Dietitian For Kids

10/07/2025

Www.dietitianforkids.com.au/resources
This resource is designed for parents of children who are concerned about their child’s weight being too high. At Dietitian For Kids, we believe that children can be healthy at any body size and shape and we focus on health and wellness rather than weight. This approach offers a more compassionate and evidence-based approach to weight concerns. It does not advocate that children are automatically healthy at every size, but that children at every size can be supported to adopt practices that will enhance their health and wellbeing, irrespective of whether these practices result in changes in body weight. The approach aims to empower parents to do what they can to improve their health and the health of their child.

Health and wellbeing are multi-faceted and determined by so much more than your body weight. A person’s health, eating and exercise behaviours should not be assumed based on their size or appearance.

While having a higher body weight may place a person at risk of experiencing a range of metabolic health problems, it’s also important to note that if a person is engaged in healthy and balanced behaviours, they can be healthy in a larger body.

Therefore, the aim of this resource is to focus on optimising your child’s overall health and wellbeing rather than focusing on their weight.

Children should not be concerned about their weight or body shape or size. While you may be concerned as a parent it is your role to NOT comment on your child’s body shape or size. Your role as a parent is to provide the right food and mealtime routine, the opportunities to engage in regular physical activity, and to model a healthy lifestyle. #

09/07/2025

With the right support and realistic goals, kids can make powerful changes to their health, without focusing on weight. This inspiring client story shows how small, personalised nutrition changes helped an 11-year-old girl reverse insulin resistance, normalise her liver function, and boost her energy levels all without weighing or restricting. Real food, steady support, and body-positive care can make all the difference. 💪🍎💛

30/06/2025

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is essential for helping the body use energy from protein and carbs.

Vitamin B6 is widely available in many foods such as:
🍗 Chicken
🐟 Salmon and tuna
🥚 Eggs
🥜 Chickpeas, nuts, and seeds
🥦 Spinach and other leafy greens
🍌 Bananas
🥔 Potatoes

⚠️ Be cautious with supplements!
While vitamin B6 is important, too much from supplements (not food) can cause nerve problems, especially in large doses over time. Always speak with your healthcare provider or dietitian before giving your child supplements. In most cases, supplements are unnecessary.

24/06/2025

It’s always a pleasure to hand out a graduation certificate when a client has successfully achieved their nutrition goals ⭐️

16/06/2025

Please join me in welcoming Julia Haydon, an experienced paediatric dietitian, to the Dietitian For Kids family.

With 17 years of experience as a dietitian, including over 11 years at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Julia brings a wealth of knowledge in managing a wide range of paediatric nutrition concerns—from fussy eating to complex medical needs requiring tube feeding.

Julia is also a proud mum of four young children, giving her firsthand insight into the practicalities of feeding busy families.

She is now available for Telehealth consultations and will be seeing clients in-clinic on Fridays once per month at the NAPA Centre in Lane Cove.

To book an appointment with Julia, visit our website: www.dietitianforkids.com.au

Welcome to the team, Julia!

10/06/2025

High-calorie nutritionally complete supplement drinks do have a purpose when used in the right situation, but on the flip-side they can do more harm than good when used inappropriately.

These drinks are designed to fill calorie and vitamin and mineral gaps and support growth in children who:
✅Are unable to meet their energy or nutrient needs through food.
✅Have medical conditions that impact their ability to swallow adequate amounts of food.
✅Have extremely restricted diets due to a sensory aversion or other cause such as ARFID.
✅Have increased energy and nutrient needs for a variety of reasons.

While these drinks can be helpful in specific medical situations, there are many times when they’re not appropriate and may even do more harm than good. I often see these drinks being used when they’re not needed, such as:
❌in children who are going through a typical developmental fussy eating stage, or children who are small for their age and these drinks are being used to boost their weight unnecessarily. The problem with this is, it can:
🥛Quickly fill up a child and displace real food and appetite development
😭 Reinforce and prolong fussy eating patterns
⚡️Contribute to excessive energy intake if not medically indicated

As a paediatric dietitian, I always start with food-first strategies, and only recommend these drinks when truly needed, with a clear plan and regular review.

