Optimum Intake Dietitians

15/06/2026

Has your child’s growth become a source of worry?

Perhaps your child has always been one of the smaller children in their class.

Maybe meals feel like a constant negotiation.

Or perhaps you’ve been told your child isn’t gaining weight as expected and you’re unsure what to do next.

One of the first things we want parents to know is this:
💜Slow weight gain is not a reflection of poor parenting.

Many factors can influence growth, including appetite, feeding skills, sensory differences, medical conditions, energy requirements, food intake and even family growth patterns.

When families come to Optimum Intake Dietitians, we don’t just look at a number on a growth chart.

We take the time to understand the whole child.

Their personality, interests, activities, eating habits, family routines, health history and the unique challenges they may be facing all help us understand what support may be needed.

Our goal is not only to support healthy growth and nutrition, but also to reduce mealtime stress and help families feel more confident moving forward.

If you’ve been worried about your child’s growth, you’re not alone, and support is available.

Read our latest blog to learn more about slow weight gain in children and how a paediatric dietitian can help.

11/06/2026

When people think about cerebral palsy, nutrition is not always the first thing that comes to mind.

Yet for many children and adults living with cerebral palsy, food and nutrition can play an important role in supporting energy, growth, strength, comfort and everyday participation.

Some people may experience:
• Feeding or swallowing difficulties
• Fatigue and low energy
• Difficulty maintaining weight
• Constipation or gastrointestinal symptoms
• Increased energy requirements
• Challenges with meal preparation and food access

These challenges can impact much more than physical health.
They can influence confidence, independence, social participation, learning, work, recreation and overall quality of life.

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we believe nutrition support should be as individual as the person receiving it.

That’s why we take the time to understand each person’s goals, interests, daily routines, support networks and what matters most to them.

For one person, success might mean having enough energy to participate in wheelchair sports.

For another, it could mean building confidence in preparing simple meals, improving comfort at mealtimes, maintaining weight, supporting growth or reducing reliance on others for food-related tasks.

Because behind every diagnosis is a unique individual with their own strengths, aspirations and goals.

10/06/2026

Living with gastroparesis can make eating feel exhausting.

Whether it’s a child who fills up after only a few bites, a teenager struggling to keep up with friends because of fatigue, or an adult constantly managing nausea and discomfort, gastroparesis can impact much more than digestion.

It can affect:
• Nutrition intake
• Growth and development in children
• Weight maintenance
• Energy levels
• School, work and daily activities
• Social experiences around food
• Confidence and wellbeing

For parents, it can be particularly worrying when your child is eating very little, struggling to gain weight, avoiding food, or experiencing ongoing symptoms after meals.

Many families tell us they feel frustrated, confused and unsure what their child should be eating. Many adults feel the same way.

The good news is that nutrition support can help.

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we take the time to understand the individual behind the diagnosis. Their symptoms, lifestyle, goals, food preferences, family circumstances and support needs all matter when developing a nutrition plan.

Our latest blog explores:
✔ What gastroparesis is
✔ Common symptoms in children and adults
✔ How nutrition can support symptom management
✔ Strategies to support growth, weight and nutrition
✔ When to seek support from a dietitian

If you or someone you care about is living with gastroparesis, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Read the full blog on our website

10/06/2026

For most people, eating is something that happens automatically throughout the day.
For someone living with gastroparesis, every meal can require planning, problem-solving and persistence.

You may feel full after only a few mouthfuls. Nausea may make it difficult to finish meals. Foods you once enjoyed might suddenly leave you feeling bloated, uncomfortable or unwell for hours afterwards.

Some people find themselves avoiding social situations involving food. Others become anxious about eating because they never know how their body will respond.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we understand that gastroparesis affects far more than digestion. Read more on our Blog Post or contact us for support on 0499 008 451 or email [email protected]

Living with gastroparesis? Learn how a dietitian can help manage nausea, bloating, weight loss and nutrition challenges with personalised support.

09/06/2026

Has your child’s appetite changed since starting medication?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear from parents.

Often, families tell us:
👉 “They’re doing so much better on the medication, but now they barely eat.”
👉 “Their lunchbox comes home untouched.”
👉 “I’m worried about their growth.”
👉 “Dinner is the only meal they’ll eat.”

