Autism Dietitian Perth

Hello. Kim dietitian here. If you are autistic, AuDHD or a caregiver for someone who is and looking for support with nutrition you are in the right place. I can support to find an eating patterns that fuels your amazing brain and is personalised to your sensory preferences, interests, skills and environment. There are many reasons eating and mealtimes can feel hard and I help you to break down the barriers and help you have a positive relationship with food for life. 

Nutrient deficiencies including iron, B12, zinc, not eating from all 5 x food groups, being underweight < BMI less than 20kg/m2, losing weight unintentionally, having low energy/brain fog/reduced spoons from not eating, medication affecting appetite, unintentional weight gain or being a larger body and wanting to change or having digestive issues. This can be due to so many reasons including sensory food preferences, regulation, the environment, difficulties planning and preparing meals and snacks, difficulties knowing what, when, how, why to eat or eat certain foods, life transitions, emotions. The main thing is understanding your own eating needs and understanding your Neurodivergent eating patterns can look different to Neurotypical eating patterns but still make your body healthy.  My goal is to work together how to make eating and nutrition work for your body and brain. 

Similar to issues for an adult but also higher chance of having growth issues, constipation and behavioural, emotional effects from types of foods eaten or not eating. Often for these kids it goes beyond phases of 'picky or fussy eating' and if your childs eating or growth is causing you stress then a dietitian can help.  My approach includes having an initial parent session then deciding together if supports are best delivered through a parent coaching model or direct feeding intervention or a mixed approach with support for Speech/OT. 

Parent coaching is focused on ensuring nutritional and medical safety first, implementing responsive feeding, support for modifying the mealtime environment, understandings your childs sensory food preferences, food chaining to new foods, reducing food jagging, what new food to introduce if needed, multivitamin use if needed, nutrition analysis of diet, realistic food swaps. 

Direct responsive feeding therapy with the child takes an interest led approach focused on increasing autonomy around food and reducing pressure and therefore anxiety. Activities can include work with food items such food toys, food characters, drawing, using smelling textas, games and/or work with foods including cooking, food experiments, tea parties, using special interests to create food stories, using special food equipment, alot of fun and getting messy in a safe space - either at your home or Nedlands Clinic or sometimes telehealth.