Online Clinical Nutrition Consultations
Personalised nutrition consultations for improved and lasting health and wellbeing, Australia-wide via telehealth.
Have you spent years managing a health issue?
… and still feel like no one has looked at the full picture? You are not alone. Many people arrive confused by conflicting advice and frustrated by test results that come back "normal" while they continue to feel unwell.
A clinical nutrition consultation allows more time than a standard 15 minute medical appointment: I take a full health history, listen to your concerns and goals, then look deeper at the insulin, hormonal, thyroid, gut and inflammatory drivers that standard testing can overlook. From there, we build a personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan around your health history, your goals, your pathology and your real life.
With more than 30 years in medical laboratory science and genetics, and nearly 15 years of evidence-based nutrition knowledge, I assess the whole person. My goal is simple: to help you understand your body and feel in control of your health and wellbeing again.
What a consultation can give you
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I give you a clear, evidence-based explanation of the drivers behind your symptoms, so your health finally makes sense.
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I build your nutrition and lifestyle plan around your health history, pathology and the goals you want to reach.
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I use targeted nutrition to support your metabolic markers, working alongside GLP-1 medication or possibly reducing your need for it.
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I work with your existing treatment, including GLP-1 medication, so your nutrition plan complements the care you already receive.
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Where appropriate, I use functional pathology to reveal what standard testing may miss and make your plan more precise.
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I give you unhurried consultations from the first session, with the time and attention a complex health picture deserves.
Hi, I’m Mechelle Palermo
My background bridges medical science and clinical nutrition, so I read your pathology closely, ask the questions others overlook, and design your consultation around what is driving how you feel.
With more than 30 years in medical science and genetics behind every consultation, I interpret your results alongside your full health history and your GP’s testing, never in isolation.
Regular industry conferences keep my knowledge current. Clinical nutrition complements your medical care; it does not replace your doctor’s diagnosis or treatment.
Qualifications and memberships
Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition), with Distinction
30+ years in medical science and genetics
Postgraduate Diploma in Molecular Genetics
Graduate Certificate in Human Nutrition
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN) and Integrative Nutrition (IIN) certifications
Metabolic Balance and G.E.M.M certifications
Member of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society (ATMS), with past memberships of NSA and ACNEM
Ways to work with me
Every option begins with a comprehensive health history, so your plan is built around what is actually driving your symptoms.
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A 1.5 hour consultation where I take a detailed health history, review your pathology and begin your personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan.
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Structured follow-up coaching sessions that keep you supported and let your plan adapt as your body responds. The number of sessions depends on the option you choose.
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An initial consultation paired with a set of follow-ups at a bundled rate, ideal if you would like ongoing guidance without committing to the full structured program.
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A structured weight management and metabolic health program that includes:
Initial consultation and program sign-up (90 minutes)
Meal plan consultation (1 hour)
Six coaching sessions (45 to 60 minutes each)
Your personalised Metabolic Balance meal plan
A Metabolic Balance water bottle
Pathology screening is not included: you can choose an iScreen pathology test, or ask your GP to order the required screening before your meal plan is generated.
Why people work with me
The drivers behind symptoms
As a clinical nutritionist, I investigate the insulin, hormonal, thyroid, gut and inflammatory drivers behind your health issue.
30+ years clinical science
Your plan draws on three decades in medical science and genetics, including haematology, microbiology, and molecular genetics.
Time, care and empathy
Your initial consultation runs for around 1.5 hours, so your history and goals receive unhurried, empathic attention.
Testing beyond standard pathology
Where it helps, functional testing such as HTMA, microbiome and genetic panels identifies what routine blood tests may miss.
A personalised nutrition plan
You receive a personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan, with a structured meal plan where it suits your dietary needs.
Care alongside your GP
Clinical nutrition works with your GP and existing care, supporting your treatment and your long-term health and wellbeing.
“I have been suffering with diverticulitis for several years, with a couple of hospital stays, and I felt I had been let down by my doctors, so I looked for an alternative way. Last year I had an hour-long appointment on FaceTime with clinical nutritionist Mechelle Palermo, who went through my medical, health and nutrition history. Mechelle was able to point out what I had been doing wrong and suggested changes to my diet and lifestyle, then sent me a diet and lifestyle plan to follow. After a year on this simple, easy to manage plan, I feel healthier and happier in myself. I have had minimal symptoms of diverticulitis and I feel more confident about how to manage this condition now. Thank you Mechelle for your expertise and knowledge.”
