Meet Our Team
Dietitian or Nutritionist?
There is a lot of confusion around the difference, and the difference is massive. Dietitians are a regulated profession, meaning we will get struck off, if our advice does not match scientific evidence. Studying to be a Dietitian requires a minimum of 4 years University degree (with most entry ATAR's above 90). Nutritionists are not a regulated profession, and there is no minimum study required. If you have complex needs, or if you want the scientifically supported advice tailored to you, you need a dietitian. You need a dietitian who is recognised as an APD by the Dietitian's Association of Australia
At SS Diets we are a team of experienced dietitians, here to help you navigate the crazy, confusing world of nutrition. Will this work for me? Should I try that diet? Each of our dietitians have worked previously in the acute, hospital setting helping patients eat specifically for their medical condition. From pediatrics to geriatrics, medical to surgical wards, we have seen it all. We are here to help give you specific, scientifically supported nutrition information based on your current medical history. Here is more information about us!
There is a lot of confusion around the difference, and the difference is massive. Dietitians are a regulated profession, meaning we will get struck off, if our advice does not match scientific evidence. Studying to be a Dietitian requires a minimum of 4 years University degree (with most entry ATAR's above 90). Nutritionists are not a regulated profession, and there is no minimum study required. If you have complex needs, or if you want the scientifically supported advice tailored to you, you need a dietitian. You need a dietitian who is recognised as an APD by the Dietitian's Association of Australia
At SS Diets we are a team of experienced dietitians, here to help you navigate the crazy, confusing world of nutrition. Will this work for me? Should I try that diet? Each of our dietitians have worked previously in the acute, hospital setting helping patients eat specifically for their medical condition. From pediatrics to geriatrics, medical to surgical wards, we have seen it all. We are here to help give you specific, scientifically supported nutrition information based on your current medical history. Here is more information about us!
Alexandra McClelland
Qualifications: BSc (Nutr & Psyc) Graduate Diploma Biomedical Science MSc (Nutrition & Dietetics) University of Wollongong |
Penny Weigand
Qualifications B Int. Studies University of Western Sydney B Nutrition & Dietetics University of Wollongong |
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Alexandra McClelland is a local. Born and raised (and spending her entire career) in the St George and Sutherland areas. Graduating from the University of Wollongong with both Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics. She spent 7 years working at St George Hospital where she became a senior member of staff, and worked in all areas of acute (hospital) care. She went on to lecture at the University of Wollongong for another 7 years into the Dietetics course. She has supervised and mentored over 200 students in their journey to qualification.
Founding SS Diets (formerly Southern Sydney Dietetics) in 2007 Alexandra has worked privately, locally for the past 12 years. Throughout this time she has worked closely with a variety of local doctors and specialists in the areas of kidney disease, liver disease, gut dysfunction (IBS, coeliac disease & inflammatory bowel disease), endocrinology (insulin resistance & diabetes), weight management, cardiac health (blood pressure & cholesterol management), inflammatory conditions and eating disorders. In 2019 Alexandra become FODMAP credentialed by MONASH University, another feather in her cap of 10 years experience working with people with IBS. Alexandra’s variety and years of experience accumulate to a wealth of knowledge and counselling skills. She fundamentally believes in ensuring you receive information that is scientifically based, easy to understand and simple to implement. She ensures you are able to apply any recommended changes into your diet, your family, your lifestyle. Alexandra believes in keeping up to date with the latest research and scientific advances, while also keeping an eye on changes in typical Australian diets and crazy messages on social media (which mostly only add to confusion and frustration). |
Penny is an Accredited Practising Dietitian with 8 years experience seeing people across all age groups, from paediatrics through to aged care. Penny has been a member of our SS Diets team for the past 4 years.
Outside of individual nutrition counselling, Penny has built experience as a dietitian in a variety of areas, including but not limited to public hospitals, media contributions (Healthy Food Guide Magazine) and community organisations (such as Go for Fun (for kids nutrition)). Most of Penny's public hospital experience was at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick. Whilst at Randwick Penny worked with the endocrine, general medical, general surgical, neurology, allergy & immunology and oncology teams. She also worked in the general nutrition clinic seeing paediatric patients with growth faltering, nutrient deficiencies, food allergies and enteral feeds. Currently, Penny works directly with a specialist bariatric surgeon seeing people undergoing weight loss surgery. She has balanced this with her work at SSDiets for the last few years. She is particularly interested in long term weight management following bariatric surgery. Having lost 24kg prior to commencing her dietetic studies, Penny has personal insight into the difficulties of weight management and is therefore empathetic to the challenges of weight loss and weight maintenance. Other areas of special interest include Irritable bowel syndrome, Type 1 Diabetes, Gestational Diabetes, Fertility, Insulin resistance. With a young family herself Penny understands the hectic life of being a mum of 2 while still dedicated to her own chosen career. When not at work you’ll generally find her on a kids sports sideline somewhere in and around the Shire. |
Contact SSDiets to better understand the confusing world of food and nutrition today
