Naureen Hunani Nutrition

02/27/2022

Here is your friendly reminder that: ⁣
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Meals can look different for different families. ⁣
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The recommendation that parents "should" only make one meal (one, starch, veggies, one protein) is based on the assumption that all family members have the same feeding abilities, sensory needs and preferences.⁣
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Many parents need to accommodate their children and adapt their meals so all members can be adequately nourished. ⁣
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Feeding a family is not easy, especially when you have kids with feeding differences. ⁣
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Alt Text: Because sometimes, it's not possible to "just make one meal" for the entire family.

01/17/2022

Offering preferred foods at every meal can help children meet their nutrient needs. If your selective eater doesn't have familiar options, he might leave the table feeling hungry.⁣
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Pressure can decrease appetite, and when children feel more clam, hunger can kick in. Pressure-free meals are essential for children to feel safe. ⁣
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If there is a lot going on during mealtime and your child is sensitive, your child might experience sensory overload and not feel well enough to eat. This is particularly the case for neurodivergent children. ⁣
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If your child is constantly asking for food right after dinner, it is time to dig deeper. ⁣
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12/20/2021

Wishing you a peaceful and restful holiday season!
See you in 2022!

12/13/2021

There are many reasons children can have difficulty eating at family gatherings, and sensory overload is one of them! ⁣
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Here are a few tips to reduce sensory overwhelm during the holidays ⁣
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👚Make sure your kiddo is wearing sensory-friendly clothes. “Fancy” clothes can often feel "itchy" and uncomfortable to some children. Always choose comfortable clothing. ⁣
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📺 Schedule downtime and avoid doing too many activities in one day.⁣
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⏱ Leave events early if needed; this is one of the best ways to avoid a meltdown. Some children can only handle 1-2 hours of socialization, which is fine. ⁣
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⌛️Allow extra time for transitions and reduce demands as much as possible. ⁣
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🌮 Offer preferred foods, and don't be shy to use noise-cancelling headphones even at family dinners! ⁣
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♟Don't force children to participate in activities they don't want to join in. ⁣
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🎄Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season! ⁣
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Alt text: Eating can become challenging when a child experiences sensory overload. ⁣
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Tips to reduce sensory overwhelm during the holidays!⁣

11/01/2021

Here are a few questions to as yourself if your child is showing signs of distress at the dinner table: ⁣
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🌯 Are you honouring your child's hunger and fullness cues? Children need to know that they won't be forced into eating foods they don't want to. Reducing pressure is essential! ⁣
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🌯 Some children need more autonomy and need to be able to make their own choices around food. This is especially the case for children with demand anxiety (PDA). Are you offering options and involving your child in meal planning? ⁣
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🌯 Is the feeding environment sensory-friendly? We are all sensory beings, and we all have sensory needs! How are you meeting your child's sensory needs during mealtimes? ⁣
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🌯 Do you have a flexible eating routine? Modelling flexibility is essential. ⁣
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🌯 Are you offering preferred foods at every meal and snack? This is a must for selective eaters! ⁣
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Alt text: When kids feel voiceless at the dinner table, learning to eat new foods becomes difficult. Learning can only happen when we prioritize felt safety. ⁣
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I'm Naureen Hunani, a pediatric and family registered dietitian specializing in selective eating and ARFID. Want to work together? Check out the link in my bio! ⁣
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10/29/2021

Micromanaging Halloween candy backfires! ⁣
Check out the following accounts that have posted some great info on why restricting sweets isn’t a good idea! ⁣
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.kids_intuitive.eating .diet.kids

10/11/2021

TW Abuse, ableism, childhood trauma ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣
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🍽 Participating in family meals can be difficult for parents who've experienced food-related trauma in childhood. ⁣
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🍽 This is often the case for parents who identify as selective eaters, have sensory-related food aversions, and were abused at the dinner table. ⁣
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🍽 Dissociation can be protective; your inability to implement family meals is not a "compliance" issue! You deserve trauma-informed nutrition and eating support. ⁣
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🍓🍓🍓⁣
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I'm Naureen Hunani, a trauma-informed dietitian specializing in the area of feeding and eating difficulties. If you are looking for support, you are welcome to connect with me! Link in bio.

