Kids Dig Food

👍 Tips for how to approach fuelling your active kids and family: 1. Meal time structure and schedule of activities: Create regular yet flexible eating opportunities at a frequency that suits your individual family members Suggestion: space meals roughly about 2-4 hours apart e.g. breakfast, school break 1 (mid meal), school break 2, afternoon snack, dinner, supper. Use a weekly planner to map meals around activities - notice what meals are likely to fuel the physical activity. We need to give our bodies time (about 2 hours) to digest, absorb and store food energy ready for use. 2. Prep and plan meals: Try some simple weekly meal planning. Suggestion: Start with jotting down your family dinners. Focus on quick and easy recipes and/or freezable batch cooking. For on-the-go snacks, jot down portable items such as fresh fruit, longlife milk, cereal/grain bars, cheese and crackers, nourishing dips, dried chickpeas or fava beans snack, nuts, seeds and more. Create a weekly food shopping list so that your pantry and fridge are well stocked and ready to go. 3. Building meals - choose nutrient dense foods and include all 5 food groups over the day. Suggestion: Include 3-5 food groups at each main meal and 2-3 food groups at each mid meal/snack. This will help you gather important nutrients to support activity such as protein, carbohydrates and fats, as well as the vitamins and minerals your child needs for growth and development. Ines and The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ 🧡 If you are in need of feeding support for your little (or big) one, call us on 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio to complete our online booking form and one of our Client Care Officers will be in touch soon. . . . . . #ActiveKids #KidsInMotion #OutdoorPlay #PlayOutside #KidsSports #AdventureKids #FunFitness #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #KidsGrowth #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #CompetentEaters #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #HealthAtEverySize #HAES #FeedingTherapyForKids

🎳 Dear parents of active kids, 🚴♀️ Here are a few things to remember when feeding your busy children: ✸ Active kids do need more energy, but remember that kids are generally great at responding to their hunger signals and self-regulating their intake based on their needs. This means that their eating patterns may vary depending on their activity levels. ✸ Parents, what we can do to support our active kids is to provide them with structured, yet flexible mealtimes so that they have the opportunities to gather sufficient energy and nutrients throughout the day. ✸ Structured means that parents lead meal times by offering or serving meals at regular intervals (about 2-4 hours apart) such as breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as opportunities for nourishing snacks in between. Flexibility acknowledges that there is no one way to do things, and you may need to make adjustments to suit your child, family and schedule. How do we know that our kids are getting enough when their eating is so variable? 🏏 We can watch for signs of adequate energy balance: steady growth, sustained energy levels and proper recovery. Ines and The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ 🧡 If you are in need of feeding support for your little (or big) one, call us on 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio to complete our online booking form and one of our Client Care Officers will be in touch soon. . . . . . #ActiveKids #KidsInMotion #OutdoorPlay #PlayOutside #KidsSports #AdventureKids #FunFitness #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #KidsGrowth #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #CompetentEaters #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #HealthAtEverySize #HAES #FeedingTherapyForKids

💦 Water plays an important role in maintaining blood volume and regulating body temperature, and for active kids hydration is important to get the most out of their favourite physical activity. 🛼 Active kids can be sweaty kids! Fluid losses increase when exercise intensity does and more so on hot days. Staying hydrated and replacing fluid losses with water is super important. Parents can support their kids to plan ahead with these 3 simple tips: ✸ Drink Before: Get some fluid well before engaging in the activity. Many fluids will contribute such as water, milk and yoghurt. ✸ Sip Water During: Drink during the activity - take sufficient drink breaks, especially on hot days ✸ Drink Water After: Replenish with water after the activity has wrapped up, and replenish electrolytes with a nourishing snack such as fruit, milk, yoghurt, cheese, fruit or a simple sandwich. What are you kids favourite activities during these warmer months? Share with us in the comments below 😁 Ines and The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ 🧡 If you are in need of feeding support for your little (or big) one, call us on 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio to complete our online booking form and one of our Client Care Officers will be in touch soon. . . . . . #ActiveKids #KidsInMotion #OutdoorPlay #PlayOutside #KidsSports #AdventureKids #FunFitness #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #KidsGrowth #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #CompetentEaters #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #HealthAtEverySize #HAES #FeedingTherapyForKids

🏓 This month we are diving into fuelling your active kids during the warmer months. Active children often participate in sports year-round, leaving already time-poor families to balance hectic schedules filled with training, games, and other commitments! There are clear benefits of proper hydration and nutrition for every young person engaged in their chosen sports and physical activities. These include: ✸ Improved mood and energy levels ✸ Growth and development ✸ Better immune function ✸ Optimal muscle function and recovery ✸ Strong bones ✸ Less injury risk ✸ Endurance and performance 🎾 We hope to provide parents and caregivers with practical and effective strategies to keep their active children properly hydrated and nourished, ready to fully enjoy physical activities and feel good in their bodies. We will talk about what to drink, planning ahead, and how to easily ensure enough nutrients. Leave us a comment with what common challenges you face when feeding your active kid/s! Ines and The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ 🧡 If you are in need of feeding support for your little (or big) one, call us on 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio to complete our online booking form and one of our Client Care Officers will be in touch soon. . . . . . #ActiveKids #KidsInMotion #OutdoorPlay #PlayOutside #KidsSports #AdventureKids #FunFitness #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #KidsGrowth #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #CompetentEaters #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #HealthAtEverySize #HAES #FeedingTherapyForKids

