The.Baby.Dietitian

The.Baby.Dietitian Registered Dietitian + International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

05/28/2026

I wholeheartedly believe that even though my delivery wasn’t what I expected or prayed for it was exactly what needed to happen to keep me and baby girl healthy and alive. So very thankful we are on the other side of this! Thankful for my prayers not being answered the way I wanted them to be. God is good, all the time.

I JUST uploaded my birth story blog + my blog on how I left the hospital exclusively breastfeeding after a six-day NICU stay ➡️ comment “blog” and I’ll send them your way.

Disclaimer: No VBA2C was attempted, baby girl was breeched and came at 37 weeks 3 days due to possible placental abruption but not confirmed.

Hope this is helpful ⭐️Comment “first” for my free first week meal plan when starting solids and follow for evidence-ba...
05/27/2026

Hope this is helpful ⭐️

Comment “first” for my free first week meal plan when starting solids and follow for evidence-based baby led feeding guidance + all the recipes you need.

05/26/2026

2 ounces of sardines provides roughly 0.7-0.8g of omega-3. Children between 1-3 years of age need 0.7g of omega-3/day.

**For infants, the AIs apply to total omega-3s. For age 1 and older, the AIs apply only to ALA because ALA is the only omega-3 that is essential. The IOM did not establish specific intake recommendations for EPA, DHA, or other LC omega-3s.

Other food sources of omega-3 include: salmon, flaxseed oil, flaxseed, soybeans, walnuts, mackerel, edamame, cod, tuna, chia seeds.
* Omega-3s play a key role in development and growth especially surrounding brain health, visual development, cardiovascular health and immune system.
* 95% of US Children do not currently consume enough omega-3s in their daily diet to meet their nutritional needs based on the US Dietary Guidelines. PMID: 34134803. Murphy RA, Devarshi PP, Ekimura S, et alLong-chain omega-3 fatty acid serum concentrations across life stages in the USA: an analysis of NHANES 2011–2012BMJ Open 2021;11:e043301. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043301
* This survey data showed that EPA and DHA intakes were consistently lower than guidelines, with children, teenagers, females, and pregnant women having some of the largest dietary gaps. Only 7.3% of children consumed oily fish which is one of the top sources of omega-3 fatty acids. PMID: 31781570
* Very few American children met even the lowest recommendations for EPA and DHA intake. PMID: 29523147

If you have more questions around what are the best and worst fish options for kids, comment “omega3” and I will send my full blog + ebook on this topic.

Do you love grilling out as much as we do? Here are some helpful suggestions to make grilling safer for the whole family...
05/25/2026

Do you love grilling out as much as we do? Here are some helpful suggestions to make grilling safer for the whole family. I know many of these suggestions may decrease the flavor of your favorite meats, if we are only serving grilled meats occasionally you may not need to worry about following all the recommendations listed here.

We have research studies that show that some of the chemicals created when grilling - like HCA and PAH, increase cancer risk. This excerpt from NIH: National Cancer Institute explains this well:

“Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals formed when muscle meat, including beef, pork, fish, or poultry, is cooked using high-temperature methods, such as pan frying or grilling directly over an open flame. In laboratory experiments, HCAs and PAHs have been found to be mutagenic—that is, they cause changes in DNA that may increase the risk of cancer.
HCAs are formed when amino acids, sugars, and creatine or creatinine react at high temperatures. PAHs are formed when fat and juices from meat grilled directly over a heated surface or open fire drip onto the surface or fire, causing flames and smoke. The smoke contains PAHs that then adhere to the surface of the meat. PAHs can also be formed during other food preparation processes, such as smoking of meats.

HCAs are not found in significant amounts in foods other than meat cooked at high temperatures. PAHs can be found in other smoked foods, as well as in cigarette smoke and car exhaust fumes.”

-https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/cooked-meats-fact-sheet

General recommendations:
✅Enjoy grilled food in moderation alongside a diet full of fruits and vegetables (aka cancer fighting foods!)
✅Use the tips outlined here to reduce the risk when grilling!

Comment “grill” for my FREE grilling out with baby handout

05/23/2026

Did you know babies can use an open cup from birth? And did you know there are several ways to supplement a baby besides a bottle?

Two Cochrane reviews found that preterm infants randomized to cup feeding (vs. bottle feeding) were significantly more likely to be fully breastfed at discharge. 👍

Pro tip: If supplementation is needed at birth, using methods like cup feeding instead of a bottle may help prevent flow preference and support a successful breastfeeding relationship.

Benefits of cup feeding:

✅ Allows tongue movement similar to the suckling reflex used during breastfeeding
✅ Lets babies pace their own feeding

Here are La Leche League’s tips for cup feeding:

👉 Sit your awake baby upright on your lap, supporting their neck and shoulders with your arm or hand.

