Free online nutrition clinic to provide health and diet advice

Dietetic students are offering free, tailored sessions to members of the public
Dietetics student Olli Rogers and Dr Louise Mole in the Nutrition Lab

Free online nutrition clinic to provide health and diet advice

Dietetic students are offering free, tailored sessions to members of the public

January sees many people want to make a change for the better, often including moves towards healthy eating.  
Now the University of Plymouth is holding free, online consultations, providing dietary advice specific to individual needs. 
Book an appointment

Read more about the online nutrition clinic

What happens at the clinic?

The bookable sessions see a student dietitian talk to an individual onscreen, and hear from them about any concerns, discomfort, or goals they are looking to achieve.   
From support for irritable bowel syndrome to general healthy eating tips, all advice given is research-based, and every consultation is supervised by a registered dietitian. 
As well as supporting and improving the health of the general public, the clinic gives students the opportunity to work with clients and translate what they learn at university into real-life impact. 
Dietetics student Olli Rogers and Dr Louise Mole at the online nutrition clinic
Dietetic student Olli Rogers delivers an online nutrition clinic consultation, supervised by Dr Louise Mole 

This January, lots of people are thinking about how they can improve their nutritional intake, maybe lose some weight, maybe look at increasing the diversity of their diet.

Our online nutrition clinic really helps people to access tailored, evidence-based information, as well as giving students valuable experience working with clients.
There’s no promotion of fad diets, everything we do is base in evidence and fact, so we’re really looking forward to supporting members of the public who might need some advice.

Louise MoleDr Louise Mole
Programme Lead for Dietetics at the University of Plymouth

Balanced nutrition concept for clean eating flexitarian mediterranean diet. Assortment of healthy food ingredients for cooking on a wooden kitchen table.
Senior woman having online consultation in a video call
Nutritional food for heart health wellness by cholesterol diet and healthy nutrition eating with clean fruits and vegetables in heart dish by nutritionist and doctor recommended for patient well-being

A positive impact 

The nutrition clinic continues the University’s track record in hands-on, real-world learning, following the dental clinics in Plymouth, Exeter and Truro – where students provide supervised NHS treatment to members of the public – and optometry clinics offered at the Centre for Eyecare Excellence – which is set to move to its brand new building on the University’s city centre campus this September. 
The nutrition clinic started several years ago, but is now relaunching and expanding to reach even more people.  

As a student I really enjoyed the clinic because it’s great to feel like you’re having a positive impact on someone’s health.

I’ve seen people with all manner of conditions, including diabetes, and I’d say IBS seems to be quite common as well.
As soon as someone joins the clinic we’re keen to break the ice, greet them and make sure they see they’re being supported by a real person. 
I’m doing an integrated masters now, so am supporting other students as they deliver the sessions too.

Olli Rogers, a fourth-year integrated masters student dietitian who has held consultations

I heard about the clinic through a friend. I knew I had terrible eating habits – including not eating breakfast, snacking on ultra-processed foods, then eating large portions for dinner – but I didn’t know how to change them to fit my busy lifestyle.

The clinic has given me someone external to relay the problems back to me, as though an accountability buddy. It’s been great, as the advice is non-judgemental, and I was also provided to specific, realistic solutions.
I’ve been encouraged to eat little and more often approach and keeping a food diary has helped me understand portion sizing. I know I haven’t fully mastered it yet, especially on the days when my mental health is low, but I’m determined to keep speaking to the dietitian and reshape my relationship with food, and fully understand what ‘healthy’ looks like.

Ife AgbejaMiss Ife Agbeja
Lecturer at the University and a client at the clinic

Find out more

Dietetics students cooking in a lab

Read more about studying Dietetics with us

Dietetic students using facilities in Link Level 2 Containment lab (HPLC) (Link building)

Study an integrated masters in Dietetics

Faculty of Health student working in lab

Read more about all courses in our Faculty of Health