Jenny, gut health client
Your six steps
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We begin with a 1.5 hour consultation, available online Australia-wide. I take your full health history and get to know your goals, symptoms, medical background and any food preferences.
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We look at your existing blood results, and I let you know if any further screening would help. Working from your actual results means your plan targets what is driving your symptoms, rather than assumptions.
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I design a nutrition and lifestyle plan around your health history, pathology and goals. Depending on the option you choose, this may be a tailored nutrition and lifestyle plan or a structured Metabolic Balance meal plan.
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In a coaching session, I talk you through your plan and how to apply it in everyday life, so you feel confident about what comes next.
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A set number of follow-up sessions keep you supported. We track your progress and adjust your plan as your body responds.
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Your consultation and plan always come first. Where your health history and goals suggest more support would help, I may add optional functional testing such as hair tissue mineral analysis, with microbiome or genetic testing in some cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Consultations can support weight and metabolic health, hormonal and perimenopausal changes, gut health, pre-conception health, and auto-immune and neurological conditions, always as complementary care.
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Yes. Weight is more complex than calories in versus out: hormones such as ghrelin and leptin, insulin sensitivity and ultra-processed foods all play a part.
I look for the drivers behind stubborn weight and build a personalised plan around them. This supports sustainable change; it is not a quick fix.
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A clinical nutritionist trains in depth across nutrition science, clinical theory and practice, and pharmacology, so that supplements, medicines and foods are used together safely and within Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) guidance.
Training also covers pathology testing, both conventional and functional. I studied a holistic clinical nutrition course, which overlaps with some areas of naturopathy. In practice, I assess the whole person, review your pathology and health history, and design an individualised protocol, rather than offering general dietary tips.
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Many clients feel unwell despite normal results. Functional pathology can help identify what standard testing may miss.
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Where appropriate, I may use functional pathology such as hair tissue mineral analysis, microbiome or genetic testing to inform your plan.
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Yes. The Metabolic Balance program works with clients already taking GLP-1 medications, or as an alternative to them. My aim is to support your health, and some clients are able to review their medication with their doctor as they progress.
Any change to medication is always a decision for you and your prescribing doctor.
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No referral is required. Clinical nutrition is designed to complement your GP and specialists, not replace them, and I refer back to your doctor where appropriate.
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My approach is whole-food first, so supplements are not the starting point. Where they may add support, any recommendations are individualised, evidence-informed and in line with TGA guidance.
One option is G.E.M.M (Gut Ecology and Metabolic Modulation): as an accredited G.E.M.M practitioner, I can use functional food supplements, such as broccoli sprout powder, to support digestive and immune function.
You will never be asked to stop supportive supplements or prescribed medication; that remains a conversation for you and your doctor.
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Your initial consultation runs for approximately 1.5 hours, giving us time to take a detailed health history, review your pathology and begin a personalised nutrition and lifestyle plan.
The Metabolic Balance program adds a meal plan generated from your blood screen and health data.
To prepare, bring your health history and any recent pathology results, and I will let you know if further screening would help beforehand.
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Follow-up coaching sessions are scheduled at intervals so your plan can adapt as your body responds. The number of sessions depends on the option you choose.
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Results vary between individuals and depend on your starting point and consistency. Many clients report steadier energy, improved digestion and gradual, measurable changes in pathology markers over time. Sustainable change is the goal, rather than rapid results, so outcomes are supported, not guaranteed.
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Yes. All consultations are held online via telehealth, Australia-wide.
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No. Consultations are non-judgemental. Most clients have tried several approaches before they arrive; that is not a failure of effort.
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Yes. Your personal and health information is treated confidentially.
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Fees depend on whether you choose a single consultation, a consultation bundle or a structured program such as Metabolic Balance, which includes a full health history consult, pathology screening, a personalised meal plan and follow-up sessions. Current fees and inclusions are confirmed when you book.
Depending on your fund and level of cover, you may be able to claim part of a consultation or program through your private health fund via my membership with the Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS); it is best to confirm your cover with your fund.
Take the first step towards lasting health and wellbeing
A personalised clinical nutrition plan starts with one conversation.