Nutrition
Medical Services
Rehab Services
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About Child Nutrition Care
Nutrition disorders and compromised nutritional status are common among children with special needs. Dietary modification and intervention can go a long way in improving the child’s alertness and stamina so they can participate in therapies, educational activities, and social interactions to their full potential.
Our child nutrition services are provided by qualified Nutritionists that conduct individual assessments and collect necessary information about the child’s nutritional history, and dietary intake, anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical variables, feeding skills and feeding problems, food habits and preferences. We develop and monitor appropriate plans to address the child’s nutritional needs and make referrals to meet nutrition goals.
Who Should Avail Child Nutrition Care
Children with developmental disabilities, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies, feeding problems, and chronic illnesses benefit from Child Nutrition Counseling. Dietary modifications and intervention are especially useful for children with conditions like Autism/ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or IEM (Inborn Errors of Metabolism) and related nutrition disorders
Importance of Child Nutrition Care Services
What a child eats can have a positive or negative impact on their brain and other bodily functions. Therefore, it is essential to know exactly how food impacts a child. The caregiver/ parent /healthcare team of a child needs to recognize that without proper nutrition, the child will not function at their full potential and will not fully benefit from therapy sessions.
Children with special health care needs are at risk of inadequate nutritional status owing to:
- Slow growth and poor feeding.
- Severe gastrointestinal problems
- Metabolic disorders
- Hypersensitivity reactions
The nutritional goal for all children with special needs is that they should be provided with daily nutrients that promote lifelong health.
Benefits
The Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Varnam Child Development Centre (VCDC) focuses on evidence-based comprehensive nutritional care for children and adolescents with special needs like :
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD)
- Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM)
- Picky or fussy eaters
Child Nutrition Care aims to achieve and maintain optimal nutrition and well-being in all children regardless of whether or not they have special needs.
Caregivers are often confused about what a proper diet includes according to the needs of the child. Healthy foods, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids, herbs, and nutraceuticals all play a huge role in maintaining the child’s health and supporting their ability to heal well.
Process
Initially all children undergo a Comprehensive Nutritional Assessment through a detailed history taking.
Pre-assessments:
Nutritional assessment should be an integral part of the care for any individual. Children with chronic illness and those at risk for malnutrition should have detailed nutritional assessments done. Components of a complete nutritional assessment include a medical history, physical examination, anthropometrics (weight, length or stature, head circumference, mid-arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness) Percentile, biochemical parameters, detailed diet intake history including the type of diet, a day’s sample diet, food allergies present, consistency of food.
We must bear in mind that nutritional challenges are as varied as each individual child and our aim is merely to provide a general guideline for parents and caretakers. A customized diet prescription will be helpful in meeting individual challenges. Talk with healthcare providers to schedule a dietitian-nutritionist appointment.
Know your therapist
DR. LATHA SASHI
Head of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Varnam CDC Online Services
Our online consulting service enables you to have your child’s consultation from the convenience of your home, via video call.