PAEDIATRIC ACCREDITED PRACTISING DIETITIANS AND NUTRITIONISTS

You might be wondering when is the right time to consult a Paediatric Dietitian? Our team believe that the best time to seek support is as soon as you notice eating and feeding isn’t going smoothly for you and your child. You may be coping with more arguments, battles or negotiations at mealtimes.

Perhaps you’ve noticed changes in your child’s eating, feeding, or growth such as:

• eating more food or less food than usual
• the range of foods being accepted and eaten is becoming increasingly limited
• concerns about your child’s growth & weight
• concerns about nutrient deficiencies (e.g. low iron or insufficient calcium)
• fear or anxiety when eating
• an unusual level of interest or disinterest in food
• hiding or stockpiling food
• raiding the fridge or pantry for food
• food refusal
• suspected or diagnosed food allergy or intolerance
• difficulties between caregivers and children at shared meal times
• difficulties with meal and snack time routines
• any other food or eating related concern

If any of the above is worrying you or keeping you awake at night, then it’s a great time to consult a specialist Paediatric and Family Dietitian. Seeking support as early as possible can help restore the feeding relationship between you and your child whether they are 1-year-old or 18-years-old.

The Kids Dig Food team are here to support you to get food and feeding back on track so you can focus on the other important and fun things in life. Book an appointment now.

If you’re still unsure if we can help, send us a message and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Our specialist team of Paediatric Dietitians work exclusively with kids and families who are finding food, eating and mealtimes tricky. Supporting kids and families is our bread and butter! This means that we have the skills and expertise to provide support for a wide range of nutrition challenges and medical conditions that require nutrition support.

Here are some conditions and nutrition concerns that our client children and families seek our support for:

• Fussy eating/Picky eating
• More complex feeding challenges impacting the quantity and variety of food
• Supporting neurodivergent children with feeding differences (eg Autistic kids, ADHDers, kids with Sensory Processing difficulties)
• Early feeding difficulties
• Help for parents of babies transitioning to solid foods, whilst balancing intake of breast milk or infant formula.
• Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
• Supporting children who require feeding tubes for nutrition (eg gastrostomy or nasogastric tube) and making the child’s and family’s life a little easier. Tube feeding shouldn’t be a barrier to life!
• Supporting children in larger bodies to grow in ways that are right for them, whilst supporting a positive body image (we employ body size inclusive, non-diet, weight neutral approaches)
• Constipation Management
• Assessing for and addressing nutrient deficiencies (eg Iron Deficiency, inadequate calcium intake)
• Eating Disorders in children under 16 years of age (Anorexia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder)
• Food Allergies (eg Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy/Dairy Allergy, Soy Allergy, Egg Allergy, Peanut Allergy Tree Nut Allergy, Fish Allergy, Shellfish Allergy)
• Management of Coeliac Disease

To list everything we do would mean a VERY long FAQ response! If you need support with something not listed here, please SEND US A MESSAGE and we’ll get back to you right away to confirm if we can help.

Or if you’re ready to book, we can’t wait to hear from you.

We take time to understand your child’s story – Your Dietitian’s primary goal in your first one or two appointments together is to thoroughly understand your child’s feeding challenge and your concerns about it. We take time to listen. Just as every child is unique, there is no one-size-fits-all “solution”.

Partnership – Parents and caregivers, we know that you know your children best and that each family situation is unique also. You can expect that your Kids Dig Food Dietitian will partner with you as you find ways to address your nutrition concerns. We won’t just tell you what to do!

What we do – In sessions we might be analysing your child’s food intake, talking to you about your child’s feeding history, finding out the logistics of how mealtimes happen for you and your child, trouble shooting feeding challenges and celebrating successes. We help you identify the tiny steps of progress that you and your child are making. If it’s What, When, Where, How or How Much of eating we’ll be talking about it. We won’t tell you what to do, rather we will help you find solutions or take the next step that is going to work best for you. We are super practical in our approach to feeding and eating.

Parent vs Child Support – We like to start working together by understanding nutrition challenges through the eyes of parents and caregivers. Sometimes, we continue to work exclusively with parents and sometimes it is important that your child be involved in sessions. For older children and teens, it may be appropriate for your child to attend most or all appointments, though we always do prefer the first appointment to be parent-only.

Tracking Progress – We regularly review progress towards your short term and long term nutrition goals. We always want you to be clear about where we are headed as we work together.

For more information, read our Blog post “Seeing the Dietitian: What to Expect” — https://kidsdigfood.com.au/seeing-the-dietitian-what-to-expect/

You may be wondering how a Kids Dig Food Dietitian can help Autistic children and families.

