The consultation process

How a consultation works from first conversation to your personalized plan

Every new client begins the same way with a conversation, not a prescription. There is no protocol pulled from a shelf, no generic plan, and no assumption that your picture looks like anyone else's. What follows is exactly what happens from your first contact to your ongoing care so you know what you are stepping into before you book.

Book a free 15-minute call

The consultation process

How a consultation works from first conversation to your personalized plan

Book a free 15-minute call

The journey

Step by step what the process looks like

STEP: 1

Before you book

The free 15-minute discovery call

This is where it starts. A short, informal conversation no forms to complete beforehand, nothing to prepare. You share what is going on for you, what you have already tried, and what you are hoping to change. Manjiri listens, asks a few questions, and gives you an honest sense of whether integrative nutritional support can help and if so, how.

Duration: 15 minutes
Format: In-person, Phone or video — your preference
Cost: Complimentary
No obligation. No pressure. Just a conversation.

Book your free call

STEP: 2

Before your first appointment

Your intake paperwork

Once you book your initial consultation, you will receive a comprehensive intake form. This is where the clinical work begins a detailed health history covering current symptoms, past diagnoses, medications, supplements, diet, sleep, stress, digestion, energy, and lifestyle. The more you share, the more precisely your appointment can be used.

Health history questionnaire — medical history, current medications and supplements, past investigations and diagnoses
3-day food diary — what you typically eat, when, and how you feel after eating
Symptom inventory — rating your current experience across all body systems
Any recent blood work, lab reports, or specialist letters — please bring or send these ahead of time

STEP: 3

The initial consultation

Your first appointment — where the full picture comes together

This is a thorough, unhurried clinical conversation. Manjiri reviews your intake paperwork, goes deeper into your health history, asks about things that standard consultations rarely ask and listens to the full picture rather than the loudest symptom. If you are attending in person, a BIA body composition assessment may be included.

Duration: 60–90 minutes
Full health history review — going deeper into your intake, asking the questions behind the questions
Functional blood work review — your existing labs interpreted through an optimal-range lens, not just a disease-threshold lens
BIA body composition analysis (in-person) — fat mass, lean mass, metabolic rate, and hydration
Ayurvedic lens where applicable — where a constitutional baseline can be established, Prakriti and current Vikriti are incorporated into the assessment. For those who have been unwell for a long time or have no clear reference point for their healthy baseline, the Ayurvedic framework is applied through the Vikriti (current imbalance) picture and reintroduced as health stabilises.
Discussion of goals — what you want to feel, function, and achieve through nutritional support
Your plan is not written during this appointment — it is written after it

STEP: 4

After your first appointment

Your written personalized plan

Within 3-5 business days of your initial consultation, you receive a written, personalized nutritional plan. This is not a generic handout, it is a document built specifically for you, reflecting your constitution, your health picture, your current life, and your goals. It covers what to eat, what to address, and why, in a format you can actually use.

Personalized dietary recommendations — specific to your health picture, current imbalances, and goals
Supplement recommendations — with rationale, forms, and timing — reviewed against your medications
Lifestyle and Ayurvedic practices — meal timing, daily rhythm, seasonal guidance where relevant
Further testing recommendations — where functional testing would clarify the picture
Priorities and pacing — what to do first, what can wait, and how to build the changes sustainably

STEP: 5

Ongoing care

Follow-up appointments — adjusting as you evolve

Health changes — and the plan needs to change with it. Follow-up appointments review what has shifted, what has worked, what needs adjusting, and what the next phase looks like. They are shorter than the initial consultation but no less important — the follow-up is where the plan is refined and deepened.

Duration: 45–60 minutes
Progress review — what has changed, what is working, what the body is responding to
Plan adjustment — updated recommendations as your health evolves, seasons change, or new information emerges
Lab review — new testing results reviewed and incorporated
Frequency: Typically every 4–8 weeks in the active phase, less frequently for maintenance

STEP: 6

For those with complex or long-standing conditions

Deep Support — ongoing partnership

Appropriate for anyone navigating a complex or multi-system health picture that benefits from sustained clinical oversight — including long-term autoimmune management, chronic fatigue-type presentations, complex hormonal or digestive pictures, and nutritional support during and after cancer treatment

Duration, frequency, and pricing discussed individually. Book a free call to discuss your unique health challenge.