09/24/2021

I am so tired of hearing the argument that eating sugar at lunch will prevent children from learning. ⁣
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This is unscientific, and policies that endorse this idea are steeped in diet culture. ⁣
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Alt text: If schools were that concerned about our children's education, they would make more effort to accommodate kids who deserve accommodation, provide ample time for play⁣
and prioritize felt safety, especially for kids with learning differences and marginalized⁣
identities. Implementing a "no sugar policy"⁣
is not what is going to enhance learning. ⁣
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09/22/2021

09/10/2021

Been seeing lots of "interesting" tips on IG lately on how to get kids to try new foods. ⁣
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I've come across freaky-looking peppers with googly eyes to "helicopter carrots". I mean, who has time for that? ⁣
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Look, this stuff might work for some kids, but it can make eating worst for others. ⁣
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Plus, it becomes another added thing parents feel the need to do to "get" kids to try new foods. And this trick doesn't always work, especially for neurodivergent children! ⁣
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Find natural ways to interact with food, and your children will progress when they are ready!⁣
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09/03/2021

School nutrition policies create a lot of stress for parents of selective eaters. ⁣
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Parents constantly feel judged and shamed for packing preferred foods for their children. ⁣
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This creates unnecessary anxiety around feeding children. ⁣
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Schools need to do a better job at creating inclusive feeding environments! ⁣
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09/02/2021

Want to work together? Check out the link in bio ⁣
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🥕🥕🥕🥕⁣
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I’m a registered pediatric dietitian and family nutritionist. And I firmly believe that our early experiences with food impact the food choices we make later in life.

08/18/2021

It’s easier to “ban” certain foods from schools than to provide real solutions. Food shaming in schools needs to stop!

08/16/2021

During a period of transition, some "picky eaters" become “pickier” than usual.⁣
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This doesn't mean that their feeding skills have regressed.⁣
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Stress can decrease appetite in some children; this is particularly true for highly sensitive children. ⁣
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You may also notice more “food rigidity” than usual. ⁣
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Gravitating towards familiar foods can be a coping mechanism. ⁣
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Be patient, and allow your children to settle into their new routine. ⁣
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With time children usually go back to eating “normally”, whatever their normal eating looks like. ⁣
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𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀: ⁣
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🍗 Maintain structure and routine around mealtimes.⁣
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🍓 Honour your child’s appetite and offer a safe and pressure free eating environment.⁣
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🥕 Offer meals and snacks containing preferred foods⁣.
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🥛 Offer nutritious beverages more often to children who have a low appetite.⁣
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👟Provide opportunities for joyful movement. ⁣
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⛹️‍♂️Physical activity helps increase the production of the brain's feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins.

Alt text: Back to school anxiety can "worsen" selective eating in some children. ⁣
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🍓🍓🍓🍓⁣
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Looking for picky eating support, feel free to contact me! Link in bio

08/03/2021

I despise the term "supermom". ⁣
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Glorifying unattainable expectations that we put on mothers is a toxic and damaging social construct that reinforces the cruel standards mothers are held to. ⁣
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You don't have to buy into the supermom myth. ⁣
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It is Ok to ask for help.⁣
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It is Ok to show emotions and be vulnerable. ⁣
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It is Ok to order take-out. ⁣
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It is Ok to rest. ⁣
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It is OK to desire alone time. ⁣
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It is Ok to be imperfect; perfection does not exist. ⁣
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𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹; 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲! ⁣
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Alt text: There is no such thing as a supermom. It is a myth! ⁣
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🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕 ⁣
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I’m a pediatric dietitian and family nutritionist. I offer non-judgmental nutrition and feeding support to parents.

07/23/2021

Sharing in case your kiddo is not a kale lover!⁣
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Alt text: I don't know who needs to hear this,but kale doesn't contain any "miracle nutrients." Nutrients found in kale can be obtained by eating a variety of other foods!!!⁣
You're welcome! ⁣
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🥬🥬🥬🥬🥬⁣
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I offer non-judgemental picky eating support to parents and families. Let's connect, link in bio!

07/12/2021

🍓Some children are adventurous eaters right from the start. ⁣
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🥕Others take their time to learn about food and may take longer to accept a variety of foods. Kids learn at their own pace; we can't "speed up" development. ⁣
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🍽What we can do is offer an environment where learning can happen! ⁣
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🍗Early experiences with food matter! ⁣
If you are looking for intro to solids guidance or feel like your child is experiencing difficulties, I am here to support you! Link in bio⁣
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Alt text: ⁣
Intro to solids tip:⁣
Your job:⁣
Keep offering a variety of foods. Progress textures according to your child's development. Share meals together and honour your child's hunger and fullness cues.⁣
Your child's job:⁣
Learn and progress at their own pace. Listen to their body's hunger and fullness cues.⁣
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07/07/2021