Telehealth technology is allowing final-year Nutrition and Dietetics students at USC to offer free consultations to clients in the comfort of their own homes.

The USC Nutrition and Dietetics Clinic is now using Zoom video conferencing software to provide support to people in isolation on topics from healthy grocery shopping to boosting immunity, all under the supervision of an accredited practising dietitian.

USC Nutrition and Dietetics clinical coordinator Tania Wiesmayr-Freeman said telehealth technology had resulted in a win-win situation for clients and for students, who are required to complete 10 weeks of supervised consultations in order to graduate.

“It’s great that our students can complete their courses using the newest health technologies,” Ms Wiesmayr-Freeman said. “But there are actually huge upsides to telehealth for the patients too.

“Telehealth can be accessed from home via a computer or phone, so patients don’t have to travel, sit in traffic, look for parking, or sit in an unfamiliar clinical environment.

“In fact, people can sit in the comfort of their own homes, have a cup of coffee and even check their pantry and fridge while they are gaining advice about how to improve their eating habits.

“Some big organisations have been using telehealth for some time, so it’s nothing new. But it has some real benefits, particularly for the elderly who are less able to leave their homes.”

Ms Wiesmayr-Freeman said people spending more time at home due to government restrictions around COVID-19 could reassess their relationship with food.

“Being at home actually offers a great opportunity to look at what we are eating, how we plan and shop for groceries, how we are snacking and how we are encouraging our kids to eat healthily,” she said.

“Our students will also provide clients with a planning tool so they can think about what is in their pantries already and what they really need before they go to the supermarket.”

Ms Wiesmayr-Freeman recommended that people visit smaller or more independent retailers, which were predominantly well-stocked

“At the small stores you realise that there is no food shortage,” she said. “It’s actually about stocks and supplies, and the shops that get their supplies locally find it is quicker to get their orders filled.”

To book an initial 1-hour telehealth consultation with a final-year USC Nutrition and Dietetics student (supervised by an accredited practising dietitian) email shssclinics@usc.edu.au.

Tania Wiesmayr-Freeman’s nutrition tips for healthy eating in isolation:

1. Limit buying unhealthy snacks and shop once a week. If it’s not in your pantry, you can’t eat it.
2. Set times and enjoy eating together. This minimises mindless eating.
3. If you want to look after your immune system, get rid of highly processed foods and saturated fats, which are inflammatory. Consider the Mediterranean diet. Healthy eating involves more than just adding turmeric, garlic and ginger.
4. Home isolation is a good time to learn new ways of using food. Look up a new recipe that uses vegetables in a new way and plan to buy the ingredients during your next grocery trip.
5. Get the kids involved in cooking. They are more likely to eat the healthy foods they have helped to cook.
6. Don’t expect yourself to be perfect with home cooking. It’s okay to have takeaway food once in a while. But once a week is better than five times a week.
7. Seek support. Change takes time and getting informed advice can help.