Often in this case a dietitian may commence a milk-based supplement instead of plain milk as an interim intervention to ensure nutrient requirements are met while the child learns to eat more solid food. The key is to work out which supplement the child should take and to maintain nutritional adequacy while the child transitions onto a “normal” diet. Typically, milk-based supplements meet most nutrient requirements except for iron, which is a bit trickier so it’s important to only use them with a dietitian’s advice and guidance.
Dietitians also try to find the fine balance between having enough of the supplement to meet requirements while allowing the child to have the opportunity to feel hungry – as a bit of hunger is typically the biggest motivator for children to eat. On that note though, we obviously don’t want to starve children!
Our team are always open to questions about children’s eating and nutrition – we hope this was helpful for you!
To book an appointment with our dietician just call 1300 661 945. Our dietician can help children and babies who have difficulty eating, difficulty with being overweight or underweight or have restricted diets, allergies etc. Our dietitian can provide face to face consultations in Toowoomba and telehealth consultations anywhere in Australia including your home or our Beenleigh, Burpengary and Chinchilla clinics.