👉 Place the rim of the cup on your baby’s lower lip and tilt it until the milk reaches their lip. Your baby will explore the liquid with their tongue and begin to lap or sip the milk. The first few attempts may take a few minutes.

👉 Don’t pour the milk into your baby’s mouth. Keep the cup resting at their lower lip and allow them to pause and rest as needed.

👉 Your baby will let you know when they’re finished by turning away or showing other feeding cues.

👉 Try practicing with another adult first to get comfortable with the angle and flow of the liquid.

Have you heard of cup feeding or tried it before?

05/22/2026

Key Points on Iron: ✅

Iron plays an important role in brain development and is necessary for adequate delivery of oxygen to tissues and cells throughout the body.

The original iron stores of a full-term healthy baby, combined with iron in breast milk, are usually enough to keep a baby’s hemoglobin levels within the normal range up to the first six months. However, around 6 months of age, the iron stores that were accumulated in utero are depleted, hence requiring complementary food to be introduced to aid in meeting iron needs.
“Iron is necessary to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells to all parts of the body. Iron also supports proper neurological development during infancy and early childhood.” –Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

“Iron deficiency in the first two years may cause future delays in intellectual, behavioral, and motor development.” -American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition

Key Points on Disordered Eating: ✅
Among teens ages 13 to 18, 3.8% of females and 1.5% of males are reported to have an eating disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

According to data collected by NHS England in 2022 1,721 children and young people were awaiting treatment for eating disorders compared with 603 patients in 2016. This reveals an increase of 185% in eating disorders among children and young people.

Hopkinson E, Petty J. Why eating disorders in children and young people are increasing: implications for practice. Nurs Child Young People. 2023 Mar 2;35(2):24-28. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2022.e1445. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36468171.

Creating a positive relationship with all food groups and avoiding labels that demonize, fear, or label foods negatively are recommended to be avoided as an effective way to prevent disordered eating habits.
Norton L, Parkinson J, Harris N, Darcy M, Hart L. Parental food communication and child eating behaviours: A systematic literature review. Health Promot J Austral. 2023; 34(2): 366–78. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.604

More in comments or respond “blog” and I’ll send all my evidence-based blog posts your way ⭐️⬇️

These are just some phrases I have learned through my education as a pediatric dietitian that can actually be more harmf...
05/21/2026

These are just some phrases I have learned through my education as a pediatric dietitian that can actually be more harmful than helpful. I will post a separate post on things I do say in replacement in a few days ❤️

I absolutely do not judge if you have used these phrases because many people were raised with these sayings being told to them. Reframing our language around meal time can be an incredibly helpful tool to create more adventurous eaters who have a healthy relationship with all foods. Eating disorders are on the rise throughout the world, let’s do our part to help avoid this in our children.

Among teens ages 13 to 18, 3.8% of females and 1.5% of males are reported to have an eating disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

According to data collected by NHS England in 2022 1,721 children and young people were awaiting treatment for eating disorders compared with 603 patients in 2016. This reveals an increase of 185% in eating disorders among children and young people.

Hopkinson E, Petty J. Why eating disorders in children and young people are increasing: implications for practice. Nurs Child Young People. 2023 Mar 2;35(2):24-28. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2022.e1445. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 36468171.

An important finding of the present study is that for 10- to 14-year-old girls, the risk for developing anorexia nervosa has increased significantly over 40 years.

van Eeden AE, van Hoeken D, Hendriksen JMT, Hoek HW. Increase in incidence of anorexia nervosa among 10- to 14-year-old girls: A nationwide study in the Netherlands over four decades. Int J Eat Disord. 2023 Dec;56(12):2295-2303. doi: 10.1002/eat.24064. Epub 2023 Sep 29. PMID: 37773004.

Comment “ ” and I’ll send some of my favorite things to say during meals.

Need some inspiration for finger foods for your little one? These are great finger foods for 6-9 months when your child ...
05/18/2026

Need some inspiration for finger foods for your little one? These are great finger foods for 6-9 months when your child is using their palmar grasp to pick food up and self-feed!

Reminder, iron rich foods are important so I always try to include good examples of those
👉🏻Meatballs
👉🏻Burgers
👉🏻Sweet Potatoes
👉🏻Eggs
👉🏻Broccoli
👉🏻Tofu
👉🏻Pancakes, muffins, or waffles using iron fortified cereal

Focus on a variety of different food groups and colors to ensure they are getting a wide variety of nutrients while also establishing long-term taste preferences.

Here are some of my favorites above!

Not sure how to confidently start solids? Comment “101” for our evidence based baby-led weaning book with recipes and step by step guides.

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