As neurodiversity-affirming Dietitians we want eating and feeding to be more accessible, easier, and more enjoyable for Autistic kids and their families. Our aim is to help Autistic folks nourish themselves in ways that suit them, whilst also getting their nutrition needs met. We think in outside-the-box ways right alongside you!

Going back to basics, people with Autism, ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder have neurodivergent brains.

Aspect Australia describes Autism like this… “Autism is a condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, interacts with others, and experiences their environment. It is estimated that one in 70 people are on the autism spectrum.”

The Oxford Dictionary describes Neurodiversity as: “the range of differences in individual brain function and behavioural traits, regarded as part of normal variation in the human population..”

Our team understands that neurodiversity simply means that all humans have differently working brains. Most people have brains that work in a fairly similar way. These brains are called neurotypical. Other people have “less usual” brains that work in an “outside of the box” kind of way. These brains are called neurodivergent. Science doesn’t have good data yet about how many people actually have neurodivergent brains. We’re still working on how we measure that.

Because the world (and in particular the modern world) has been created to best suit neurotypical brains, Autistic people can often struggle. The world wasn’t designed for neurodivergent brains.

To understand how the Kids Dig Food team support Autistic kids and families, it is important to first understand a little more about the feeding differences that might be experienced by Autistic folks. Feeding differences like these listed below are commonly experienced commonly by Autistic (and other neurodivergent) kids and grown-ups:

• Stimming or needing to move your body when eating.
• Eating foods that look, smell, feel, taste and sound familiar.
• Being content with a smaller variety of liked foods.
• Taking a very long time to “get to know” a new food.
• Being particularly sensitive to certain sounds and smells when eating.
• Preferring solitude when eating.
• Needing other sensory inputs when eating.

The above differences are just that, differences. They don’t necessarily need changing. However, if these differences are impairing a child’s ability to eat and grow predictably or if parents are worried about any aspect of their Autistic child’s eating, then a Dietitian can provide amazing support to:

• Assess the child’s current food intake and growth to identify any problems.
• Identify nutrient gaps and find practical ways for parents to support the child or young person to obtain the missing nutrients.
• Ensure the child can obtain sufficient energy from food for their growth and development.
• Address any concerns about eating too little or too much food.
• Help parents to understand the food and eating needs of their child, and honour feeding differences that DON’T need changing.
• Help parents, children, and young people to find ways to decrease fear and increase curiosity about food and eating as the child is ready.

Neurodiversity-affirming Dietetic care is at its core, client centred care. Kids Dig Food Dietitians appreciate that there is no one right way to eat. As neurodiversity-affirming Dietitians, we can identify and support feeding differences that are perfectly fine and don’t need changing. And we get curious about nutrition differences that DO need our support.

Ready to book an appointment with one of our Dietitians? Contact us here.

Supporting a family with more than one child needing food and eating support can take some kid wrangling!  At Kids Dig Food, we see how hard you’re working to do the best for all your kids. 

We understand how complicated it can be when multiple children have unique dietary needs, whether due to feeding differences, picky eating, tube feeding, growth concerns, food allergies or intolerances. Each child is different, and finding what works for all of them can be tricky. Good news is, you’re not alone!

Kids Dig Food is here to support you with achievable, responsive strategies tailored specifically to your family, goals and hopes.  We will listen, seek to understand your challenges, and together we will create a plan that fits your routine, making mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable.  We can even work with the members of your existing medical team to ensure our supports align and complement one another.  This ensures your family is getting the best from everyone!  Together, we’ll explore practical tips, like simple meal planning, creative ways to incorporate necessary nutrients, and establishing a flexible routine that honours each child’s needs, without adding more pressure on you.

Read the next FAQ section to find out how to book appointments for multiple children!

If you have similar concerns for multiple children, a longer 90-minute appointment may be best e.g. 2 children, 45-minutes allocated for each. 

If your children have very different nutrition needs, our Dietitian team may suggest separate appointments for each child so that these can be addressed thoroughly.

Our helpful Client Care Officers can help you book a 15-minute Discovery call with one of our Dietitians to help you work out what is best for your unique family. 

Due to the complexity that sometimes exists when supporting multiple children in a family, our Dietitians may need 2-3 assessment sessions to really get to know your family’s needs and identify your goals for each child and the family as a whole. After that, we will collaboratively work towards your goals.  Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your Kids Dig Food Dietitian is here to provide guidance, reassurance, and practical solutions, so you feel supported every step of the way. You’re not alone in this journey, and together, we can make a meaningful difference in your children’s health and well-being, without adding more stress to your plate.

