Why I ❤️ dietitians

I have written before about how helping children with feeding issues requires professionals from different disciplines. Today I want to turn the spotlight onto one of those specialisms: dietetics and nutrition.

I almost always recommend input from a dietitian for my clients, and here’s why:

So many parents of children with a limited diet have a long term sense of anxiety about whether their child is adequately nourished. This can be such a horrible feeling – a vague worry that just lingers there in the background, contributing to additional stress at mealtimes. Many parents are also concerned that their child is not growing properly, or is underweight. This too, can take the form of low-level unease.

As I see it, when an appropriately qualified professional takes a look at a child’s diet, this can have one of two outcomes: Either everything is okay, in which case you can dump some of that anxiety. OR there is an issue and a child may need further assessment, some changes to what they are being offered to eat and drink or perhaps dietary supplements. In all of these scenarios, parents end up feeling better. Because knowledge is power and by facing up to the thing that is worrying you and addressing it head on, you are putting yourself in a position to truly deal with it.

Sometimes, a dietitian or nutritionist will suggest a small tweak that can make an enormous difference. Sometimes they may tell you that your child is actually thriving despite their limited diet, and this can feel huge.

“The first step towards solving a problem, is establishing exactly what the problem is”

Worrying about your child’s health is normal

I totally get why you may be very concerned about your child’s health. Feeding children is so profoundly emotive and we are hard-wired to do it! We have these very clear ideas about how and what we want our children to eat. These are informed by many influences, such as our upbringing, our culture, our education and our personal beliefs. When your child’s eating doesn’t match what you want for them, this can feel so awful; It is very easy to feel guilty and even ashamed. Sometimes, these toxic feelings can block actually dealing with the problem.

If the following statements match how you feel about your child’s relationship with food, make an appointment to see a specialist if you are able to do so within your country’s healthcare system.

• I worry that my child is not adequately nourished and may be missing important nutrients from their diet
• I think my child may be underweight
• I am not sure whether my child is growing properly
• I cannot relax about my child’s health while they are only eating their currently accepted foods
• I want to know which foods and nutrients I should try and focus on once my child starts showing more interest in a varied diet

Before you book

Make sure that the professional you are hoping to see is well-versed in responsive approaches to feeding children. You need to know you will be consulting with someone who is committed to respecting children’s autonomy and developing their ability to eat in response to their body’s cues.

Resources

For more information about the difference between dietitians and nutritionists, as well as how these professions are regulated, go to the Association of UK Dietitians website. Please note: this information is UK-specific. There is more information about the British system on the NHS website. In the US, visit EatRight.org (The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics).