Child & Adolescent Nutrition

Helping Children Thrive Through Positive Nutrition Support

Food plays an important role in a child’s growth, development, learning, wellbeing and family life. When eating becomes stressful, whether due to fussy eating, feeding difficulties, growth concerns, gastrointestinal symptoms or medical conditions, it can impact the whole family.

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, our experienced paediatric dietitians provide compassionate, evidence-based nutrition support for infants, children and adolescents. We work alongside families to make mealtimes easier, support healthy growth and development, and build confidence around food.

Whether your child is a selective eater, experiencing feeding difficulties, managing a medical condition, or needing support to meet their nutritional requirements, we’re here to help.

Every Child Deserves a Positive Relationship with Food

Learning to eat is a journey and for many children, it’s not always a smooth one. Some children struggle with certain textures, become selective with flavours, or find it difficult to try new foods. As a result, mealtimes can become stressful and frustrating for both parents and children.

A limited variety of foods can affect nutrition, growth, development and confidence, particularly in settings such as childcare, school, family gatherings and social events.

Our paediatric dietitians work closely with families to support children at every stage, from infancy through to adolescence. We believe in helping children develop healthy eating habits and positive food experiences that support lifelong wellbeing.

Is Your Child:

Only eating a small number of foods?
Refusing foods they previously ate?
Only eating beige foods?
Refusing vegetables or entire food groups?

Sensitive to certain textures, tastes or smells?
Struggling with school lunches?
Becoming upset or anxious around food?
Experiencing mealtime stress or family conflict?

If so, you’re not alone. These challenges are common, and support is available.

When Should You See a Paediatric Dietitian?

Families seek support from our paediatric dietitians for a wide range of concerns.

Feeding and Eating Challenges

Fussy eating
Food refusal
Sensory-related feeding difficulties
Difficulty progressing through food textures
Delayed introduction or progression of solids
Mealtime stress and family conflict
ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

Growth and Nutrition Concerns

Poor weight gain in infants and children
Iron deficiency and other micronutrient deficiencies
Introducing solids
Vegetarian and vegan diets for infants and children

Gastrointestinal Conditions

Bowel issues including constipation & diarrhoea in infants and children
Reflux in infants and children
Coeliac disease
Food allergies and intolerances in infants and children

Disability and Neurodiversity

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
ADHD
Sensory processing differences
Developmental delays
Intellectual disability
Complex feeding challenges

Medical Nutrition Therapy

Chronic health conditions
Enteral feeding requirements for infants and children, including blended tube feeding

Practical, Personalised Support from Experienced Paediatric Dietitians

At Optimum Intake, our paediatric dietitians combine years of experience with additional training to provide tailored, evidence-based nutrition support for children and their families.

Our team uses a compassionate, practical and family-centred approach to help children build confidence with food while supporting parents to feel calm and empowered.

We help by:

Supporting children to meet their nutritional requirements using practical and achievable strategies
Reducing mealtime pressure and helping families create positive food experiences
Building children’s confidence to explore and interact with foods through in-clinic feeding therapy and home-based therapeutic strategies
Supporting gradual exposure to new foods in a safe and supportive way
Providing parents with guidance that is realistic and sustainable

You can read more about our experienced paediatric team here: Meet the Team

What Might a Session Look Like?

Every child is different, so no two appointments with a paediatric dietitian look exactly the same.

At Optimum Intake, we take the time to get to know your child, your family and your mealtime experiences. We listen carefully to your concerns, ask questions and work with you to understand the factors that may be influencing nutrition, eating, feeding and growth.

Sometimes the most valuable work happens away from the desk.

Depending on your child’s age, interests, needs and goals, appointments may involve:

Interacting with new foods without pressure or expectations to eat them
Food-based play and sensory exploration
Using pictures, toys, games, drawing or visual supports
Preparing and cooking food together
Practising skills such as using utensils, opening lunchboxes or using kitchen equipment
Building confidence with eating, food preparation and independence

We may also:

Provide practical nutrition education and resources tailored to your family
Explore ways to present familiar foods differently or gradually expand food variety
Suggest food combinations that support nutrition, enjoyment and variety
Develop realistic meal and snack ideas that fit your family’s routines
Support food preparation, cooking and independent eating skills
Assess nutrition, growth and progress using appropriate tools and measures
Create mealtime structures and strategies that are practical and sustainable
Spend time with parents or carers separately when certain concerns are easier to discuss without children present
Incorporate your child’s interests and strengths to help them feel comfortable and engaged
Collaborate with GPs, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, support coordinators and other members of your child’s care team

For parents and carers, our role is also to help take some of the pressure out of feeding. We want you to leave with practical strategies that work for your family, your routines, your budget and your real life, rather than a long list of things you feel you “should” be doing.