If you’re unsure whether your child needs a supplement drink, reach out to a paediatric dietitian for personalised advice.

28/05/2025

Join me for this FREE presentation on Tuesday 17th of June at 7:00pm (AEST):

Join Dietitian Dr. Fiona Arrowsmith for an insight into the world of nutrition and dietetics, with a focus on kids with complex needs.

17/05/2025

Teaching kids about balanced nutrition is important because it lays the foundation for lifelong health and well-being. Here’s why it’s so crucial:

🌱 Builds Healthy Habits Early

Children who learn what foods help their bodies grow, move, and feel good are more likely to make healthy choices later in life.

🧠 Supports Learning and Development

Good nutrition fuels the brain. Balanced meals help kids focus, learn, and concentrate better at school.

💪 Promotes Growth and Strong Bodies

Kids are constantly growing. Balanced nutrition gives them the protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals they need for bones, muscles, and overall development.

🥦 Prevents Illness

A diet rich in fruits, veggies, and other nutrient-dense foods strengthens the immune system and reduces the risk of chronic diseases later in life.

🎯 Encourages Positive Relationships with Food

When kids understand that no food is “bad” but that some help us “go, grow and glow” more than others, they learn to eat with curiosity—not fear or pressure.

👪 Empowers Independence and Confidence

Teaching kids about nutrition gives them the tools to make good choices—whether they’re packing their lunchbox or choosing from a menu.

15/05/2025

Should your child take a probiotic?
Probiotics are the “good bacteria” that help keep our gut and immune system in balance — and yes, they can be helpful for kids in certain situations!

👧🦠 What do they help with?
Some strains of probiotics may:
✅ Reduce colds and respiratory infections
✅ Shorten how long kids are sick
✅ Support gut health after antibiotics

But not all probiotics are the same! The benefits depend on the strain and the reason for taking them.

Nutrition tip:
The best probiotic is one that’s backed by research for your child’s needs and taken at the right dose. Not all kids need a supplement – fermented foods like yoghurt and kefir are a great start!

If you have any questions about probiotics for your child drop them below or send me a message! fiona@dietitianforkids.com.au

07/05/2025

Breastmilk contains human milk oligosaccharides (HMO). These are complex sugars that pass through to the gut and act as prebiotics, supporting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria such as bifidobacterium. They provide various benefits to infants' health, including gut health, immune function, and potentially even neurodevelopment.

Babies born via c-section have been shown to have lower levels of bifidobacterium in their gut. As do babies born to mothers treated with antibiotics, or babies treated directly with antibiotics due to illness. These necessary medical interventions alter the baby's gut microbiome.

Anti-reflux medications alter the pH of the stomach to reduce acid and make the stomach more alkaline. Unfortunately, these acid suppressing medications increase pathogenic organisms and decrease the good bacteria that like acidic environments. Professor John Sinn suggests ceasing these medications prior to the introduction of solids if possible. The acid in the stomach helps to breakdown and digest proteins. If there is less acid in the stomach, the protein is not broken down and the body sees it as a foreign substance and reacts to it, i.e. an allergic reaction.

The good news is, that many infant formulas now contain prebiotics (oligosaccharides) similar to those found in breastmilk, as well as probiotics to help optimise the gut microbiome of babies with the risk factors listed in this post.

05/05/2025

One of my favourite hacks to add more plant foods is blending a tin of cannellini beans into mashed potato.

At home I always keep a mix of fresh, frozen and tinned varieties of vegetables, fruits and legumes, as well as packets of nuts and seeds in the freezer so they keep fresh.

Remember that variety is key. Aim for 5-6 different types from each of the 6 plant food groups over the week. Print out the free Plant Food Counter from my website to count and map your plant food intake for a week.

23/04/2025

It’s hard to keep up with the growing body of evidence into how gut health impacts not just your child’s digestion - but also their mood, immunity and brain development. This connection is called the gut-brain axis and it’s fascinating! In this post, I’ll break down what the current evidence says in a simple way. Stay tuned - my next post will include some fun, creative ways to boost plant foods in your child’s diet to support a healthy gut.