Mobile Dietitian

12/01/2026

I don’t love talking to a camera, so if you’re watching this, thank you for sticking with me.

I shared this clip because I want people who are swimming in low mood or depression to know that there are other evidence-based ways to explore support alongside usual care.

The story I read comes from Professor Felice Jacka. And yes, past-me forgot the “Professor” in the video. Credit where it’s very much due.

Her work, including stories shared in Brain Changer, helped change how we understand the role of food, lifestyle, and support in mental health recovery. Not as a replacement for care, but as part of the picture.

If you’d like to gently dip your toe into working with me, the Mood Fuel Meal Planning Workshop is designed as a friendly, practical starting point. No strict diets. No pressure. Just a place to begin using food to better support mood and energy.

If this resonates, you’re very welcome to join.

Sign up for the workshop here: https://mobiledietitian.kit.com/products/food-for-mood-meal-planning-workshop

— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian
Dietitian, Health Coach, Culinary Nutritionist

09/01/2026

Meal planning doesn’t guarantee that you will put a 3 course meal on the table. And it doesn’t mean convenience never wins.

What planning does is give me choice.

When meals are already thought through, I don’t have to rely on motivation in the moment. If I have the energy and headspace to choose something that supports my mood, it’s there. If I don’t, that’s okay too.

This is the balance I aim for.
Support over perfection.
Structure without rigidity.

It’s also the approach behind the Mood Fuel Meal Planning Workshop, where we focus on building a weekly structure that fits real life, not an ideal version of it.

Sign up for the workshop here: https://mobiledietitian.kit.com/products/food-for-mood-meal-planning-workshop

— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian
Dietitian, Health Coach, Culinary Nutritionist

08/01/2026

I made this recipe from the Magazine last night - Maple-Glazed Chicken Salad with Peaches. Goodbye, boring salads! This was a small effort for a big impact! I made a couple of minor changes - no pecans so I used what I had - pepitas and sliced almonds. I also candied them in maple syrup, not cane sugar. A delicious and nutritious meal. Thanks BHG!
— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian
Dietitian, Health Coach, Culinary Nutritionist

07/01/2026

When the SMILES trial (Jacka et al., 2017) was published, it was significant. It showed that dietitian-led nutrition support, delivered alongside usual care, led to greater improvements in depressive symptoms compared with social support alone.

Importantly, this trial helped set the direction for more rigorous research into nutrition and mental health. Since then, the evidence base has continued to grow, and clinical guidelines now recognise lifestyle-based approaches, including nutrition, as part of evidence-informed care for major depressive disorder, alongside psychological and medical treatment.

I don’t have major depressive disorder, but during my perimenopause years I’ve experienced how strongly food choices can influence mood, energy, and emotional resilience. Hormonal change, stress, sleep disruption, and inflammation all interact, and food is often one of the most practical supports available.

Using the evidence from trials like SMILES, together with clinical guideline frameworks, has helped to guid the development of my Mood Fuel approach. The Mood Fuel Meal Planning Workshop is designed as a starting point within this model, focused on building a simple weekly structure that supports mood without pressure or rigid rules.

Food doesn’t replace mental health care. But used thoughtfully, and guided by evidence, it can be a meaningful part of the picture.

If you’d like a practical, supported place to start, the Mood Fuel Meal Planning Workshop is designed for exactly that.

Join me in the workshop here: https://mobiledietitian.kit.com/products/food-for-mood-meal-planning-workshop

— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian
Dietitian, Health Coach, Culinary Nutritionist

05/01/2026

One thing I’ve noticed about myself is that when I’m overly hungry or becoming hangry, my mood becomes more reactive. Small things feel bigger, patience drops, and making supportive food choices becomes much harder.

This is different from the persistent low mood of depression. Depression is complex and deserves proper care and support. Nourishing food can absolutely play a role in supporting mental health, but hunger-related mood swings are a separate, more immediate physiological response.

When the body is under-fuelled, stress hormones rise and emotional regulation becomes harder. In that moment, the brain is looking for quick relief, not thoughtful decisions. That doesn’t mean someone is doing anything wrong. It means the body needs support.

This is where meal planning has helped me personally. When I have a plan in place, the decision is already made. I don’t have to rely on willpower when hunger or low energy hits. In most cases, I simply follow through with the plan, and that consistency helps keep my energy and mood steadier.

Meal planning reduces decision-making at the exact moment it is hardest to make good choices. It supports day-to-day mood swings, while also creating a foundation that supports overall mental wellbeing.

