Aisling Snedker: freelance alternative health dietician in Galway encourages patients to increase activity
As a freelance dietician in the alternative health sector, my working week relies on good diary management.
The only stability comes from my consultancy work at Ocean health store in Tuam on Mondays and Saturdays which is helps me expand my understanding of the alternative health sector.
Many people who see me at my practice are already using a range of supplements and herb based products, and it's helpful to be familiar with the products.
The rest of my week is a whirling mix. I do clinical dietetics at University College Hospital Galway four days a month and on alternate Wednesdays, I see patients at Body and Soul Clinic in Tuam, a health and fitness studio, which is ideal when encouraging people to increase their activity.
On Thursday mornings I'm in Galway running my diet therapy clinic at Alternative Health and Herbs on William Street West. I was delighted to be allowed to join Dr Clare's practice and already feel part of her close-knit team of alternative health practitioners.
On Fridays I work from home preparing dietary advice sheets for patients and correspondence with other health professionals, or preparing material for an article or teaching session.
So how does a dietitian work across both orthodox medicine and the alternative health sector?
Simple, is the answer. I'm UK-registered and Irish-validated. Both countries have firm codes of conduct I adhere to wherever I work as a dietitian. All the assessment and subsequent information I give has to be proven to work and be part of current best practice.
There is a wealth of good evidence that diet can support our health naturally, whether we have diabetes, high cholesterol, irritable bowel or just feel tired all the time. There is a lot of confusing dietary information out there and I see my role as filtering, evaluating and translating it into an everyday diet.
I left Galway in 1988, expecting to be away for three years doing a Home Economics degree in Bath. I'd always had a keen interest in diet, so I went on to do a postgraduate diploma in dietetics - a real bonus that included the chance to live in Scotland for two years.
When I started working, I told myself that it would be for a year or two, before a spell of travelling and then back home to Ireland.
How wrong could I be! I met my future husband on the second day of my first job and have been doing the travelling in short bursts since. It was almost 16 years before the opportunity arose to relocate from the UK to Galway, a move which gave me the chance to change direction in dietetics.
I had worked in the NHS for six years and then for an independent charity hospital for three years.
On my days off, I do things that everyone else does, but having lived away from the sea for so long I get to the beach as often as I can.
I practice what I preach, going to the gym most mornings and follow a balanced healthy diet.
• Aisling Snedker can be contacted at: 091 583260.