Transformed Dietitians
Our Accredited Practising Dietitian can give you nutritional advice that is based on the latest scientific evidence yet easy to understand and incorporate into your daily lifestyle.
Our Dietitian will not only give you an understanding of what food to eat but also provide you with stress free meal plans and tasty, healthy and nutritious recipes based on real food!
Milly Smith
Accredited Practising Dietitian
Hannah Dobbie
Accredited Practising Dietitian
NOURISH
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"
- Hippocrates
FAQs from Dietitians
Frequently Asked Questions Before Bariatric Surgery
What can I do before surgery to improve my outcomes from surgery?
Getting a comprehensive blood test before surgery can be useful to correct any deficiencies and monitor any changes.
Reflecting on your eating and seeking advice about your diet can significantly improve your surgery experience.
Weight loss surgery is a big decision and unfortunately is not a 'magic bullet' for weight loss; it still requires long term commitment. Gradual changes to your lifestyle BEFORE surgery can make the transition a lot easier and more successful.
Seeing a dietitian prior to surgery and for follow up afterwards has been shown to improve nutrition status and maximise long-term weight loss.
Should I be using a meal replacement in the lead up to surgery?
The use of meal replacements (e.g. shakes) before surgery is largely up to the surgeon and what they deem appropriate for you.
What could I expect from a visit to a Dietitian before surgery?
Your first visit to a dietitian will likely include collecting information about your medical history, discussing your motivations for surgery, talking through your current eating patterns and answering any questions you may have about nutrition.
What do I eat straight after surgery?
For the first 1-2 weeks following surgery, usually a liquid diet is required. This allows your stomach to recover from surgery.
Do I really need multivitamins after surgery and which one is best?
This is something that depends on the type of surgery you have, the types of foods you are eating after surgery and any signs/symptoms you are showing that point to deficiency.
Generally, all people having a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass procedures will need to take a multivitamin lifelong. It is best to start a chewable bariatric-specific multivitamin soon after surgery and have follow up blood tests. You can talk to your dietitian about how to take multivitamins, what to ask for as part of your blood tests and how long you need your multivitamin for.
Transformed has BN Multi chewable multivitamins available for purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions After Bariatric Surgery
I have heard I should be avoiding all carbs. Is this right?
It is a common misconception that carbs (carbohydrates) need to be avoided by everyone.
In some cases, reducing or carefully selecting specific types of carbs is important but rarely do they need to be avoided all together. In fact, avoiding all carbohydrates could affect your energy levels and concentration.
The key here is to choose mostly unrefined, wholegrain carbohydrates that look brown and 'grainy' as these provide better nutrition and fill you up for longer.
Are there any foods I should completely avoid after surgery?
Foods that give you severe reflux or cause regurgitation should be avoided initially and can be re-trialled later.
How much should I be drinking to stay hydrated?
This can vary depending on your pre-surgery weight and medical conditions, but 2 litres is a good goal.
What do I eat straight after surgery?
For the first 1-2 weeks following surgery, usually a liquid diet is required. This allows your stomach to recover from surgery.
If I don't feel hungry, should I avoid eating?
Probably not. Some people don't get hungry very often at all after surgery, but this doesn't mean they don't need to eat. It is important to get enough protein and nutrients to support your body.
If you don't feel hungry, aiming to have 3 meals a day is a good guide, with snacks added only if you need them. Also aim to have protein at all 3 meals (for example: meat, eggs, dairy, nuts or legumes) as well as a range of fruit and veggies.
I feel hungry constantly; what do I do?
Make sure you are recognising the difference between true hunger and eating in response to emotions.
If it is true hunger, are you grazing on food across the day instead of having 3 main meals? This can make you hungry all day; try to re-structure your meals. Are you eating foods that are high in fibre? High-fibre foods can keep you full for longer. Are you restricting any food groups? Consider increasing the variety of foods you eat; your body may be telling you it's missing something!
If you are eating in response to emotions, speak to your dietitian and/or psychologist about managing this.
I find it difficult to have breakfast as I often feel sick of a morning if I eat; what can I do?
Try having a sip of water or a hot drink before breakfast. This can clear any mucus sitting at the top of your stomach.
Also try different types of breakfast: eggs or yoghurt are good places to start. Still having trouble? Check in with your surgeon or dietitian.
What do I do if I feel dizzy/shaky/sick after meals?
You may be experiencing dumping syndrome, which most commonly affects those with a gastric sleeve or bypass more than with a band.
How long after meals does this happen? Have you noticed a pattern of which foods/drinks cause this? Create a list and talk to your surgeon or dietitian.
My bowel habits have changed; should I be concerned?
This is quite common after weight loss surgery because of the change in type and amount of foods eaten.
It could be from not having enough fibre in your diet or not having enough fluids. If you increase the amount of fibre in your diet, make sure you are well hydrated! If your bowel habits are really affecting your life, get it checked out by your surgeon or GP.
My weight loss has started to slow down/plateau; what do I do?
This can happen for a number of reasons. It can be useful to step back and see how far you've come.
How long until I can exercise following surgery?
This will mostly depend on any conditions you had before surgery and how well your body has adapted to the surgery. Speak to your surgeon about this one.
If you feel concerned or nervous about any aspects of eating before or after your surgery, a bariatric-trained dietitian can help to navigate and guide you as well as pick up on potential nutritional problems.
Have you ever heard the phrase “your body is your temple” and wondered what it means?
Keeping our physical body healthy and happy is just one of the many challenges we face, and yet, many of us don’t know how to best achieve it.
Positive decisions around diet and food preparation are key to this process, and you will
find the essential skills you need to pursue a healthy, informed lifestyle in Nutrition and Wellness.