🥑 When your child builds resilience against the subtle and pervasive messages of diet culture, they will learn to appreciate their body for all the incredible things it can do. ✨ This resilience helps them to focus on their strengths, abilities, and the joy of movement, rather than on unrealistic and often harmful beliefs about bodies. 🥑 By being more mindful in how we talk about food and our own bodies, we can create a positive learning environment for our kids. 🎉 This means celebrating diversity in body shapes and sizes, emphasising the importance of food for energy and enjoyment, and avoiding negative comments about weight or appearance. ✨ Remember, children are always listening and learning from us. 🥑 If you have any concerns about your child’s eating habits or body-image, please don’t hesitate to call us. ✨ Our Dietitians provide body positive and weight-neutral care for our families AND our wonderful Dietitian, Kylie, is an ANZAED Eating Disorder Credentialed Dietitian, and can support children and young people with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. 🤗 We’re here to support you and your family in fostering a healthy, positive relationship with food and body. Kylie and the Kids Dig Food team ♡ . . . . . #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #WeightNeutralCare #WeightNeutralDietitians #HealthAtEverySize #HAES #EatingDisorders #ARFID #SensoryProcessingDisorder #PaediatricFeedingDisorder #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #NeuroDiversityAffirming #TraumaInformed #NeuroAffirming #FamilyFeeding #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #CompetentEaters #KidsDietitian #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTherapyForKids

🥑 Diet culture is everywhere, meaning there is no real way to completely eliminate it from our lives. However, being aware of how sneaky ‘diet culture’ messaging can show up is really important. 👇🏼 Some of the messages that our children are exposed to from well-meaning people around them which fall into this category include: ✸ Discussion of “Clean” eating, implying that the foods that don't make this list are “Dirty” ✸ Feeling guilty after eating certain foods (For example thoughts or comments like “I shouldn’t have this cake”, ”It's a bit naughty, but I will have another piece of chocolate” etc) ✸ Expressing fear of weight gain or fear of being fat (parents weighing themselves and making negative comments on their own body changes as we get older) ✸ Complimenting someone’s weight loss “You look great, have you lost weight?” 🥑 Children are often black and white thinkers, and as a result soak up these messages and apply them to their own growing bodies. 🥹 Sadly, these kinds of messages contribute to an increased risk of disordered eating. ✸ As of 2024, 1.1 million Australians are currently living with an eating disorder. This is a 21% increase since 2012 ✸ Approximately a third (31.6%) of Australian adolescents engage in disordered eating behaviours within any given year ✸ 27% of individuals with an eating disorder are aged 19 years or younger (up 13% since 2012) ✸ Less than one in three (30%) of people affected reach out for help ✸ There were 1,273 deaths due to an eating disorder in 2023 🌟 Helping your child become more resilient against sneaky diet culture messaging will help to reduce it's impact. 🌟 It is important that we tackle this issue with love and compassion. A lot of the time we (or family and friends) aren’t aware of the impact of our words. 🌟 We grew up with sneaky diet culture too. The first step is to start to notice our thoughts and words. Reframing conversations that normalise and celebrate weight diversity and encouraging joyful eating habits that emphasise the importance of food for energy and enjoyment is a great start. If you are concerned about your little (or big) one's nutritional needs, call us on 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio to complete our online booking form and one of our Client Care Officers will be in contact soon. Kylie and the Kids Dig Food Team ♡ . . . . . #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #WeightNeutralCare #WeightNeutralDietitians #HealthAtEverySize #HAES #EatingDisorders #ARFID #SensoryProcessingDisorder #PaediatricFeedingDisorder #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #NeuroDiversityAffirming #TraumaInformed #NeuroAffirming #FamilyFeeding #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #CompetentEaters #KidsDietitian #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTherapyForKids

