Eat For You Dietitian

Recently as part of my work as a Specialist Community Dietitian within an NHS Trust I gave a group talk to an audience of individuals who receive rehabilitations following an amputation. The key part for me when giving group education talks regarding healthy eating or eating well for a specific clinical condition is to ensure that I’m tailoring the messages I’m giving considering social circumstances. Quite a large percentage of the patients that I see within my clinical work aren’t in full control of their food choices. This could be that a family member or carer or neighbour does their weekly shop and although they might give them a shopping list, when something isn’t available they can’t just simply choose what they want so they have what they’re given or go without 

Maybe you’ve experienced this before. Can you picture receiving a new weekly food shop and having your meals based on someone else’s choices? It may be straightforward because you’ve got everything that you wanted or it could be disappointing because maybe there’s something missing and now you have to wait until next week.

Being this is the case my messages have to be simple, achievable and realistic. But most importantly easy to remember because they now have to relay hopefully to their family members or carers about what they have learnt and what they would like to include that could potentially be beneficial.

1. Choose frozen, tinned, dried options when you can. This could be fruit and vegetables, or beans and pulses. These are a great staple in your cupboard
2. Choose tinned or frozen fish once a week if you can’t always find fresh. Tinned mackerel, tuna are always topped up for me as a simple topping to a jacket potato, pasta or salad
3. Having a bag of raisins, sultanas or nuts from the baking section last for ages and can be added to your cereal, yoghurt or pudding
4. Supermarket own brands are perfectly adequate. No need to choose fancy yoghurts or anything.
5. Once a week or a month choose a different fruit or vegetable you haven’t had in a while or never. Keeps your diet diverse which is great for your gut health