Melissa Bosch RD, MSc — Dietitian for Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating
Compassionate, Evidence-Based Nutrition Support for Eating Disorders, Restrictive Eating & Long-Term Health
Melissa Bosch is an experienced Dietitian with a BSc in Dietetics (Human Nutrition), Honours and an MSc in Therapeutic Nutrition, awarded Cum Laude, from Stellenbosch University.
Melissa provides personalised, evidence-based nutrition support for clients who are struggling with their relationship with food, restrictive eating patterns, inadequate fuelling or disordered eating behaviours.
Her approach is practical, compassionate and highly individualised. Rather than relying on rigid diets, excessive calorie counting or short-term fixes, Melissa focuses on helping clients understand nutrition, improve nutritional adequacy and develop eating patterns that are realistic and sustainable.
Her wider experience spans performance nutrition, metabolic health, chronic condition management and women’s health, allowing her to consider the whole person rather than looking at nutrition in isolation.
Eating Disorder & Disordered Eating Nutrition Support
Eating difficulties can present differently for every person.
Some people may have a diagnosed eating disorder, while others may struggle with restrictive eating, fear around certain foods, rigid food rules, recurrent dieting, inadequate nutrition or anxiety around food and body composition.
Melissa provides individualised nutrition support aimed at helping clients move towards a more nutritionally adequate, flexible and sustainable way of eating.
Support may include:
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Improving nutritional adequacy
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Establishing consistent eating patterns
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Reducing unnecessary dietary restriction
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Supporting gradual changes around avoided or feared foods
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Improving confidence around meals and snacks
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Supporting adequate energy and protein intake
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Addressing under-fuelling
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Developing practical meal structure
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Improving nutrition knowledge
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Supporting a more sustainable relationship with food
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Working alongside other healthcare professionals where appropriate
For clients with a diagnosed eating disorder or more complex presentation, dietetic support may form part of a wider multidisciplinary treatment plan involving a doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist or other healthcare professional.
A Non-Restrictive Approach to Nutrition
Melissa believes that good nutrition should be understood rather than simply followed.
Her approach moves away from fad diets, unnecessary restriction and routine calorie counting, instead focusing on practical food education and sustainable habits.
This can be particularly valuable for people who have spent years:
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Dieting on and off
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Feeling guilty around food
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Following rigid food rules
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Avoiding certain foods
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Obsessing over calories or numbers
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Feeling anxious around eating
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Struggling to trust their hunger and appetite
The goal is to build a way of eating that supports both physical health and a healthier relationship with food.
Disordered Eating in Athletes
Disordered eating and under-fuelling can also affect athletes and highly active individuals.
Pressure around weight, body composition, aesthetics or sporting performance can sometimes result in athletes consuming less energy than their bodies need to train, recover and remain healthy.
Melissa’s background in performance nutrition and body composition means she can also support athletes experiencing difficulties with nutrition, fuelling and restrictive eating.
Support may include:
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Improving energy intake
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Pre-training nutrition
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Post-training recovery
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Meal and snack structure
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Carbohydrate availability
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Protein intake
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Reducing unnecessary food restriction
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Improving overall nutritional adequacy
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Supporting long-term performance and health
RED-S & Low Energy Availability
Low Energy Availability can occur when an individual does not consume enough energy to support both their exercise demands and the body’s normal physiological functions.
In athletes, prolonged low energy availability can contribute to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S).
Nutrition support may therefore focus on improving:
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Energy intake
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Meal frequency
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Training fuelling
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Recovery nutrition
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Carbohydrate availability
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Overall nutritional adequacy
Where symptoms require medical investigation, Melissa can work alongside an appropriate doctor or other healthcare professional.
Women’s Health & Nutrition
Melissa also has a particular interest in women’s health and hormonal nutrition.
For some clients, nutrition cannot be considered separately from hormonal health, exercise, energy availability, metabolic health and overall wellbeing.
Melissa takes these factors into account when developing an individualised nutrition strategy.
Personalised Nutrition — Not Generic Meal Plans
Melissa combines nutritional assessment with practical, food-first strategies tailored to the individual.
There is no one-size-fits-all eating plan.
Melissa considers factors including your:
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Current eating patterns
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Relationship with food
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Food preferences
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Dietary restrictions
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Health history
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Current symptoms
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Exercise and training
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Lifestyle
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Work or education commitments
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Nutrition goals
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Current healthcare support
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Individual nutritional requirements
She can then develop practical recommendations based around you, rather than simply providing a generic template.
Other Areas Melissa Can Support
Performance Nutrition
Personalised nutrition strategies to support training, recovery, performance and body composition.
Women’s Health
Nutrition support considering women’s health, hormonal health, energy availability and overall wellbeing.
Metabolic Health
Evidence-based nutrition strategies to support metabolic health and chronic health conditions.
