Babies, Children and Teenagers.

Food has a major influence on health, growth and behaviour. Childhood is an especially important time for ensuring your child is optimally nourished.

Every parent wants the best for their child, but choosing their food can be a minefield of tantrums, picky eating, behavioural and learning difficulties plus a multitude of other hurdles.

The Nutrition Coach can help you choose foods for your child that are nutritionally sound, but not boring to provide the nutrients that developing bodies need to maximise their physical and mental potential.

We look at practical nutritious ways to enhance their growth, immunity and general health, but also recognise that their needs are constantly changing from newborn through to teenage years, but the key is to instil healthy eating as early as possible; giving them the best start in life and thus the best foundation for the future.

Teenagers experience different challenges - an increased rate of growth, becoming aware of their sexuality, appearance and pressure from peers and society to fit in. The problem with the average diet is that it largely consists of junk food, fizzy drinks and alcohol and does nothing to support their bodies through this time.

What is normal?

It is natural for a parent to wonder if their child is normal, but these days that covers an ever-increasing range. A child can be sensitive to virtually anything from chemicals in household products, to food additives, to what seem to be perfectly innocent foods. Tantrums are to be expected, but for some children this becomes a habit and can lead to violent destructive behaviour and/or severe mood swings. If deemed appropriate, we may recommend allergy testing to help identify triggers, then offer support and guidance on the best ways to deal with eliminated foods while still being mindful of nutritional status.

The Nutrition Coach

• Helps identify the problem.
• Gently takes you through a programme.
• Gives you alternatives

Brandon's mother first brought him to The Nutrition Coach when he was 8 years old...

Her concerns were his constantly runny, itching nose, poor quality of sleep and his increasingly disruptive behaviour at school. She initially thought it was due to him changing schools, but 6 months later there was no improvement.

After the initial consultation it was clear to see that Brandon was consuming vast amounts of processed foods providing his body with a steady supply of chemical additives.

Not wanting to be too restrictive, we suggested a gradual change to more fresh fruit and vegetables and the introduction of water. We then recommended Brandon have a test for food sensitivities which confirmed our initial thoughts. Brandon was reacting to 4 additives that were regularly appearing in his diet.

With guidance from us and dedication and effort from his mother, Brandon is much calmer, although still having his cheeky moments. His sleep has improved and his runny, itchy nose is virtually a thing of the past.

Some of the issues we address:

• Hyperactivity and ADHD
• Food intolerances/allergies
• Frequent colds and infections
• Food cravings
• Skin conditions
• Childhood obesity
• Asthma, Hayfever
• Constipation
• Excessive sleepiness
• Bedwetting