Our goal is to create a space where children feel safe, heard and comfortable exploring food at their own pace, and where parents feel supported, informed and confident about what to do next.

Nutrition Support for Autism, ADHD and Neurodivergent Children

Many autistic and neurodivergent children experience feeding differences that can affect nutrition, food variety and participation in everyday activities.

These differences may include:

Sensory sensitivities to food textures, tastes, temperatures or smells
Strong food preferences and routines
Anxiety around unfamiliar foods
Limited food variety
Difficulties recognising hunger and fullness cues
Challenges with mealtime flexibility

Our dietitians have extensive experience supporting children with autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences and developmental disabilities.

As registered NDIS providers, we regularly work alongside support networks and families to provide coordinated, neuro-affirming, person-centred care. Further information about our NDIS services and referral forms is available here: NDIS nutrition support services.

Nutrition Support for Teenagers

Adolescence is a time of rapid growth, increasing independence and changing nutritional requirements.

Our dietitians support teenagers with:

Healthy growth and development
Iron deficiency
Sports nutrition
Gastrointestinal conditions
Neurodiversity-related nutrition concerns

Vegetarian and vegan eating
Building independent food skills
Nutrition for mental health and wellbeing
Selective eating and limited food variety

Our approach is collaborative, practical and tailored to each young person’s goals, lifestyle and nutritional needs.

Our Approach

Responsive, Family-Centred Nutrition Care

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we believe every child deserves a positive relationship with food.

Our approach is guided by:

Responsive feeding principles
Evidence-based practice
Family-centred care
Food-first nutrition strategies
Sustainable behaviour change
Respect for each child’s developmental stage and neurodiversity

We work with families to:

Reduce mealtime stress
Support adequate nutrition and growth
Build confidence with food
Develop practical, realistic strategies
Create positive and enjoyable mealtime experiences

We are proud to support children with a wide range of nutrition and feeding needs while collaborating closely with families and other healthcare professionals to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Supporting Children to Thrive. Supporting Families to Feel Confident.

Every child deserves a positive relationship with food, and every parent deserves support.

Whether you’re seeking help for fussy eating, feeding difficulties, neurodiversity-related feeding differences, growth concerns or adolescent nutrition, we’re here to help.

Book an appointment online or speak with our Client Care Team. We’ll help match you with a dietitian suited to your health needs and goals.

Responsive Feeding Video Training Series for Parents

Mealtimes with children can be joyful… but they can also be stressful, confusing, and emotionally draining, especially when fussy eating, food refusal, or mealtime battles creep in.

If you’re feeling unsure about how to support your child with eating, you’re not alone. And you don’t need to have it all figured out.

To support families beyond the clinic room, our paediatric dietitians have created a 3-part Responsive Feeding video training series designed specifically for parents and carers.

This on-demand series gently guides you through:

Understanding what responsive feeding is and why it matters
How to reduce pressure and stress at mealtimes
Supporting fussy eating and helping children explore new foods with confidence

The focus isn’t on perfect plates or getting children to eat a certain way. Instead, it’s about helping children feel safe, supported, and confident at the table, while helping parents feel calmer and more reassured in their role.

Who is this series for?

This course is ideal if:

Mealtimes feel tense or overwhelming
Your child is fussy, selective, or resistant with food
You’re receiving mixed advice and want evidence-based guidance
You want practical strategies you can actually use at home

The series is suitable for parents of infants, toddlers, and young children, and can be watched at your own pace, in your own time.

