Here, our expert dietitian Caroline Pope explains how pediatric dietitians can help kids and teens develop healthy eating habits.
One of the best ways to support your children’s growth is to help them eat enough healthy nutrients and develop a healthy relationship with food. Of course, children can be incredibly picky eaters, and some have unique dietary requirements that can make it difficult to prepare meals for them.
Fortunately, registered pediatric dietitians specialize in working with children (and parents!), giving the encouragement and in-depth nutritional guidance they need to meet their dietary requirements.
Interested in learning what a registered pediatric dietitian can offer your family? Take a moment to learn more and how children and their parents can benefit from a pediatric dietitian.
What Is a Pediatric Dietitian?
A pediatric dietitian refers to a registered dietitian who specializes in providing nutritional guidance to children and their parents.
What Does a Pediatric Dietitian Do? What Is the Role of a Pediatric Dietitian?
A registered pediatric dietitian can assist with many different food-related issues. Oftentimes, they’ll work with parents whose children are picky eaters to help them eat a more well-balanced diet. They can also encourage healthy eating habits and develop specialized meal plans for children to ensure they’re receiving enough nutrients.
Besides helping children eat enough nutrients and develop healthy eating habits, pediatric dietitians can assist with managing various conditions. For example, registered dietitians often help children manage conditions like:
- Lactose intolerance
- Food allergies
- Celiac disease
- Diabetes
- And more
They may also assist with treating emerging eating disorders, such as bulimia or anorexia, or body image disorders, and refer out to specialists when needed.
Is a Pediatric Nutritionist the Same as a Pediatric Registered Dietitian?
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment with a pediatric dietitian, it’s important to understand that a pediatric registered dietitian is not the same as a pediatric nutritionist. Since the U.S. doesn’t have strict regulations about who can call themselves a nutritionist, someone who says they are a pediatric nutritionist may not have the proper training or education.
In contrast, pediatric registered dietitians will have completed extensive educational and experiential requirements. They’ll also have passed a standardized exam to receive their dietetic registration. Due to the much stricter requirements for pediatric registered dietitians, you can trust them to provide well-informed, medically-backed care for your child.
Why Children and Adults Can Both Benefit From Having a Dietitian
One of the best benefits of working with a pediatric registered dietitian is that they can assist both children and their parents. For children, the benefits of having a dietitian include personalized support for various conditions and food allergies. The dietitian will also help your child identify unhealthy habits with food and practice better eating habits from a young age. Additionally, seeing a registered dietitian as a child can reduce the risk of developing health issues in the future.
A registered dietitian can help parents better understand their child’s nutritional needs and provide actionable information for them to follow at home. For example, a registered dietitian might create a meal plan, provide specific advice about the foods your child should avoid based on their unique needs, and identify potential health issues or food allergies. Since parents will also be taught healthy eating habits during their child’s appointment, they can help reinforce those habits at home and set an example for their children (while eating healthier themselves!).
When Should a Child See a Dietitian?
Almost anyone can benefit from seeing a dietitian, as they can evaluate your current diet, provide guidance about any potential changes, and encourage you to maintain healthy eating habits. However, some children will need the assistance of a dietitian more than others. Below, you can find a list of the main signs that indicate you need to schedule an appointment with a pediatric registered dietitian:
- You suspect your child has food allergies
- Your pediatric doctor is concerned about your child’s weight
- You believe your child is developing an unhealthy relationship with food and body image
- Your child has gastrointestinal issues
- Your child is a picky eater
- Your child suffers from a condition or disease that can be affected by their diet (e.g., celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, etc.)
- Your child is an athlete and under consuming nutrients for energy and performance
- You suspect your child has an eating disorder or has disordered eating patterns
Can Teenagers Work With a Pediatric Registered Dietitian?
You can find many pediatric registered dietitians for teenagers. Whether you want to help your teenager put on muscle, get the right nutritional fuel for sports and academic performance, overcome an eating disorder, or get a better understanding of their own personal nutrition, a registered dietitian can be of assistance.
Schedule an Online Dietitian Pediatric Appointment at Chain Effect
At Chain Effect, our registered dietitians are happy to help adults and children develop a healthy relationship with food through habit science and psychology. After one of our registered dietitians meets with you and your child, they’ll develop a dietary plan fitting your child’s needs. Due to their expertise in weight management, athletic performance, and disease management, our online registered dietitians are prepared to support you and your child.
Learn more about our nutrition counseling services today.