Be prepared

What to bring to your first appointment

The more clinical information you can share, the more focused and useful your first appointment will be. None of this is mandatory but all of it is helpful.

Medical documents

Recent blood work — within the last 12 months
Any specialist letters or reports
Imaging results where relevant
Previous diagnoses — even ones you consider resolved
Family medical history where known

Current medications + supplements

Full list of all prescription medications — name, dose, and how long you have been taking them
All supplements, vitamins, and herbal preparations
Any medications taken as needed (e.g. antihistamines, sleep aids, pain relief)

Dietary + symptom information

Your completed 3-day food diary (sent with intake paperwork)
Known food sensitivities, allergies, or intolerances
Foods you have already tried eliminating — and what happened
Digestive patterns — regularity, bloating, discomfort

Your questions

Whatever has been on your mind that other practitioners have not addressed
What you have already tried and why it did not work
What you most want to change — in your own words
Any concerns about dietary changes, supplements, or the process

How we meet

In person or virtually wherever you are

In person

Sarnia, Ontario

Consultations at Bluewater Nutrition Clinic in Sarnia. BIA body composition analysis available in-person. Ideal for local clients who prefer face-to-face care.

Virtual — Canada

Anywhere in Canada

Secure video consultations for clients across Canada. All the same clinical depth as in-person without the travel. Lab requisitions, written plans, and follow-up all managed digitally.

Virtual — International

Worldwide

International clients welcomed for virtual consultations. Particularly well-suited for those seeking Ayurvedic-integrative nutritional support who cannot find this combination of credentials elsewhere.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a referral from my doctor?

No referral is needed. You can book directly. If you would like Manjiri to liaise with your GP or specialist, that can be arranged — but it is not a prerequisite for booking.

What if I have already seen multiple practitioners and nothing has worked?

This describes many of the clients who come to see Manjiri. The integrative approach — combining Ayurvedic clinical assessment with functional nutritional medicine — often reveals drivers that standard assessments have not looked for. The free 15-minute call is the right place to have this conversation honestly before committing to a full consultation.

Will I be told to follow a restrictive diet?

Not without clinical reason. Restriction is a tool used selectively — for example, an elimination trial to identify food sensitivities — not a default approach. The goal is always to build a dietary pattern that is as broad, varied, and enjoyable as your health picture allows.

Can I continue my current medications alongside nutritional support?

Yes and this is expected. Nutritional support works alongside your medications, not instead of them. All supplement recommendations are reviewed against your full medications list before being included in your plan. Any changes to medications are always the responsibility of your prescribing physician.

How many appointments will I need?

This depends entirely on the complexity of your health picture and your goals. Simple presentations may achieve their goals in 3–4 appointments. Complex, chronic, or multi-system conditions typically benefit from 6–12 months of regular support. The free discovery call gives a realistic sense of what is appropriate for your situation.

Is this covered by insurance?

Many extended health benefit plans cover Nutrition Consultations. Coverage varies by plan and provider. Check your plan details or contact your benefits administrator to confirm coverage for Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) or Natural Nutrition Clinical Practitioner (NNCP). Receipts are provided for all consultations.

I am not in Sarnia — can I still work with Manjiri?

Yes. Virtual consultations are available for clients anywhere in Canada and internationally. The clinical experience is the same — intake forms, full consultation, written plan, and follow-up all work seamlessly online.

Not sure where to start?

Book a free 15-minute call a relaxed, no-pressure conversation to see if working together feels right.

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The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Manjiri Nadkarni (Manjiri Nadkarni Consulting) and is meant for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical/ psychological advice . Please note that Manjiri Nadkarni is not a dietitian, physician or other licensed healthcare professional in Canada. She is a Doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine - MD (Ayurveda) (licensed and regulated in India but not Canada), Registered Holistic Nutritionist as well as Oncology Nutrition Consultant.

The content on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. The information on this website is NOT intended as medical or psychological nor is it intended to replace the care of a qualified health care professional. Always consult with your primary care physician or licensed healthcare provider for all diagnosis and treatment of any diseases or conditions, for medications or medical advice as well as before changing your health care regimen.