Meet the team

Shannyn Thatcher

Director | Accredited Practising Dietitian | Feeding Therapist | Tube Feeding Specialist

Shannyn Thatcher is a neurodivergent, trauma-informed dietitian with over five years of experience supporting people with disability to feel more confident and in control around food and feeding. She is the Founder and Managing Director of The RealEat, providing mobile and telehealth dietetic services across Australia and New Zealand.

Shannyn specialises in disability nutrition, including tube feeding (especially blended tube feeding), feeding differences linked to autism, ADHD, ARFID, cerebral palsy, and complex conditions such as ME/CFS and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Her approach is neurodiversity-affirming, holistic, and grounded in lived experience.

Shannyn creates a supportive space where clients feel safe, respected, and empowered. She values collaboration and works closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver consistent and coordinated care.

Outside of client work, Shannyn mentors dietitians, speaks at national conferences, and contributes to projects improving disability nutrition care across Australia. She is committed to raising the standard of care within the NDIS and ensuring every individual has access to meaningful, respectful nutrition support.

When she’s not working, Shannyn loves spontaneous nature adventures, quality time with family, and competitive rounds of her favourite game, Bohnanza.

Ana Dvarakesa

Accredited Practising Dietitian | Feeding Therapist

Ana is a compassionate dietitian with a strong interest in paediatric feeding disorders and ARFID. She supports children and families within the disability sector using a respectful, responsive approach grounded in trust and connection.

Ana’s work is influenced by the Ellyn Satter model and supported by her completion of the AEIOU Integrative Approach to Paediatric Feeding coursework. She focuses on reducing mealtime stress, encouraging curiosity around food, and building positive feeding relationships.

Ana brings warmth and empathy to every interaction. She understands the complexities of navigating the NDIS and strives to create tailored solutions that honour each family’s unique needs and goals. Her collaborative, non-judgmental approach helps families feel safe, supported, and empowered.

On weekends, Ana enjoys discovering the best food spots with her family. She’s our in-house certified food guide.

Natalie Santelli

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Accredited Practising Dietitian | Feeding Therapist |
Tube Feeding Specialist

Hi, I’m Nat. I’m an Accredited Practising Dietitian who works closely with kids, adults, and families to make food feel a little less stressful and a lot more manageable.
I’ve worked across hospitals, clinics, homes, and schools, so I understand how different every feeding situation can be and how important it is to meet people where they’re at. I also understand how complex feeding and nutrition can be, especially when there are additional medical, sensory, or developmental needs involved.

I have a real passion for tube feeding, especially blended tube feeding, and supporting families to feel confident, safe, and empowered in this space. My role is to help make things feel clearer, calmer, and more manageable, so you’re not navigating it alone.

What I can help with

I provide support across a range of areas, with a strong focus on:

Paediatric and disability nutrition
Fussy eating, sensory feeding differences, and feeding therapy
ARFID and Paediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD)
Tube feeding, blended diets, and tube weaning
Growth, nutrition adequacy, and mealtime support
MECFS and MCAS

I’m warm, kind, and always in your corner. I take the time to really listen and understand what’s going on for you or your family, without pressure or judgement.

I place a strong focus on advocacy, making sure my clients and families feel supported, heard, and backed by someone who understands the system and will speak up when it matters. Many of my clients say they feel like they finally have someone to lean on, and that’s exactly how it should be.

A fun fact about me

I rarely follow recipes… which would be fine if my cooking skills matched my confidence.

Daniel Cavallin

Administrative, Care Support & Business Development

Daniel is our friendly point of admin contact at The RealEat, here to support you with anything you need. Whether it is administrative help, guidance with services, or simply having someone reliable to reach out to, Daniel is always ready to assist and make things easier. Daniel is the glue that holds us together at The RealEat. He supports our clinical team of dietitian's to thrive (e.g team bonding days, team win meetings, managing calendars, systems and more) so you can too. He also plays a key role in business development, helping build strong relationships and ensuring the RealEat continues to grow in a way that best supports the people it serves.

Outside of The RealEat, Daniel is a practicing physiotherapist who loves supporting people across all stages of life, from everyday wellbeing to sport. He is also a passionate soccer fan, and a loyal Tottenham supporter, which means he has developed a great sense of resilience over the years.