What’s included

Three pre-recorded video sessions
Practical strategies that you can implement straight away
90 days access to the content
Evidence-based strategies from experienced paediatric dietitians
Affordable access to quality training: $29.00

Many families find this series incredibly reassuring and empowering. For some, it’s all they need. For others, it’s a helpful first step before accessing more personalised support with one of our dietitians.

Our Commitment to Child Safety

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we are dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all children and young people. Our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy ensures that our team is trained, our spaces are welcoming, and our processes prioritise child safety at every step.

We also uphold a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and our Promise to Young People, reinforcing our responsibility to protect, listen to, and empower children in our care.

View our Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

Read Our Promise to Young People

For any questions, please contact our Child Safety Officer at admin@optimumintake.com.au.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a dietitian help with fussy eating?

Yes. Paediatric dietitians regularly support children who are selective with food, refuse certain foods, or eat only a limited variety of foods. We work with families to understand the factors contributing to fussy eating and develop practical strategies that reduce stress and support positive experiences with food.

What is the difference between fussy eating and ARFID, and can a dietitian help?

Many children experience typical phases of fussy eating. ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) is a mental health condition diagnosed by a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist. ARFID can affect growth, nutritional adequacy and participation in everyday activities, and is often associated with significant anxiety or fear related to food or eating. Dietitians play an important role in supporting children and adolescents with ARFID by assessing nutritional adequacy, supporting safe food exposure and working collaboratively with the broader healthcare team.

Can a dietitian help with feeding therapy?

Many children benefit from feeding therapy support when they experience food refusal, sensory feeding differences, limited food variety or anxiety around eating. Our team have completed extensive training in feeding therapy and can deliver this support and work alongside other health professionals to support positive feeding experiences and improve nutritional intake.

My child only eats a few foods. Should I be concerned?

A limited range of accepted foods can sometimes affect nutritional intake, growth, development and participation in everyday activities. If your child consistently eats only a small number of foods or avoids entire food groups, a paediatric dietitian can help assess nutritional adequacy and provide strategies to expand food variety where appropriate.

Does my child need feeding support or will they grow out of it?

Many feeding differences improve over time, but some children benefit from early support. If eating is affecting growth, nutrition, family wellbeing or participation in everyday activities, it may be worth seeking professional advice.

My toddler won’t eat vegetables. Is that normal?

It’s common for toddlers to become selective with foods as they grow and develop independence. However, if mealtimes are becoming stressful, food variety is shrinking, or you’re concerned about your child’s nutrition, a paediatric dietitian can help you navigate this stage using evidence-based responsive feeding approaches.

Can a paediatric dietitian help with constipation?

Yes. Dietitians commonly support children experiencing constipation by assessing dietary intake, fluid intake, feeding patterns and other contributing factors. Individualised recommendations can help improve bowel health and reduce discomfort.

Can a paediatric dietitian help with food allergies and intolerances?

Yes. We support children with diagnosed food allergies, food intolerances and medically prescribed elimination diets. Our goal is to ensure nutritional needs continue to be met while managing dietary restrictions safely.

When should I see a dietitian about starting solids?

Many families seek support when introducing solids, particularly if their baby was born prematurely, has allergies, reflux, feeding difficulties, growth concerns or additional medical needs. A paediatric dietitian can provide individualised guidance to support safe progression through textures and help ensure nutritional needs are being met.

What happens during a paediatric dietitian appointment?

Your dietitian will take the time to understand your child’s growth, medical history, eating patterns, feeding experiences, daily routines and family goals.

Depending on your child’s age, needs and goals, appointments may include nutrition assessment, discussing feeding concerns, sensory food exploration, food-based play, introducing new foods without pressure, building food preparation skills, or developing practical mealtime strategies. We may also spend time supporting parents and carers with guidance, education and realistic strategies that fit your family’s routines and lifestyle.

Together, we’ll develop an individualised plan that supports your child’s nutrition, development and relationship with food, while helping your family feel more confident about the next steps.

Do I need a referral to see a paediatric dietitian?

In many cases, a referral is not required. However, some funding pathways, including care plans, NDIS supports, insurance schemes or specialist referrals, may require documentation. Our team can help guide you through the process.

Do you provide telehealth appointments?

Yes. Telehealth appointments can be an effective way to access paediatric nutrition support from home and are appropriate for many nutrition and feeding concerns.