Better Health Through Nutrition

You’ve probably heard the terms dietitian and nutritionist used interchangeably. It can be hard to know who to see and when it matters.

Both support people with nutrition. Dietitians also provide general healthy eating advice, just like nutritionists. The difference often comes down to the level of training, the type of care required, and whether your situation involves medical or more complex needs.

When nutrition becomes more complex

What we often see in clinic is that people have tried to manage these on their own, which can lead to confusion, under-eating, or missing key nutrients.

Some situations go beyond general advice. They involve medical history, medications, pathology results, and detailed nutrition planning. Some more complex supports include:

Eating disorders

Supporting someone with an eating disorder involves more than meal plans. It requires careful, structured nutrition to restore intake safely and consistently.

Weight loss surgery

Bariatric surgery changes how your body handles food. Nutrition needs to be carefully planned before and after surgery.

Enteral nutrition, PEG and tube feeding

Tube feeding requires detailed assessment and calculations to ensure the body receives exactly what it needs.

Paediatric feeding and fussy eating

Children are not just small adults. Their nutrition needs support growth, development, and behaviour.

Other areas dietitians support

Dietitians support both complex medical conditions and common health concerns, often combining both in the same person.

What this means for you

If your goal is general healthy eating, many approaches can work.

If your situation involves medical conditions, significant symptoms, or more complex nutrition needs, having structured, evidence-based guidance becomes more important.

Carbohydrates often get blamed for weight gain. In reality, they play a key role in how your body functions day to day.

Written by Kate Stoker, Principal Dietitian at Simply Nutrition Dietitians

Carbohydrates are the main fuel source for your brain and nervous system. Removing them completely can affect energy, concentration, and overall intake.

Carbohydrates and body weight

Weight changes come down to energy balance over time.

This applies regardless of whether the energy comes from carbohydrates, fat, or protein.

Why carbohydrates get blamed

Low carbohydrate diets can lead to short-term weight loss, which can make them seem more effective.

What we often see in clinic is that this is largely due to eating less overall, not because carbohydrates themselves cause weight gain.

What happens when carbs are too low

Removing or heavily restricting carbohydrates can lead to cutting out important food groups.

These factors can make diets harder to maintain long term.

Energy from different nutrients

This shows that higher fat and alcohol intake can increase total energy intake more quickly.

So are carbohydrates a friend or a foe?

A friend. The focus should be on balance, portion sizes, and overall dietary pattern.

Vitamin and mineral supplements are everywhere. But do you actually need them?

Written by Kate Stoker, Principal Dietitian at Simply Nutrition Dietitians

Australians spend hundreds of millions of dollars on supplements each year. It’s easy to assume they’re essential for good health.

Many people take supplements daily without knowing if they actually need them.

What vitamins and minerals actually do

Your body needs a wide range of nutrients to function properly.

But they don’t provide energy, and they don’t replace the basics like sleep, food, and movement.

Common misconceptions

Many people take supplements hoping to feel more energised or to “cover” a less balanced diet.

What we often see in clinic is people relying on supplements instead of addressing their overall eating patterns.

Food vs supplements

Nutrients from food are absorbed and used differently compared to supplements.

Foods contain a combination of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and other compounds that work together.

Are supplements ever needed?

In some cases, yes.

In these situations, supplements should be targeted and guided appropriately.

Can supplements be harmful?

Yes, especially at higher doses.

More is not always better, and in some cases can do more harm than good.

So, do you need supplements?

For most people, the answer is no.

Food labels can be confusing. Words like “light”, “low fat”, and “no added sugar” don’t always mean what people think.

Many products are marketed to look healthy, even when they’re not.

Written by Kate Stoker, Principal Dietitian at Simply Nutrition Dietitians

What we often see in clinic is people choosing products based on front-of-pack claims, without realising what those claims actually mean.

What common claims actually mean

Light or lite

This doesn’t always mean lower in fat or kilojoules. It can refer to colour, flavour, or texture. For example, light olive oil has a similar fat content to regular olive oil.

Low fat and very low fat

A product labelled “low fat” must contain 10g or less of fat per 100g. “Very low fat” means 3g or less per 100g.

Reduced fat, sugar, or salt

“Reduced” simply means lower than the original version. It doesn’t mean the product is low overall.

No added sugar

This means no sugar has been added, but the product may still contain natural sugars, such as those found in fruit or milk.

Diet or low kilojoule

These products often use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar to reduce energy content.

Cholesterol free

Cholesterol is only found in animal products. This claim doesn’t necessarily mean the product is low in fat or heart-healthy.

Heart Foundation Tick

This indicates a product meets specific criteria. However, not all healthy foods carry the tick, as companies must apply for it.

Gluten free

In Australia, foods labelled gluten free must meet strict standards.

What matters more than the claim

A single claim doesn’t tell you everything about a product.

Many “healthier” labelled foods can still be high in sugar, fat, or kilojoules.