Many medications can affect appetite, eating patterns and nutrition. ADHD medications are one of the most common examples, but they aren’t the only medications that can impact how much a child eats.

When appetite changes occur, parents are often trying to balance two important goals:
✔ Supporting their child’s health, learning and daily functioning
✔ Supporting their child’s growth and nutritional needs
The good news is that these goals can often work together.

A paediatric dietitian can help identify practical strategies to support nutrition, growth and energy levels while working with your child’s unique appetite patterns.

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we take the time to understand the whole child.

Their growth, eating patterns, daily routines, food preferences, sensory needs, hobbies, interests and family circumstances all help shape the recommendations we provide.

Because behind every growth chart is a child, and behind every child is a family doing their very best.

03/06/2026

If you’ve been living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), you know how exhausting digestive symptoms can be.

The bloating that makes you feel uncomfortable by the end of the day. The abdominal pain that seems to appear without warning. The unpredictable bowel habits that leave you constantly planning around the nearest bathroom. The frustration of feeling like food has become something to fear rather than enjoy.

For many people, the low FODMAP diet provides welcome relief when nothing else seems to work.

After years of struggling with symptoms, finally feeling better can be life-changing.

But what happens when the low FODMAP diet becomes your way of eating for months or even years?

If you’ve been avoiding a long list of foods indefinitely, you may be restricting more than you need to.

Been following a low FODMAP diet for months or years? Learn why long-term restriction may be holding you back and how a dietitian can help you

22/05/2026

Dietitians Week 2026 💜🧩💜
This week our team celebrated the theme Collective Impact with a reflective activity that turned out to be incredibly special.

Each team member decorated their own puzzle piece and reflected on the impact they make as a dietitian supporting people within our community. When we joined all the pieces together, it created one larger picture representing the power of collective impact across our team.

It was such a great reminder that every interaction matters. Every client conversation, home visit, meal support strategy, report, education session and moment of encouragement contributes to improving someone’s health, wellbeing and daily functioning.

One thing I continue to hear from dietitians is that many feel undervalued or under-utilised in the healthcare system. Yet the work happening across our profession every single day is making a tremendous difference to people’s lives.

Let’s keep sharing that impact more widely.
More conversations.
More advocacy.
More visibility.
More leadership.
Because many people still do not fully understand the breadth of what dietitians do and the outcomes we can help achieve.
Happy Dietitians Week to all the incredible dietitians making a difference in their communities 💜🧩💜

PrimaryCare Nutrition

11/05/2026

Our promise to you - Innovative, Individualised and IMPACTFUL nutrition care.

Across our 7 teams we strive to make an IMPACT:

From our Paediatrics, Disability, Chronic Conditions, Sports, Residential Aged Care, Community Aged Care, Mental Health and the glue that keeps it together, our Client Care Team 💜

This Dietitians Week we are celebrating Our Collective impact and how we support our community.

11/05/2026

Creatine has long been associated with gym culture and bodybuilding – but that’s only part of the story.

Today, creatine is one of the most researched and widely discussed supplements in nutrition.

Beyond performance, it’s gaining attention for its potential role in recovery, brain health, and healthy ageing.

So, is creatine something you should consider?

Let’s break it down.

Should you take creatine? Learn about the benefits, safety, side effects, and practical considerations of creatine supplementation from Accredited Practising Dietitians.

09/05/2026

Team Training Session - IDDSI

There are so many products available to help us thicken foods and liquids on the market. We wanted to refresh our teams knowledge in the IDDSI Levels and practically demonstrate how to thicken liquids, test out some pre packaged texture modified foods and better understand the heavy lift of making foods safe for consumption when texture and thickness matter for swallowing.

Our team learnt some valuable lessons regarding accurate measuring and how having specific ml measure matters, timing of thickeners impact speed of thickening, the manual burden of preparing food and liquids from scratch and testing the IDDSI level compliance.

We are now feeling refreshed with this experienced and equipped to support people at home who need texture modified foods and fluids. 💜

Plus the food tasting was a bonus- surprisingly tasty 😋