Booking a first nutrition consultation can feel like a bit of a leap into the unknown. Clients often tell me they weren't sure what to expect — whether it would feel clinical and intimidating, or whether I'd hand them a restrictive meal plan and send them on their way. Neither is true, and part of my job in that first session is to make the whole process feel approachable, practical, and tailored to you rather than generic. In this guide, I want to walk you through exactly what happens before, during, and after a consultation with me, so you know what you're signing up for.
As a registered nutritionist, I work with clients on a wide range of goals and concerns, including weight loss, gut health, and support around diabetes nutrition. It's also a valuable service for people going through significant life changes, such as menopause, or those looking for specific dietary guidance, like PCOS nutrition or children's nutrition for their family.
Before Your Consultation: How to Prepare
A little preparation makes a real difference to how useful your first session is. Before we meet, I usually ask clients to:
- Keep a short food diary for a few days beforehand — even a rough one, noting meals, snacks and drinks, gives me a real picture of your current habits rather than what you think you "should" be eating
- Think through your main goals in advance, whether that's more energy, support around a specific condition, or simply feeling more in control of your eating
- Complete a pre-consultation health questionnaire, covering your medical history, lifestyle, and any medications or supplements you're currently taking
- Jot down any questions or concerns you want to make sure we cover — it's easy to forget these in the moment
None of this needs to be perfect or exhaustive. I'd much rather see an honest, imperfect food diary than one that's been tidied up to look "ideal" — the honest version is far more useful to me.
What Happens During the Consultation
The consultation itself is a conversation, not an interrogation. I'll ask about your current eating habits, your daily routine, your relationship with food, your activity levels, sleep, and stress, because all of these interact with nutrition far more than people expect. If you're coming to me about a specific concern — for example, GLP-1 support — we'll spend time on the detail that's relevant to that, such as how your appetite and eating patterns have changed and what practical, non-restrictive strategies might help alongside your treatment.
I run consultations both in person and as an online consultation over video call, and I find the online format works just as well for most clients — it's often easier to fit around work and family life, and I can still review your food diary, ask detailed questions, and build out a plan together in real time.
Building Your Personalised Plan
Rather than handing over a generic diet sheet, I work with you to build a plan that fits around your actual life — your budget, your cooking skills and time, your food preferences, and any cultural or family considerations. A plan that ignores these things rarely lasts more than a week or two, however sound it looks on paper. We'll agree on a small number of realistic, specific changes to start with, rather than trying to fix everything at once.
After the Consultation: What You Take Away
Following our session, you'll receive a written summary that outlines your goals, my recommendations, and clear next steps you can start implementing straight away. Depending on the package you choose, this might include meal ideas, practical swaps, or guidance on specific nutrients or eating patterns relevant to you. I also build in follow-up support, because nutrition advice tends to work far better when there's someone to check in with, troubleshoot with, and adjust the plan alongside as your circumstances change.
How Long Does It Take, and What Does It Cost?
A first consultation typically runs longer than any follow-up session, simply because there's more ground to cover — your history, your goals, and a full picture of your current eating pattern all need time to explore properly. Follow-up sessions tend to be shorter and more focused, checking in on progress, troubleshooting anything that hasn't worked, and adjusting the plan as needed. I offer a range of consultation packages to suit different needs and budgets, from a single one-off session to more structured ongoing support, and I'm always happy to talk through which option makes sense for your situation before you commit to anything.
What Makes a Consultation Actually Work
In my experience, the consultations that lead to real, lasting change share a common thread: honesty. Clients who tell me what they're actually eating, what they're actually struggling with, and what genuinely feels unrealistic for their life get far more out of the process than those who present an idealised version of their habits. My role isn't to judge what you're doing now — it's to understand it well enough to help you build something better from where you actually are, not from where you think you should be.
A Few Common Questions I Get Asked
Do I need to be "further along" before booking? Not at all — some of the most useful sessions are with people right at the start, who simply don't know where to begin. Will you tell me what I can never eat again? No — I don't believe in rigid, restrictive rules, and sustainable change rarely comes from a list of forbidden foods. What if I have a diagnosed medical condition? I can absolutely support your general wellbeing and dietary habits alongside a diagnosed condition, but for anything requiring clinical management — for example specific blood glucose targets or medication-related dietary adjustments — I'll always recommend working alongside your GP or a registered dietitian, and I'm happy to liaise around that where useful.
If you're ready to take the first step towards a healthier, more informed relationship with food, I'd love to help. Book a consultation today, or get in touch if you have any questions before you commit — I'm always happy to have a quick chat first to make sure it's the right fit.