CONTACT@BAMBOONUTRITIONRD.COM | (573) 343-4017
Columbia, MO | Rochester, MN
Child, Teen, and Young Adult Nutrition
Growing bodies and growing minds deserve compassionate nutrition care.
At Bamboo Nutrition & Therapy, we know that feeding children and teens can be challenging. Whether you're navigating picky eating, food allergies, sports nutrition, digestive concerns, or a complicated relationship with food, our registered dietitians are here to help your family build confidence—not stress—around eating.
Our approach is individualized, practical, and rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, nourished, and supported.
Nutrition Support for Every Stage of Childhood
Every stage of childhood comes with unique nutritional needs and challenges. Our dietitians tailor recommendations to your child's development, personality, medical needs, and family lifestyle.
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The early years lay the foundation for lifelong eating habits. We partner with parents to support healthy growth while making feeding feel less stressful.
We can help with:
Starting solids and baby-led weaning
Bottle feeding and breastfeeding transitions
Formula questions
Food allergies and introducing allergens
Slow weight gain or growth concerns
Constipation, reflux, and digestive concerns
Picky eating that begins in toddlerhood
Mealtime routines and responsive feeding
Feeding delays and referrals to our interdisciplinary feeding team when appropriate
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As children become more independent, new feeding challenges often emerge. We help families reduce mealtime battles while encouraging curiosity around food.
Common concerns include:
Picky eating and expanding food variety
Sensory food aversions
ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
Food allergies and special diets
Constipation or tummy troubles
ADHD-friendly nutrition strategies
Autism and sensory-based eating challenges
Healthy lunch ideas and school nutrition
Building positive eating habits without pressure
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Pre-adolescence is a time of rapid growth and increasing independence. We help children understand nutrition while keeping food enjoyable.
We support families with:
Growth and puberty nutrition
Sports nutrition and active lifestyles
Blood sugar management and diabetes
Digestive conditions
Balanced snacks and fueling busy schedules
Early body image concerns
Preventing restrictive dieting
Building confidence around food choices
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The teenage years bring major physical, emotional, and social changes. Our dietitians create a safe, judgment-free space where teens can ask questions and build lifelong nutrition skills.
We commonly work with teens on:
Sports performance and fueling
Hormonal health
Eating disorders and disordered eating
Body image concerns
Emotional eating
ADHD and executive functioning around meals
Busy schedules and meal planning
Diabetes and other chronic medical conditions
Nutrition for college preparation and independent living
We encourage teens to become active participants in their care while partnering closely with parents in a way that respects their growing independence.
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The transition into adulthood often comes with new responsibilities and new nutrition challenges.
We help young adults:
Learn practical meal planning and cooking skills
Navigate college dining halls or apartment living
Manage chronic health conditions independently
Recover from eating disorders
Support hormonal health
Improve energy and establish sustainable routines
Build a healthy relationship with food that lasts into adulthood
Frequently Asked Questions By Parents
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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.
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Depending on your child’s age, concern, and your preferred level of involvement, your dietitian will guide when to have joint sessions, divide session time individually, or have the session alone with your child.
Typically for children elementary-aged, or younger, we prefer to have the parent present for at least part of the session.
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Our intention is for every client to “graduate” from their work with us and be able to make confident nutrition decisions.
When a parent, or child, feels ready to graduate depends a lot on the primary concern, age of the child, and life transitions.
Nutrition can be an ever-changing need and some clients choose to continue with their dietitian because new needs arise.
Ideally, we would love for you to see noticeable progress within 3-6 sessions. Appointments may be spaced out as recommended by your dietitian at that time, or continued at the current pace to maintain progress.
Getting Started…
Schedule online
Complete the Contact Form
A member of our team will be in touch with you between 24-48 business hours
We’ll discuss insurance and billing questions at that time! Online paperwork is requested to be completed 48 hours before your appointment date.
Nutrition Assessment
Your dietitian is excited to meet you!
Your initial session is the time your dietitian will spend getting to know your primary concerns and background, fully. Then a treatment plan will be discussed and questions, goals, and progress will be discussed at each subsequent session.
ongoing care
Your dietitian will schedule more appointments with you at the end of your initial session.
Follow up sessions is where the real progress gets made! Sessions may be scheduled 1-2 weeks apart.
Read More About Specific Needs Below!
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.