Need help to book appointments for 2 or more children? Call our client care officers on 1300 971 609 or complete our online booking form.

We certainly DO support Parents! Our Dietitians understand that parents and caregivers are integral to the health and wellbeing of the children in their care. We are not only concerned about your child’s health and wellbeing, but yours too.

We know that feeding a family isn’t for the faint of heart! Parents and caregivers, you are most likely preparing food, eating or feeding somebody else up to 6-8 times or more every day! It’s not just about preparing and cooking meals and snacks, packing lunch boxes, or ‘getting kids to eat’ — it’s also about navigating the different needs of everyone in your family, managing personal food preferences (likes and dislikes), food shopping and budgeting… all while dealing with the demands of your daily life. 

If you feel you need a little extra support with feeding your family or yourself, please let your Dietitian know. This is common, especially if you’ve had a tricky relationship with food at any time in your life. We are here as your nutrition support partners, walking beside you each step of the way.

Are you ready to be supported with your family’s nutrition? Call 1300 971 609 or complete our online booking form.

When you’re trying to manage a family budget, knowing what fee to expect is important. You may also have to consider other therapy costs or the budget allowable under an NDIS approved plan. As a parent, you’re doing your best to provide the right support for your children, and the last thing you need is added stress about costs!

At Kids Dig Food, we strive to be transparent about our fees, which can differ based on the specific service provided, which is why we don’t list our fees here on our website. Our caring and friendly Client Care Officers can provide you with information on our rates based on your child and family’s needs. Contact our Client Care Officers on 1300 971 609 if you would like more information on our current fees. 

Whether it’s a face-to-face or telehealth consultation, nutrient analysis of a food diary, communicating with other members of your child’s medical team, or writing detailed reports, all these services require different amounts of time and expertise, and they’re charged at our standard hourly rate.

After your assessment session/s, your Dietitian will develop a treatment plan where you work out a treatment plan together, including the most appropriate appointment frequency and length, to achieve your nutrition goals for your child and family.

Your Dietitian will tell you upfront if extra services are needed, and we will work with you to provide the best service possible within your budget. 

if you are with us for an extended period of time, you might notice our rates change. Our fees are determined by factors including the NDIS Pricing Guide, comparative industry rates and costs of providing a specialist service. Price adjustments ensure that we can stick around for the long term to support families like yours! 

Each child is unique, and so is the care they receive. We charge fees based on the actual time and resources involved, and ensure you’re only paying for what you need.  This approach allows us to provide individualised care that addresses your child and family’s needs, whether it’s through direct consultations or behind-the-scenes support tasks.

We know every dollar counts, and our aim is to offer value for your investment by delivering the highest quality Dietetics service. You’re not just paying for time—you’re investing in expertise, our experience and compassionate, affirming care that will make a real difference to your child and family’s health and well-being.

If you are seeking support for your child’s nutrition, please reach out. We have immediate availability and offer in-person (at our Carseldine clinic in North Brisbane), Video/Telehealth and Home Visit Appointments – call 1300 971 609 or complete our online booking form.

When choosing a nutrition professional to support your child and family, it is important to choose someone with the skills and experience in Paediatric and Family nutrition, and someone you can trust.

Why should you choose an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD)?

Read on to understand why choosing an Accredited Practising Dietitian for nutrition and dietetic care is in your child’s best interest.

In Australia there is a difference between a dietitian and other nutritional health providers including nutritionists. All dietitians are nutritionists, but nutritionists without a dietetics qualification can’t call themselves a dietitian. While the definition of a dietitian and nutritionist are similar, there are differences in qualifications and regulation. Dietitians Australia, 2023.

It’s important to note that not all nutritionists are Dietitians and not all Dietitians are APDs. You can check the credentials of a dietitian by searching for their name in Dietitian Australia’s Register of Accredited Practising Dietitians.

Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) are university-qualified experts in nutrition. APDs must take part in ongoing education and follow a code of conduct. Further to this, the Kids Dig Food team have completed hundreds of hours of additional professional development in Paediatric Dietetic care, Family Feeding, Neurodiversity Affirming Care, Trauma Informed Care and Disability Care.

We continue to invest in the ongoing professional development of our team, and we are proud to offer an extremely high quality specialist Paediatric and Family Dietetic Service. In recognition of this commitment, the Kids Dig Food team was honoured to receive the Quality in Primary Care Award (Small Business category) from Dietitians Australia in 2023.

If you are after a specialist, experienced paediatric and family Dietitian to support you child, your family and you, we look forward to hearing from you.