Making sure you know how to locate, buy, and prepare fresh delicious food
will make you, and your body, feel amazing. Impressing your friends and family as you nourish them with your knowledge?
That feels even better.
Understanding your nutritional needs
Food is the fuel for your body, and you need to pick the right kind of fuel for your body to run its best.
In this tab, you will learn how to calculate your nutritional needs, including calories and how many servings you need of different types of foods.
You’ll have the opportunity to think about what you eat and what you should eat to feel your best. You’ll also learn a little about physical activity.
Physical activity forms a key component of overall wellness and is an essential addition to a lifelong plan to be strong, fit, and healthy.
With a smart plan for nutrition and wellness, you won’t be running on empty.
The science of nutrition and wellness
There are many different ideas about nutrition and wellness. This can cause a world of confusion for so many of us.
I know that I personally have been confused by all the conflicting nutritional information available.
How do you know what’s right?
It’s all about the science of nutrition and wellness. Throughout this topic, you will learn how scientists study nutrition and wellness, and why it matters to you.
You’ll learn about the health issues connected to nutrition and wellness, and what we know about improving health through nutrition and physical activity.
And you’ll learn about the body mass index, metabolic rates, and how you can use technology to make smarter nutritional choices.
This information will make you better able to make good choices for yourself, whether you’re in gym class, the cafeteria line, or sitting at home on a Saturday afternoon.
The Eight Dimensions of Wellness
Happy, content, fulfilled.
These words are all used to describe an overall sense of well-being, or wellness, throughout your life.
In this unit, you will learn about the aspects of wellness. Wellness isn’t confined to good nutrition and exercise. It includes how you feel, how you relate to other people, whom you interact with, where you work, and much more.
Each aspect of wellness is important for you to live a happy and fulfilling life. Wellness can be divided into eight separate areas, or dimensions.
You’ll learn what each of these dimensions are and how you can change your behaviour to improve that dimension of wellness.
The Savvy Shopping and Meal Plan
Look down the aisles of your grocery store.
How do you know what to buy?
How do you know if you’re getting a good value for your money when you shop?
In this unit, you’ll learn about budgeting for food, shopping strategies, and meal planning. With these skills, you can keep your spending down and eat healthy and delicious meals. You’ll also reduce food waste and save yourself time and energy!
Staying Smart and Safe in the Kitchen
The kitchen is home to more potential dangers than any other room of your house.
Cuts, falls, food poisoning—the kitchen can create all sorts of problems if you’re not careful.
Learning how to manage and prevent those dangers is an essential part of becoming a good and safe cook to feed yourself and others.
In this topic, we will learn how to keep your kitchen clean and free of pests, how to handle a knife safely, and how to store and cook food to prevent food-borne illnesses.
Preparing Fruits and Vegetables
Vegetables and fruits should make up a large portion of your diet, but many people overlook these delicious and healthy foods.
Filling your plate with nutrient-rich and high-fibre fruits and vegetables keeps you healthy, fuels your body, and helps you to maintain a healthy weight.
Learning how to prepare and cook these foods can keep you healthy, enable you to experiment in the kitchen, and allow you to begin to develop cooking confidence.
Get over your fears of Brussels sprouts and papaya. Tackle the tomatoes. And embrace the eggplant.
Decorate your fruit plates with beautiful flowers
Book a consultation with one of our Dietitians
Cooking with dairy and eggs
It’s time to embrace new foods and new cooking techniques as you master dairy and egg cooking.
This isn’t all about pizza and ice cream—it’s also delicate scrambled eggs and healthy creamy yogurt.
In this topic, we will explore all about dairy products and eggs, and you’ll be ready to start cooking with these foods in your own kitchen.
Though most of what you’ll learn is healthy, you’ll also learn how to make some treats, including homemade ice cream!
Cooking with meat, poultry, fish, beans and nuts
You’ve tackled fruits and vegetables, dairy and eggs—now, it’s time to handle meats, poultry, fish, and vegetarian protein sources, such as beans and nuts.
In this topic, we will explore how to cook these foods to use in a variety of ways, and how to make the most of cheaper foods, such as dry beans or inexpensive cuts of meat.
Simple cooking formulas will get you started, and your own creativity will let you make a variety of delicious dishes.
Grains, Breads and Baking
From the bread, to rice, grains make up a significant part of nearly every diet, whether it’s a healthy one or not.
For a healthy diet, choose whole grains rather than refined ones. Eating a diet rich in whole grains keeps you healthier, but it does require you know how to cook those grains.
Mastering Moderation:
Creating a SMART Eating Strategy For a Healthy Lifestyle
Maintaining good health throughout your life takes work, but you’re already on your way.
Together we are exploring the beginnings of the kitchen know-how you need to prepare healthy meals, and you are developing a good Understanding of which foods are healthy and which ones aren’t.
In this unit, you’ll learn how to translate those skills into lasting healthy habits that can stay with you throughout your life.
These include how to plan meals for your changing needs, and your changing body, as well as ways to manage stress and keep your diet smart and focused throughout your life.
Water
Keeping hydrated is crucial for health and well-being, but many people do not consume enough fluids each day. Around 60 percent of the body is made up of water, and around 71 percent of the planet's surface is covered by water.
Perhaps it is the ubiquitous nature of water that means drinking enough each day is not at the top of many people's lists of priorities.
Fast facts on drinking water
• Adult humans are 60 percent water, and our blood is 90 percent water.
• There is no universally agreed quantity of water that must be consumed daily.
• Water is essential for the kidneys and other bodily functions.
• When dehydrated, the skin can become more vulnerable to skin disorders and wrinkling.
• Drinking water instead of soda can help with weight loss.