This Malnutrition Week, let’s bust some myths and talk about what malnutrition actually means for families today. When you hear “childhood malnutrition,” what comes to mind? If you’re picturing severely underweight children from developing countries, you’re not alone but you might be surprised to learn that’s not what malnutrition looks like in most cases. Malnutrition…
As a parent, you’re doing everything you can to give your little one the best start in life—nurturing their growth, keeping them safe, and cheering on every milestone. But did you know that one in four infants and toddlers in Australia may not be getting enough iron? This silent deficiency is more common than many…
by the Paediatric Team at Optimum Intake Dietitians If you’re a parent navigating feeding therapy with your child, chances are you’ve been on a journey filled with questions, hopes, and maybe even a bit of exhaustion. You may have already seen an occupational therapist (OT) or a speech pathologist (SP), or perhaps you’ve been in…
As parents, we all strive to provide the best for our children, especially when it comes to their health and nutrition. Yet, navigating the maze of infant feeding and gastrointestinal issues can feel like an uphill battle, leaving many of us feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to turn. From tummy pains and bloating to…
Parents often become concerned about their child’s tolerance to new foods and liquids when starting solids or transitioning from one breast/formula milk to another. Babies who become uncomfortable, irritable, difficult to settle and show signs of mucus in their poo, diarrhoea or constipation might have Cow’s Milk Protein Intolerance. Cow’s Milk Protein Intolerance or CMPI…
Paediatric feeding disorder (PFD) is a relatively new diagnosis for children that struggle with eating and are not meeting expectations for feeding for their age. Children may have previously been labelled as fussy, picky, faddy or a problem eater/ feeder have often been overlooked for underlying causes to their challenges with eating or feeding with…
Family mealtimes can be stressful. It’s a time where we are often tired and unwinding for the day. Parents of fussy or picky eaters are often well versed in the Mealtime Tango. Parents offering, child declining, child diverting, parents getting stressed, child leaving the table without having eaten, parents feeling they need to offer something…
Returning to school sees the return of packing lunch boxes. At Optimum Intake we know this can be a stressful, daily chore for parents. Getting the balance between exciting lunches and healthy options can be a challenge. Check out our tips below to get this school year off to a great start. Start with the…
Many children can struggle to become competent eaters. Parents often find meal times frustrating and stressful. Our Dietitian Jodie Sheraton is an accredited SOS feeding consultant (‘Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding’) which is a therapy for fussy eaters & problem feeders. Working with Jodie you can expect to experience a more positive interaction with food…
Is how we parent teaching our children to disregard their natural body signals of when to eat and when to stop eating? Over time we see a distrust in listening to our bodies which are designed biologically to send signals to seek food and eat when hungry and then our body sends signals as we…