I started my journey as a dietitian working in a children’s hospital. Through my work with children, I learned more about the importance of early life nutrition and the impact good nutrition foundations can have in setting healthy habits for life.Â
The ability to nurture and nourish your child is a powerful and instinctive need for any mother. Working in vulnerable communities and in hospitals caring for premature infants and sick children I saw firsthand the importance nutrition and food can play in the health of a mother and her child. In a world of often unknowns and fear, food and being able to feed your child is the one thing a parent CAN do to help. It is also that one thing that can be a game changer to the outcome of a child’s condition and recovery. When a sick child starts improving, food and eating is that thing that provide a gauge of getting better. It can connect families again, give a child a sense of independence and offer a huge sense of joy and pleasure.
What children eat, drink and are exposed to from the time they still in their mum’s tummy, to when they are quizzy and busy two years olds, can significantly impact the way your child grows and develops. Nutrition can even affect their risk of chronic health conditions in later life, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, allergies and eczema.
There is so much scientific research to emphasise this golden time, but the status of Australian pregnant mums isn’t as good as you would think. In a recent study of the 850 mum’s-to-be, none met the basic requirements of all the core food groups. There is no doubt that many mothers feel confused, overwhelmed & stressed by what to eat during pregnancy – we need better support.Â
So, in my frustration with the lack of resources for hopeful parents, I decided to focus on areas of fertility & early life nutrition, to help parents and kiddies to live their healthiest, happiest lives possible using evidence-based dietary and with practical and simple strategies.
