About Didi de Zwarte
Want to learn more about Didi? You’re in the right place!
Didi's Mission
To inspire and empower people to live healthy and happy lives. I hope to do this by sharing evidence-based diet and lifestyle information that is relatable, supportive and invigorating.
About Didi de Zwarte
My name is Didi de Zwarte. I am a registered dietitian and food fanatic, living in Wicklow and working between Wicklow and Dublin, Ireland.
Although born in The Netherlands (and Gouda cheese being a staple in my diet), I was mostly raised in Co. Wicklow, just South of Dublin (hence cheddar cheese features on my menu).
Being a self-proclaimed food fanatic. I love cooking, eating and travelling (to hunt down the local delicacies of each country). My style of cooking is hugely intuitive, so expect some unconventional recipes and cooking hacks!
I have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and am pescatarian (I do not eat meat other than fish). Therefore, I know first-hand of the ups and downs of digestion, and am naturally more creative in my shopping, cooking and dining-out.
About Didi’s job
I am a Registered Dietitian (RD). I run a dietetic consultancy by the name of Didititian. I run an online video clinic. I am also available to speak and write about a range of topics including healthy eating, gut health, sustainable eating and nutrition for specific disease conditions. I have worked with a wide range of companies and patient groups, offering interactive seminars, video courses and written health-related articles.
During one half of my week, I work as a senior clinical dietitian a Wicklow and Dublin-based healthcare facility. Over the course of my clinical career, I have worked in acute hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, hospices and long-term care settings throughout Dublin and Ireland.
During the other half of my week, I work as a senior dietitian with the HSE Communications Division. Here I help produce digital content and novel digital interventions for those with chronic disease.
About Didi’s education
I graduated with a Bsc. (First Class Hons) in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from Trinity College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology. I am CORU registered (registration number DI012088) and am a member of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetics Institute.
My post-graduate learning continues, and in order to remain registered as a dietitian in Ireland, I complete 30 hours of “continued” study every year.
I am Low Fodmap Diet qualified since 2016 and have attended courses such as “Weight Management – Demystifying Clinical Approaches to Weight Management” run by the Weight Management Service, St. Collumcilles Hospital, Loughlinstown. I am trained in behaviour change skills and motivational interviewing. I have also completed courses in health communications and media skills.
I have gained experience in national policy development through my work with the nutrition subcommittee for the National Clinical Programme for Stroke. Together with the national programme, I published the “Recommendations for the management of nutrition and hydration in stroke”. Furthermore, I am competent and certified in the placement of some feeding tubes (fine-bore nasogastric feeding tubes and nasal bridles in adults).
I am a published research author, having published my article titled “Randomised study demonstrates sustained benefits of a pre-school intervention designed to improve nutrition and physical activity practices” in The Journal of Public Health.
About Didi de Zwarte’s passion
I am passionate about nutrition in times of sickness. From heart healthy diet tips to eating during illness, I can give you the advice you can trust to work your way back to health.
However, I feel just as passionate about nutrition in times of health in order to help prevent sickness. From weight management tips to keeping up with gut health, as a dietitian I am qualified to give you the advice you need to achieve your goals (and maintain them).
Finding evidence-based information on eating for health is honestly not easy. Certainly dietitians are not as plentiful as we would like to be, and using science rather than mythology to help you achieve your goals is not always glamorous!
However, I hope to make honest and truthful nutrition advice easier to find, and possibly a little more glamorous!
Let me help you along the path of eating for health. Together, we can read the map of good nutrition, detour the “Fake News” and take a leap towards a healthier you!”
