Dietitian content

Early introduction of peanuts is thought to help the immune system tolerate peanut proteins. Nuts should be incorporated into an infant’s diet from 6 months of age to prevent sensitivity and maintain tolerance. Research suggests that introducing peanuts between 6-12 months of age can reduce peanut allergy in high risk infants e.g. those with significant […]

Marcela is a dietitian and award winning nutritionist with over 10 years experience working for the NHS and private sector.  She specialises in women’s health including PCOS, endometriosis, fertility, pregnancy, postnatal/maternal nutrition, menopause and weight management. She is a member of the BDA’s specialist Maternal and Fertility Nutrition Group.  In addition, she has a wealth […]

Our childhood experiences of food often shape our adult relationships with food, and more and more we are seeing children who have developed or are developing poor relationships with food. These may not always be obvious, or you may notice your child is fussy, over eats or under eats. Food relationships develop from a young […]

Worried about fussy eating? This is a common concern that I discuss with families. See below for my top tips: Avoid unpleasant mealtimes. Bribing, forcing, and pressure to eat can lead to unpleasant and anxious experiences around both familiar and new foods. If a child associates an unpleasant experience with a food or mealtime, this […]

Do you struggle to get your child to eat their fruit and vegetables? When you hear that 5 a day is the ideal number do you worry that your child does not achieve this? And what is 5 a day? Fruits and vegetables are a great source of fibre, vitamins and minerals which help keep […]

Hello everyone and welcome to the Children’s  dietitian. My name is Cheryl and I am a registered paediatric dietitian and if you’re watching this video you’re probably looking for some support for the most precious person in your life and I hope I can help you. So you probably want to know a little bit […]

Egg allergy like many other allergies is caused by the immune system reacting to the protein as if it is harmful, and around 2% of children suffer from an egg allergy, however just like milk allergy, they often outgrow this. Despite this, egg allergy can be dangerous, and children’s reactions can range from a skin […]

Avoiding allergens can be harder than you think. Here are my tips to keep your child safe: Ensure that you have the support of a medical team if your child has a food allergy, and seek support from a qualified children’s dietitian for diet advice. Food Labels – Within the EU food labels should clearly […]

Did you know? Vitamin D is actually a hormone which is produced by the body when sunlight hits the skin. Another lockdown means mostly staying indoors again, and with the colder darker months upon us, our doses of sunshine are looking limited (even a flight for a week in the sun results in quarantine!). Children […]

Cooking tips While the novel pandemic has shaken up our lives, perhaps there is a silver lining. On a grander scale, our environment is getting a well-deserved break from the overwhelming amount of pollution. On a smaller scale, many of us are cooking more from home. This is not to ignore the amount of stress […]

Losing weight Getting back to pre-pregnancy weight is high on the agenda of many new mums. I get asked a lot whether it is safe to go on a diet straight after giving birth, particularly if you are breastfeeding. While you shouldn’t put any pressure on yourself or try to rush weight loss (and I […]

I’m registered dietitian, nutritionist and mummy to 2 little girls. I specialise in baby and child nutrition and I am an expert in weaning and fussy eating. I have a passion for nutrition I have studied it from school to postgraduate level. In particular I am passionate about the importance of building a healthy relationship […]

Choking risks for children  Key points/top tips Even young babies (before weaning) can choke whilst drinking milk from a bottle. Prop-feeding is tempting but if baby starts to choke they won’t be able to push bottle away. Always stay with your baby/child whilst they are eating and drinking from bottles. Don’t put anything in your […]

Have you ever wondered when or should I give my baby or toddler chocolate? Chocolate ideally shouldn’t be given before the age of 2 due to the caffeine and sugar content, however in my experience, most children have had chocolate before this age. Due to the acidity, chocolate can worsen digestive problems such as reflux, […]

Do you think your baby or child has a food allergy or intolerance? If so, please read on for my overview of allergies, however if you are concerned about a specific food allergy or intolerance feel free to get in touch directly. Food Allergy Food allergies are common in children, and often are temporary, but […]

So your little one has a cow’s milk protein allergy diagnosis, so what should you give them instead? Firstly if your child has multiple allergies you should speak to a dietitian about appropriate alternatives. Before the age of 12 months an infants main drink should be breast milk or infant formula. If your child has […]

What to feed your baby – First Foods Fruit & vegetables – steamed until very soft to blended or given as finger foods Carbohydrates – Can be cooked & blended (if needed). Cereals can be mixed with formula milk or full fat cows milk (if baby over 6 months) Protein – These foods shouldn’t be […]

4 Tips to know whether your baby is ready for solids Baby is at least 6 months old (recommended age advised by WHO) Baby can sit up and has good head and neck control Baby may start showing interest and reaching out for your food Baby open their mouth when offered food and is able […]

Weaning is such an exciting milestone for you and your baby but it can also be a confusing one and with so much conflicting advice out there it is difficult to know which advice to follow. So here I am going to debunk some of the common weaning myths to get you started Myth 1 […]

I often get asked if it’s possible to feed kids a healthy and nutritious vegan, vegetarian, or mainly plant-based diet? Firstly it’s very important to know that you CAN raise healthy and thriving children on a plant-based diet. However, this involves a huge amount of commitment to cooking from scratch and educating yourself on optimising […]