If you read my first blog post, now you know a little bit about me. But what I really want to talk about is how I can help YOU!
First, here’s a little background on why I think what I do is so important.
I firmly believe that pediatric dietitians are some of the most underutilized health professionals. In my experience, pediatricians are the first to admit that they don't get enough nutrition training during medical school. As you have likely experienced during your child's annual visits, pediatricians have a limited amount of time to assess your child’s overall health. What often gets missed is a discussion about their diet.
That’s where I can help!
Here are a few questions to ask yourself. If you answer yes to any of these, or if these scenarios sound a little too familiar to you, consulting with a pediatric dietitian (like me) could be beneficial.
· Is your child a picky eater and do you struggle with increasing variety in their diet?
· Do you feel like your child isn't eating enough or is eating too much?
· Has your pediatrician mentioned that your child is gaining weight too slowly or too quickly?
· Does your child have food allergies making their diet more limited?
· Has your child been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis) requiring diet changes?
· Does your child have a feeding tube and do you want to work on increasing their oral intake?
Remember, this is not a comprehensive list, so feel free to reach out to me directly if you are unsure whether your child might benefit from a nutrition consultation!
I want to leave you with a final request: Please help spread the word about pediatric dietitians and all that we can to do help parents create a nutritious home for their child! So many parents are struggling to feed their children the way they want to—and many don’t know where to turn for help.
Pediatric dietitians are a really valuable resource. We offer expertise, guidance, support, reassurance, and more. All you need to do is ask.