In my Mood Fuel meal planning workshop, I will focus on building a simple weekly structure that makes supportive choices easier to follow through with, especially on busy or low-energy days.

When the decision is already made, the planned choice becomes the easier one.
— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian
Dietitian, Health Coach, Culinary Nutritionist

Join the Workshop here: https://mobiledietitian.kit.com/products/food-for-mood-meal-planning-workshop

03/01/2026

When most people think about inflammation, they picture something obvious like infection or swelling. But inflammation is not always something you can see or feel.

Low-grade, ongoing inflammation can sit silently in the body and is often only picked up on blood tests. Research increasingly links this type of inflammation with low mood, mood disorders, and reduced ability to cope with stress. It is also appears to be a key contributor to menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, fatigue, and disrupted sleep.

Food plays an important role here. What we eat helps fuel the body and can either support inflammatory balance or add to the load. When inflammation is higher, the nervous system often has less capacity to regulate mood and respond calmly to everyday stress.

One simple place to start is to
aim for regular meals that include a source of protein and fibre. This helps stabilise blood sugar and reduces one of the common drivers of inflammatory stress on the body.

This is one of the foundations of my Mood Fuel approach. Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing more practical ways to approach meal planning gently, especially when energy is not at its best.

— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian
Dietitian, Health Coach, Culinary Nutritionist

01/01/2026

Early January doesn’t usually come with a surge of energy (even though we expect it should).

For me, this is the time where doing less, but doing it intentionally, makes the biggest difference. I don’t aim for a perfect plan. I aim for a plan that works on low-energy days.

Reducing food decisions before the week starts helps food feel supportive rather than overwhelming, and that matters when mood or motivation is already low.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more practical ways to approach meal planning gently, especially when energy isn’t at its best.

This is the thinking behind my Food for Mood work — calm, realistic, and designed for real life. 💚

— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian
Dietitian, Health Coach, Culinary Nutritionist

31/12/2025

Welcome 2026 💚

I’m entering this year a little differently.

I’m welcoming this year without big resolutions or pressure to overhaul everything.

If the end of last year taught me anything, it’s that most of us don’t need a dramatic reset. We need support that works on real days - tired days, low-mood days, busy days. Not just the days when motivation is high.

For me, this year is about making things feel easier.
Especially around food.

Food can be a powerful support for mood and energy, but only when it’s planned in a way that fits real life. When planning feels overwhelming, even the best intentions tend to fall away.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing practical, realistic ways to use food to support your mood, starting with a Food for Mood meal planning workshop, where we’ll slow things down and build a plan that actually feels doable.

If 2026 needs to start gently for you, that’s more than okay.
You don’t need to be ready.
You just need a place to begin.

More soon 💚

— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian | Mood Fuel Method

30/12/2025

As the year wraps up, I’m feeling reflective.

This year has reinforced something I see again and again in my work: most people don’t need more rules, more pressure, or another “start over”. They need support. They need systems that work on tired days, low-mood days, busy days. And they need permission to do things gently.

Food has been a big part of that conversation for me — not as something to control, but as a way to support mood, energy, and mental wellbeing. And just as importantly, I’ve been reminded that nourishment isn’t only about what’s on the plate. It’s also about rest, nature, rhythm, and creating space to breathe.

As we head into the new year, I’m leaning into this approach even more.

January will be about practical, realistic ways to support mood with food.
Less overwhelm.
More clarity.
More support.

I’ll be sharing tools, research, and hands-on ways to make food feel easier — starting with a Food for Mood meal planning workshop, and continuing with deeper support through my Mood Fuel Method for those who need more than a quick fix.

If this year has felt heavy, you don’t need to arrive in January “ready”. You just need a place to start.

Here’s to a calmer, more supported year ahead 💚

— Michelle
Mobile Dietitian | Mood Fuel Method

28/08/2025

Have you tried Chickpea pancakes? This is my latest recipe and I would love to know what your thoughts are about it. It is a high protein, high fibre, high iron breakfast option. Pair it with yoghurt and fruit like blueberries for added fibre, protein and calcium! Plus the fruit will help with your absorption of iron. You will find nutrient information comparing wholemeal pancakes with these ones on the post. The results were interesting! I dare not compare them to packet mix pancakes 🙄.
Mobile Dietitian Community Mobile Dietitian

Chickpea pancakes - a protein rich, high fibre breakfast option that is delicious and will keep you satisfied!

20/06/2025

🏥 From hospital wards to community programs, dietitians improve lives with expertise, compassion and innovation. This week, let’s recognise the dedication of those transforming health through nutrition.🍊
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