☀️ When we first meet with our lovely parents and carers, they often say ‘I just want my child to enjoy all foods!’ This is a great long-term goal, and while food learning is happening each and every day, our job is to help you find the joy in the little wins along the way, such as your child: ✸ Building trust and rapport with their KDF Dietitian ✸ Developing utensil and cutlery skills, e.g. serving or feeding themselves with greater confidence ✸ Showing confidence in getting ready for mealtimes e.g. washing hands, setting the table, choosing the music ✸ Seeming less anxious at regular mealtimes, or less mealtime arguments ✸ Showing interest in helping prep meals or snacks ✸ Being able to choose from 2 options for breakfast ✸ Packing (or helping to) pack their own lunchbox ✸ Feeling comfortable to try a multivitamin or oral nutrition supplement ✸ Reporting improved toileting habits, or less tummy pain ✸ Experiencing improved sleep, energy levels and focus; both at home and at school ✸ Exploring new foods with their senses: discovering new smells, textures, flavours or temperatures ✸ Showing signs of a closer relationship with you ☀️ These ‘wins’ are very generalised and will look different for every family - there is no one size fits all approach. This month we wrap up our topic of ‘what does progress look like?’ with this popular quote: Every win is a celebration, not because it’s a win, but because of all the hard work that went behind it. ~ Serena Williams ~ If you currently have concerns regarding your child's feeding, please reach out. We have immediate availability and offer Clinic (Carseldine), Video Telehealth and Home Visit Appointments - call 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio to complete an online booking form. Lyndal and The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ . . . . . #KidsGrowth #NutritionForKids #KidsNutrition #PaediatricNutrition #DietitianApproved #ChildGrowth #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #HAES #HealthAtEverySize #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #WeightNeutralCare #EatingDisorders #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #WeightNeutralDietitians #NeuroAffirming

😮💨 Parents feel pressure to ensure their child is growing and eating well. When reality looks different to the ideal, worry can lead to pressuring kids to eat. Perhaps you’ve heard the phrases ‘just one more bite’, or ‘no dessert til you’ve eaten all your dinner’ or ‘you’re 5 now, so you need to take 5 bites’. It’s hard work. ❤️ At Kids Dig Food, we understand these pressures to get our kids to eat more or better variety, but we also know encouragement doesn’t always work well. Pressure can ultimately switch off hunger cues, interest in food and curiosity, which is exactly what is needed for food learning. 😄 We seek to find ways to give our parents qualified permission to do less, to take the pressure down, and find responsive and supportive phrases and ways to support a child’s food learning journey. Progress, therefore, can look like less pressure and/or more positive mealtimes. If you currently have concerns regarding your child's feeding, please reach out. We have immediate availability and offer In-Clinic (Carseldine), Video Telehealth and Home Visit Appointments - call 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio and complete our online booking form. One of our friendly Client Care Officer's will be in touch. Lyndal and The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ . . . . . #KidsGrowth #NutritionForKids #KidsNutrition #PaediatricNutrition #DietitianApproved #ChildGrowth #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #HAES #HealthAtEverySize #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #WeightNeutralCare #EatingDisorders #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #WeightNeutralDietitians

💭 We love this quote from @kateknapp at TwigSeeds.com.au because ... 😉 At Kids Dig Food, we are proud to provide weight-neutral and non-diet care for our client families. We also know that parents can be holding a LOT of anxious expectation, hopes and dreams about their child's eating and nutrition. It is understandable to want changes to happen as soon as possible #youreonlyhuman! 🛝 If our Dietitian's WERE to prescribe a "diet" however, it would definitely be the "No expecting and lots of enjoying" diet. We love the sound of that! If you have questions or concerns around your child's nutrition, please reach out. We have immediate availability and offer In-Clinic (Carseldine), Video Telehealth and Home Visit Appointments - call 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio and complete our online booking form. One of our friendly Client Care Officer's will be in touch. The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ . . . . . #KidsGrowth #NutritionForKids #KidsNutrition #PaediatricNutrition #DietitianApproved #ChildGrowth #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #HAES #HealthAtEverySize #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #WeightNeutralCare #EatingDisorders #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #WeightNeutralDietitians

🌾 Today’s post is inspired by Maya Angelou’s famous quote “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” 🌈 Parents are doing their absolute best and we know this by the countless families we have seen over the 11 years Kids Dig Food has been in operation. 🌾 For a lot of our families we understand there are competing and challenging circumstances. Parents often report not knowing what to do or how to help their child and naturally, worry and stress levels in the home increase during these times. 🌈 Understanding why a child refuses to eat certain foods or why they will only accept the same foods day in / day out or how and why a child’s body is feeling, helps parents to identify the best support systems for their child. 🌾 If knowledge is power, then we believe understanding is a pathway to progress. Knowing that pathway forward reduces parent worry so together we can ‘...do better.’ This is progress and this is one of the ways our Dietitians at Kids Dig Food support our families. If you currently have concerns regarding your child's feeding, please reach out. We have immediate availability and offer Clinic (Carseldine), Video Telehealth and Home Visit Appointments -call 1300 971 609 or click the link in our bio and complete our online booking form. One of our friendly Client Care Officer's will be in touch. Lyndal and The Kids Dig Food Team ♡ . . . . . #KidsDigFood #FamilyDietitian #PaediatricDietitian #KidsDietitian #FamilyFeeding #HelpForParents #HappyKids #HealthyKids #HAES #HealthAtEverySize #FussyEaters #FeedingTeens #ResponsiveFeeding #FeedingKids #FeedingTweens #WeightNeutralCare #EatingDisorders #FamilyMeals #EatingSkills #EatingIndependence #NonDiet #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #WeightNeutralDietitians