CONTACT@BAMBOONUTRITIONRD.COM | (573) 343-4017
Columbia, MO | Rochester, MN
Children & Adolescents
Nutrition Services
When to include nutrition for your child…
The child through adolescent years are the most critical for setting your health up for long-term success. Youth is an important time to develop positive food behaviors, nutrition knowledge and skills, and protect your health by giving your brain and the rest of your body the best chance for proper development.
Nutrition during these years can set your child up to be the best version of themselves.
For example, bone density is accumulated until your early 20s. At that point, what you have is all you have. You can use the rest of your adult life to maintain strong bones, but you can’t build them any stronger. This is similar for gut health. Your microbiome is mostly developed by age 3-5. After this, you can improve upon, or worsen your gut, but those young years are critical for long term gut health. There are many more of these examples, but overall, you cannot go wrong with giving extra time and attention to your child’s nutrition.
Below is a list of what our great team of dietitians can do to support your child.
Whether your child has a chronic condition that needs treatment, or you’re noticing some poor nutrition habits and wanting to nip it in the bud, we have the tools to support the child and the parent.
Our treatment areas of expertise
Eating Disorders
We have dietitians specialized in eating disorders to serve those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, OSFED, Rumination Disorder, and ARFID.
If you have an eating disorder, or a history of an eating disorder and have other nutritional concerns, we will always place you with a dietitian who is specialized in eating disorders and has expertise in your other concerns.
GI Disorders
Constipation, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Lactose-Intolerance and other Food Allergies, Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease, Allergies/Intolerances, GERD, Irritable Bowl Syndrome (diarrhea/constipation), Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis, Gastroparesis, and more.
Unfortunately GI conditions can begin to show early signs, or develop out-of-the-blue in young people. GI conditions can really throw some kids and their families through a loop; managing symptoms is a challenge in itself, and it is hard for a child to maintain a positive relationship with food.
Many kids don’t want to talk to their parents about their bathroom habits, but we know this is a very important piece of the puzzle! Constipation or diarrhea can lead to a lot of anxiety, especially at school. Many of these issues can be resolved with nutrition education and supporting your child in feeding themselves well!
There are many different GI conditions, we have dietitians who specialize in different types of GI conditions. We will pair you with the dietitian who has the most experience.
Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes , Type 2 Diabetes, and Gestational Diabetes.
Regardless of the form of diabetes, a child with diabetes has to grow up a little faster than their typical peer. It requires attentiveness, a deeper understanding of the physical body and nutrition, and the responsibility to take care of themselves during the school day.
Children are so much smarter than we even know. They can learn quickly and this education can lead to a lot of self-confidence! Being mindful of the shame and helping our young clients overcome this and learn how to care for themselves in a confident manner is how we like to approach our work together.
Food allergies
Identifying allergies in children and teens can be really challenging. You don’t want to limit their intake, if at all possible, and it can be overwhelming for a parent to make special meals, monitor cross-contamination, symptoms, or even adjust the entire household to eat differently.
If you’re child is showing signs of intolerances or allergies, our pediatric dietitians can support you in identifying what could be the cause, exposure therapy, and supporting the parents in navigating these challenges in daily life.
Puberty
Every child experiences puberty differently. Whether you’re noticing changes in skin, food intolerances, weight changes, mood, food intake, or something else, nutrition can definitely play a role.
Body image is a crucial time during this stage in a young person’s life. Our dietitians are very careful in speech and nutrition education to provide your child with the best view of themselves, their changing body, and grow their confidence in making food decisions that are positive and help them feel good.
Nutrition Support
Our dietitians are able to help with navigating a tube feed (enteral nutrition). We are able to adjust feedings and work with your physician to ensure your child’s nutrition remains adequate for their age and growth/needs.
We can also assist clients who have had a stroke or a change in their swallow ability.
Pregnancy & Postpartum
You’ll never regret the time you put into yourself during this stage of life! Caring for Mom is also caring for your child.
If you’re experiencing complications during pregnancy that can complicate your nutrition or hydration needs, putting the effort into caring for yourself now can support a healthy delivery.
To just name a few common concerns during pregnancy where seeing a dietitian can be helpful are: Hyperemesis gravidarum, gestational diabetes, PCOS, food allergies/intolerances, IBD flares, severe nausea, food aversions, high blood pressure, and more!
Postpartum, our dietitians can support your goals to care for your child. Whether that includes breastfeeding or formula, changes in your body, the identification and treatment of food allergies, hydration, weight-changes, and more.
Weight Changes & Body Image
Children are in an ever-changing body. It is very hard for a child to feel comfortable in their own skin when each year they change clothing size, shoe size, have to adapt to puberty symptoms, and more.
We incorporate body image work with all of our pediatric clients. We want to instill a sense of confidence, self-love and understanding of the physical changes to support their overall mental health and maintain a positive relationship with food.
It is normal for parents to be concerned about their child’s weight, especially if there are drastic changes. This is what our society tells us to focus on. However, focusing on the number of the scale often does more harm than good.
Our dietitians work closely with the parents and provide education on growth charts, supporting your child’s natural growth, navigating autonomy with food while also providing all the nutrition they need, and more. Parents are our allies, and the best source of support a child has.