PEDIATRIC & FAMILY NUTRITION
Practical nutrition support for children, teens, and their families
Feeding children can become complicated quickly. Concerns about growth, appetite, picky eating, ADHD medications, nutrient intake, or stressful mealtimes can leave parents wondering whether their child is getting what they need, and what to do next.
At Summit Nutrition Counseling, I help families take a practical, evidence-based approach to nutrition while protecting a child’s relationship with food.
The goal is not to create perfect eaters. It is to help children get the nutrition they need to grow and thrive, while making food and mealtimes feel more manageable for the whole family.
I Can Help With:
Eats a very limited number of foods
Has a known or suspected nutrient deficiency
Shows significant anxiety or distress around eating
Has difficulty gaining weight or maintaining their expected growth pattern
Regularly skips meals or eats very little
Has mealtimes that have become a major source of conflict or stress
Continues to have highly restrictive eating patterns into later childhood or adolescence
For some children with ADHD, nutrition concerns can become an important part of their overall care.
Stimulant medications may reduce appetite during the day, and some children already have strong food preferences, sensory differences, difficulty sitting through meals, or inconsistent hunger cues.
Nutrition counseling can help families find realistic ways to:
Increase calories and nutrients when appetite is strongest
Build more substantial meals and snacks
Support adequate growth and weight gain
Identify potential nutrient gaps
Navigate selective eating without increasing pressure
Create routines that work with the child’s schedule and medication
When helpful, I can also collaborate with your child’s pediatrician or other members of their care team.
Making Family Meals Feel Manageable Again
Mealtime should be an opportunity to connect, not another source of stress.
That does not mean every meal has to be homemade, perfectly balanced, or require hours of planning and preparation. Real families need realistic solutions.
Together, we can work on meal and snack structure, family-friendly foods, division of responsibility around feeding, and practical strategies that reduce pressure while helping children become more comfortable and confident around food.
All foods can have a place.
Rather than forcing, bribing, hiding foods, or making separate meals for everyone, we work toward an approach that supports nutrition while making mealtimes more enjoyable for the entire family.
Selective Eating.
Some degree of “picky eating” is common in childhood. Additional support may be helpful when your child:
Eats a very limited number of foods
Has a known or suspected nutrient deficiency
Shows significant anxiety or distress around eating
Has difficulty gaining weight or maintaining their expected growth pattern
Regularly skips meals or eats very little
Has mealtimes that have become a major source of conflict or stress
Continues to have highly restrictive eating patterns into later childhood or adolescence
What to Expect
Appointments are available via telehealth for families throughout Washington.
During our work together, we may review your child’s growth history, typical intake, appetite patterns, medications, food preferences, feeding environment, and any relevant labs or medical concerns.
From there, we develop an individualized plan that feels realistic for your child and your family.
If you are concerned about your child’s growth, appetite, nutrition, selective eating, or family mealtimes, I would be glad to help.
Ready to get Started?
Appointments are available via telehealth throughout Washington