Expert Dietitian Roslyn Yee Discusses Skincare Nutrition and Debunks Pregnancy Food Myths

At Aki Sunday, we are committed to providing education around healthy skincare. 

Meet Roslyn Yee, dietitian and mum to two small children with a wealth of knowledge and experience in sports, oncology and womens nutrition.

We discuss nutrition for skincare, how to get your kids to eat more veggies and myths around pregnancy nutrition. 

How long have you been a dietitian and what qualifications do you hold?

I’ve been a dietitian for over a decade, graduating with a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Newcastle in 2011. My career started in public hospitals, where I worked primarily as an oncology dietitian, before transitioning into sports nutrition. In this space, I’ve had the opportunity to fuel athletes and bring supplements to market as I worked in product development for True Protein and in private practice.

Since becoming a mum, my passion has evolved towards helping active women navigate the unique demands of pregnancy and motherhood while staying connected to their love for fitness. It’s incredibly rewarding to support women in feeling strong, confident, and energised.

Qualifications:

What was the driving force behind becoming a dietitian?

My own experience of becoming a mum has shaped a lot of my current work, but even before that, I was fascinated by the power of food and how it fuels our performance, how it nourishes our body and how it connects us as social beings. 

When I was pregnant with my first, I faced my own challenges navigating the lack of information and support for keeping fit while pregnant especially if you enjoyed lifting weights. That experience deepened my empathy and sparked a new goal to empower other active women to confidently nourish their pregnancy, maintain fitness and support healthy thriving babies.

What are the biggest challenges you see daily for pregnant or breastfeeding women and their nutrition? How can women overcome these challenges?

The biggest challenges I see are confusion, lack of time, lack of support and overwhelm. Women are bombarded with conflicting advice about nutrition and exercise combined with strong pressure to “do it all”. With their energy stretched thin, it’s hard to prioritise their own needs, particularly if it’s their first pregnancy or breastfeeding journey.

To overcome these challenges, I encourage women to start small, quit comparing themselves and focus on progress over perfection. So, this might look like a goal to include an extra piece of fruit daily, instead of overhauling your entire diet.

What’s the biggest myth when it comes to pregnancy nutrition?

The biggest myth about pregnancy nutrition is that it’s all about cutting certain foods out. Far too often, when women first fall pregnant, they’re handed a list of “dont's” by medical/healthcare professionals without any real guidance on what they can eat to nourish their pregnancy, support their fitness, and achieve the best outcomes.

I’ve spoken to so many women who feel overwhelmed and under-informed, left guessing about how to fuel their bodies. What’s missing is accurate, up-to-date advice tailored to their unique needs—including practical food and meal ideas, and guidance on the right supplements to support both mum and baby at the very least.

Kids are famous for their picky eating. As a mama to two small children yourself, how do you ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need?

Ah, picky eating is a phase we all go through! Mealtimes can quickly become stressful, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of cooking separate dishes to avoid a meltdown. To keep things stress-free, I focus on sitting down for at least one family meal (at one stage we were even having dinner at 5pm) so we can enjoy eating together and socialise. I often serve meals deconstructed, allowing my kids to explore the ingredients separately at their own pace.

My kids like helping in the kitchen, it might get a bit messy, but they’re far more likely to try something they’ve helped prepare. I play the long game too, knowing that seasons change quickly with babies and young children. If they refuse fish today, I won't give up. It can take 10 or even 15 exposures to a food before they accept it, but persistence really does pay off.

Ultimately, it’s our job to serve healthy, balanced meals, and it’s their job to decide how much and what they’ll eat. Trusting this process helps keep mealtime more enjoyable for everyone.

We know that what we eat affects our skin and we’re always being told to eat good fats, eat our antioxidants etc – how does this improve our skin health and can what we eat really hydrate our skin? 

Our skin is a complex system that relies on a variety of nutrients to function and thrive. What we eat and what we might be lacking can significantly impact skin health. Nutrition plays a proven role in managing concerns like acne, inflammation, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and wound healing, with solid scientific backing.

When it comes to aesthetics, like achieving a radiant glow or reducing wrinkles, the evidence is less robust. While eating good fats, antioxidants, and staying hydrated can support this goal and overall skin health, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. A balanced diet, regular exercise, sun protection and good skincare habits are foundational. So, getting personalised advice for your unique needs is your best bet for healthy, vibrant skin.

Is there a connection between gut-health and skin health? How can we improve our gut-health?

Yes, absolutely! There’s a connection between gut health and skin health, known as the gut-skin axis. This relationship involves several pathways, including the immune system and inflammatory processes. An imbalanced gut can contribute to systemic inflammation, which often shows up as skin conditions like acne, eczema, or rosacea.

To improve gut health, focus on eating a variety of prebiotic-rich foods, such as whole grains, garlic, onions, bananas, and legumes. Prebiotics feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut, supporting a healthy and diverse microbiome. Pairing prebiotics with probiotic-rich foods, like yogurt or fermented vegetables, can further enhance gut health and, in turn, support a healthier you and your skin.

It must have been an incredibly difficult experience to receive a melanoma diagnosis while pregnant with your first baby and to undergo surgery during such a vulnerable time. You've shown great courage in sharing your story with the public. Is there any advice or words of comfort you'd like to offer to a mother who might be facing a similar situation?

Thank you. That time in my life truly flipped my world upside down. I didn’t know if my unborn baby or I would survive, but thankfully, we did, and my son is thriving today.

To any mother facing a similar situation, my heart goes out to you. It’s an incredibly vulnerable and overwhelming experience, but know that you are stronger than you realise. Feel all the feels, lean on your support network, trust and stay informed by your healthcare team.

For everyone, my advice is simple but so important: book a yearly skin check. Melanoma rates are rising in Australia, and early detection does save lives, I am proof of that. Catching it early made all the difference for me, and it could for you, or a loved one too.

Aki Sunday are advocates for sustainable changes and building healthy habits. If we make just one change to our daily diet for our health and healthy skin, what should it be?

It might sound basic, but staying hydrated and getting enough sleep are two of the most impactful changes you can make and yet, so many people struggle with them. Dehydration and poor sleep can affect everything from concentration, exercise performance, gut health, and even your skin. Many people feel stuck, ashamed that their tiredness and lack of energy seem to show on their face.

The truth is, while drinking enough water and going to bed before midnight sounds simple, doing it consistently, day after day, week after week, can be challenging. Small, sustainable habits like these have a powerful snowball effect, improving not just your skin health but your overall well-being. Make it easy for yourself to win by starting small, sticking with it, and don’t be ashamed to reach out for support. 

What are your health goals for 2025?

My health goals for 2025 are a continuation of what’s worked well for me in recent years. Mostly just consistency—staying active, cooking at home, and prioritising my social and mental health. After having kids, I had to redefine my athletic identity, which was a big adjustment. But only last year, I felt like I found my groove.

For me, it’s about keeping my rhythm dialed in so I can perform at a high level, avoid burnout, and stay resilient when setbacks arise. My habits are in check so this year is not  about hitting specific milestones but building a lifestyle that supports long-term health for me and my family.

 

Thank you Ros, for so generously sharing your time and knowledge. 

 

Get Roslyns FREE Fit Fuel Pregnancy Guide here - it's full of meal plans and recipes!

 

HOW TO CONTACT ROSLYN

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Contact Ros on her website

Email: roslyn@rypenutrition.com.au

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