Bourke-based dietician Laura Bate works out of the Cobar Primary Health Care Centre on a part-time basis and is now available for appointments every Wednesday and Thursday in Cobar.
“A lot of people could benefit from seeing a dietician,” Ms Bate told The Cobar Weekly.
“I’m here to get people thinking about the changes they can make, rather than telling them they can only eat certain foods.
“Dieticians aren’t food police, we set goals with people, goals that people want to work on,” she said.
“We talk about giving healthier options, work on healthy eating and label reading to improve people’s knowledge.”
Ms Bate, who gained her Bachelor of Health Science Nutrition and Dietetics at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, said she sees people for a wide range of conditions, including those looking to lose weight, people who have diabetes, high cholesterol, or food intolerances and expectant mothers looking to eat healthy during pregnancy.
“I can also provide dietary assessments,” Ms Bate said.
Through her work this year with Medicare Local and the Outback Division of General Practice she has been regularly visiting the local schools to promote healthy eating and advising students about making healthy choices.
“When I first came out here I was coming over every fortnight and I was pretty much completely booked out,” she said.
Now that she visits Cobar weekly Ms Bate said she has more time to see other clients.
Ms Bate said many people have grown up in western society eating big meals and foods that are perceived as healthy.
“But they actually aren’t that healthy when we look closer at them. It’s all about a lifestyle balance, healthy eating, exercise and in general a healthy lifestyle.”
Ms Bate is also available to help locals looking for guidance, support and motivation to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
