As part of the IMU Nutrition programme’s experiential learning component, students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world settings through diverse practicum placements. For Choo Yean Xin, these placements at Klinik Kesihatan Kelana Jaya and Health Lane Family Pharmacy Sri Petaling offered valuable insights into community and retail nutrition practice — and a chance to discover how empathy and communication make all the difference in supporting healthier lives.

At Klinik Kesihatan Kelana Jaya, I was involved in a variety of community nutrition activities, including one-on-one consultations and group health education sessions. One memorable case involved counselling a 39-year-old expectant mother on improving her iron intake through balanced meals, vitamin C pairing, and proper meal timing.

I also conducted an engaging lesson for Standard 4 and 5 students at SJKC Yuk Chai, where I taught them about the Malaysian Healthy Plate, importance of protein, and calcium using colourful infographics and interactive Q&A.

“Their curiosity and enthusiasm reminded me how powerful early nutrition education can be in shaping lifelong healthy habits.”

In addition, I joined the Senior Nutritionist in conducting food environment assessments at SMK Damansara Utama and several local daycare centres. These visits helped me understand how menu quality, hygiene, and adherence to nutrition guidelines influence children’s eating patterns and nutritional status.

My second placement at Health Lane Family Pharmacy Sri Petaling offered a contrasting yet equally enriching experience. Working in a fast-paced retail healthcare environment, I had the opportunity to gain practical exposure in providing basic health screenings, nutrition education and consultation and collaborated closely with pharmacists to support customers’ health needs.

A highlight of this placement was conducting an online Small Group Education session titled “How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes through Lifestyle Changes.” The session, inspired by a customer who wanted to better manage her blood sugar levels, covered topics such as healthy eating, physical activity, food label reading, and understanding the glycaemic index.

“Seeing participants engage actively and express a desire to share what they learned with their families reminded me why I chose this profession — to empower others toward better health.”

Both placements challenged and shaped me in different but complementary ways. At community clinic taught me how to design nutrition education and interventions for different life stages, while at the pharmacy strengthened my adaptability in a fast-paced retail healthcare setting.

Through these experiences, I discovered that being an effective nutritionist goes beyond technical expertise — it also requires empathy, patience, and strong communication skills to guide people toward sustainable lifestyle changes.

“I learned that knowledge is powerful, but compassion is what truly makes an impact.”

These experiences have deepened my passion for community nutrition and reinforced my commitment to promoting health and wellbeing through education and engagement. Whether in clinics, schools, daycare centres, or pharmacies, I aim to continue empowering individuals to make informed, healthier choices for themselves and their communities.

Written by Choo Yean Xin, IMU Nutrition Student