Sustainable Weight Management
For appropriate clients without an active eating disorder, Melissa can provide support with sustainable weight management and long-term nutrition habits.
Nutrition Alongside GLP-1 Therapy
Melissa also has experience supporting weight-management clients, including individuals using GLP-1 therapies.
Individualised Supplementation
Where appropriate, Melissa can provide personalised nutrition and supplementation recommendations according to the client’s individual needs.
Qualifications
Melissa Bosch RD, BSc (Hons), MSc
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MSc Therapeutic Nutrition — Cum Laude, Stellenbosch University
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BSc Dietetics (Human Nutrition), Honours — Stellenbosch University
Melissa combines evidence-based nutrition with practical food knowledge and a strong emphasis on helping clients understand the reasoning behind their nutrition recommendations.
Why Work With Melissa?
Melissa takes a highly personalised and supportive approach.
Rather than simply telling clients what they can and cannot eat, she aims to help them understand their nutritional needs and gradually develop confidence around food.
Her approach focuses on:
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Evidence-based nutrition
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Individualised care
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Practical food strategies
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Reducing unnecessary restriction
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Nutrition education
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Sustainable behaviour change
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Long-term adherence
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Collaborative care where appropriate
The goal is to support better physical health, nutritional adequacy and a more sustainable relationship with food.
Online Eating Disorder & Disordered Eating Dietitian Consultations
Melissa provides online Dietitian consultations through Nutrition & Co.
Online appointments allow clients to access individualised nutrition support from the comfort and privacy of their own home.
Whether you are struggling with restrictive eating, disordered eating behaviours, difficulty fuelling your training or simply want a healthier and more sustainable approach to food, Melissa can help identify appropriate next steps.
Book an online consultation with Melissa Bosch through Nutrition & Co.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melissa a Dietitian?
Yes. Melissa is a Dietitian with a BSc Dietetics (Human Nutrition), Honours and an MSc in Therapeutic Nutrition, awarded Cum Laude, from Stellenbosch University.
Can Melissa support eating disorders and disordered eating?
Melissa can provide individualised nutrition support for clients experiencing eating disorders, disordered eating and restrictive eating patterns within her scope of practice.
Where someone has a diagnosed eating disorder or more complex symptoms, dietetic support may form part of a wider multidisciplinary treatment plan.
What is disordered eating?
Disordered eating can include restrictive or rigid eating behaviours that negatively affect a person’s relationship with food, nutritional intake or wellbeing.
This may include food fears, rigid food rules, repeated dieting, anxiety around eating or difficulty adequately fuelling exercise.
Does Melissa work with restrictive eating?
Yes.
Melissa’s overall nutrition philosophy focuses on avoiding unnecessary restriction and helping clients build practical and sustainable eating habits.
She advocates moving away from calorie counting, fad diets and short-term fixes.
Can Melissa help athletes with disordered eating?
Melissa’s performance-nutrition background allows her to support athletes who may be struggling to adequately fuel their training or who have developed restrictive eating patterns around sport, body composition or performance.
Can Melissa help with RED-S and low energy availability?
Nutrition support may be appropriate for athletes experiencing low energy availability or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport.
Where symptoms suggest RED-S or another medical concern, medical assessment and multidisciplinary care may also be appropriate.
Does Melissa focus on weight loss when treating eating disorders?
No.
When an eating disorder or significant disordered eating is present, the priority is nutritional, psychological and physical health rather than pursuing weight loss.
Does Melissa use calorie counting?
Melissa generally favours helping clients understand food and nutrition rather than relying on routine calorie counting.
Her philosophy emphasises practical nutrition education and sustainable habits rather than restrictive or short-term approaches.
Can Melissa create a personalised nutrition plan?
Yes.
Melissa develops individualised, food-first strategies according to each client’s health, lifestyle, circumstances and nutritional needs rather than relying on generic templates.
Does Melissa also work with clients who do not have eating disorders?
Yes.
Her wider work includes performance nutrition, women’s health, metabolic health, chronic condition management, sustainable weight management and nutrition alongside GLP-1 therapy.
Can Melissa work alongside my psychologist or doctor?
Yes.
Where appropriate, Melissa can provide nutrition support alongside doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals.
Are consultations with Melissa online?
Yes.
Melissa provides online Dietitian consultations through Nutrition & Co.
What happens during an initial consultation?
Melissa will explore your current nutrition, eating patterns, relationship with food, health history, symptoms, lifestyle, exercise, current treatment and individual goals.
She can then identify your key nutritional priorities and develop a personalised strategy.
How many appointments will I need?
This depends on your individual circumstances.
Clients requiring eating disorder or disordered-eating support may benefit from ongoing dietetic input while eating patterns and nutritional adequacy are being stabilised.