional concerns you have that are not listed above...

If this is the case, please do not hesitate to contact Valerie to discuss them. To make a booking, simply browse our booking system to find a day and time that suits or you can call 087 3800890.

CONTACT VALERIE

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