My approach is holistic, weight-neutral, and food-first. I'll take the time to really listen and understand your life so we can create solutions that actually work for you, rather than some cookie-cutter plan.
You eat every day, and it shouldn't be complicated or stressful. Let's get you enjoying food again with maximum variety and minimal symptoms.
Everyday Nutrition founder, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Registered Nurse and gut health expert, Joanna Baker has suffered with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and food intolerance first hand. She knows all to well what it is like to live life with an unpredictable gut and dietary restrictions.
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“My passion for digestive health stems from a lifelong battle with IBS. I was only 12 months old the first time my mum took me to the doctor about my gut issues. Back then there was no low FODMAP diet, and she was told I was just a “gutty” baby and I would grow out of it. Well I grew into a “gutty” teenager and a “gutty” adult. My IBS was affecting my work life, my social life, my intimate life and even my moods.”
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“It wasn’t until I decided to leave my 20 year nursing career to retrain as a dietitian after my son was born that I discovered that I didn’t have to just live with my “sensitive gut”. I discovered that by changing my diet I could get dramatic results and I could be in charge of my gut instead of my gut being in charge of me!
I knew that as a dietitian, that I wanted to help people like me resolve their gut issues and fall in love with food again. I want to see people start going out to social events without being fearful or anxious about what their gut will do. The more I realised what a difference I could make to improve my clients quality of life, the more inspired I am to help people just like you get back in the driver’s seat and start living life without your gut getting in the way.”
Joanna consults privately in one-on-one and group settings. Additionally, she has written for several publications including the Healthy Food Guide magazine, FODMAPPER magazine and Australian Gluten Free Life magazine. She has appeared on Channel 7’s ‘The Intolerant Cooks’, alongside Karen Martini and Richard Barassi.
Joanna is also a professional speaker and has presented to health care providers and publicly around Australia and internationally in the USA on the low FODMAP diet and food intolerance. Joanna also has experience working with food industry providing assistance with FODMAP based content, education and product development.
Joanna is a passionate advocate, communicator and educator in the fields of gut health, nutrition and wellness. She is on the Adverse Food Reactions committee with Dietitians Australia and sits on the advisory board for the Master of Dietetics course at Deakin University.
Joanna regularly writes for several leading publications and contributes to the ongoing dialogue around nutrition and health through the widely-read Everyday Nutrition blog.
I'm not here to hand you a generic meal plan and send you on your way. This is a no-judgment zone where we work together to find solutions that actually fit your life.
My approach combines the latest research with real-world practicality. I'm Monash trained in FODMAPs, RPAH trained in food chemical sensitivities, and I've completed menopause nutrition coaching. I sit on the Adverse Food Reactions committee with Dietitians Australia and on the advisory board for the Master of Dietetics at Deakin University. But more importantly, I use this evidence-based knowledge to collaborate with you, not dictate to you.
During our appointments, I want to know about your life - your work schedule, your social commitments, what foods you love, and yes, how good that pizza was last week and how your gut handled it. Because long-term solutions only work when they're tailored to your actual lifestyle, not some idealised version of it.
Let's be clear: I love food. I became a dietitian to help people fall in love with food again, not to put them on restrictive diets for the rest of their lives.
My goal is to get you eating the maximum variety with minimal symptoms. I want you back at dinner parties, saying yes to social events, and enjoying meals without fear or anxiety about what your gut will do. You eat every day, and it shouldn't be complicated or stressful - food should add pleasure to your life.
I only use supplements to fill genuine gaps, not as a shortcut or substitute for good nutrition. We're weight neutral in our approach, and we treat you as a whole person, not just a collection of symptoms. Because at the end of the day, getting back in the driver's seat and living life without your gut getting in the way - that's what this is all about.
I've had IBS since I was a baby. I know what it's like when your gut dictates your moods, your social life, your work life, even your intimate life. I've been the person anxiously scanning restaurant menus and declining invitations because I didn't know if my gut would cooperate.
But I also bring 20 years of nursing experience, which taught me to be practical in my approach because how doable something is will determine if it will actually work or not. There’s no point in trying to achieve something with a plan that isn’t realistic or implementable! Since graduating as a dietitian in 2015, I've spent over a decade specialising exclusively in gut health and women's health, with a focus on complex presentations.
This combination means I understand your struggle on a visceral level, while also having the clinical depth to navigate the complicated stuff. I'm not just reading about IBS in journals - I'm living it and treating it every single day.
