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Nutrition Consulting

Nutrition Consulting For Children & Youth

By Paula Bartholomy, MS, CNC, © Copyright 2008.

Nutrition Consultation Has Helped Kids With

  • Addictions
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Autism
  • Depression
  • Digestive disturbances
  • Emotional imbalances
    and disturbances
  • Fatigue
  • Food cravings
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Hyperactivity
  • Immune concerns and deficiencies
  • Impulsiveness
  • Infections
  • Mood swings
  • Nervous conditions
  • Personality disorders
  • Respiratory concerns
  • Seizures
  • Weight problems

Nutrition Consultation Can Help In The Following Areas

Spirit: Nutrition affects balance, allowing the spirit to soar.

Body: Nutrition is beneficial for all childhood illnesses--ear, nose, throat, asthma, stomach ailments, skin problems, hyperactivity, mood disturbances, and fatigue.

Mind: Nutrition stabilizes biochemical reactions resulting in a calm, clear, and focused mind.

Emotions: Nurturing the body soothes the nervous system and calms the body while providing steady, reliable energy. This is stabilizing to a child who is nervous, anxious, has trouble sleeping or has wide emotional mood swings.

Social: Nutrition supports a child’s natural rhythms, allowing them adequate and appropriate physical and mental energy to engage with others of all ages at home, at school, and while playing.

Brief Description Of Nutrition Consultation

A Nutrition Educator or Consultant can assist individuals with self-healing by:

  • Educating the client regarding appropriate diet, herbs, supplement and lifestyle needs.
  • Offering support on a broad range of health conditions.
  • Considering each person to be biochemically unique.
  • Individualizing diet plans to help individuals overcome their health challenges.
  • Suggesting appropriate diet and lifestyle changes to help restore health and balance.
  • Emphasizing that many illnesses are diet related and diet-modifiable.
  • Noting that illness is related to problems of the digestion and/or liver detoxification processes and their influence on immune, nervous and endocrine function.
  • Stressing that nutrition has a positive impact on the whole person--physical, mental, and emotional.

Success With Nutrition Consultation

  • Justin, an 18-month-old boy of vegetarian parents, was having great difficulty digesting his food. While he was still nursing he was introduced to the foods his parents ate. This resulted in diarrhea, gas, bloating and pain. Justin’s father had allergies. Lab tests concluded that Justin was allergic to several of the foods in his diet. When these foods were removed from the diet and others introduced, Justin’s symptoms began to improve immediately. Supplements addressed the healing of the intestinal lining and resulted in additional improvement. His digestive distress was resolved within a month.
  • As a 14-month-old, Gloria was very small for her age. Her mother had stopped nursing at eight months and began a formula on her pediatrician’s advice. A high bulk diet of dairy and meat was advised with no water or fruit. The child became severely constipated, and the iron in the formula contributed to the binding of her bowels. The child was extremely stressed by painful, weekly bowel movements. I discovered that many of her ancestors were very small people. She was encouraged to drink fluids freely--especially water; eat fruit, stop the formula; and add good oils to her diet of fresh, whole foods. Her bowels started moving with ease the next day.
  • Robin, an 8-year-old boy, was having great difficulty in school and at home. He was extremely hyperactive - never still unless he was asleep. He couldn’t sit still in class or pay attention to his lessons, and he fought frequently with others. His teacher and mother were exhausted. Labeled with Attention Deficit Disorder by two other professionals, Ritalin was suggested as the solution. Changing from mostly refined and fast foods with only apple juice and sodas to drink, to a whole-foods, non-allergenic diet brought steady improvement. A special protein drink loaded with essential nutrients stabilized his energy and moods, as well as his behavior.
  • Julie, a 13-year-old-girl, came in with PMS and bumpy skin on her arms. She picked at these bumps so badly that her arms were covered with scabs and she would not wear anything but long-sleeve blouses, even in the summer. Her PMS was so bad she could not go to school two days a month because of cramps. A review of her diet showed a severe deficiency of vitamin A and essential fatty acids. Adding the foods rich in these nutrients, and temporarily supplementing these nutrients, resolved her distress.

Nutrition Consultation Is Appropriate For Ages

  • Prenatal through young adult

Children & Youth’s Reactions To Nutrition Consultation

  • Initially children may miss some of their old favorite foods. Over time, this changes as they experience an increased sense of well-being.
  • Children are excited to learn how their bodies work and what they require to feel well.
  • They show willingness to participate in their healing by learning and trying new things.
  • Improved health is demonstrated in strengthened immunity, digestion, and nervous systems.
  • Children enjoy the one-on-one attention, as well as learning about their bodies and how to care for them.
  • Children & youth’s response to nutrition is quite rapid, usually demonstrating improvement in a few days and seeing resolution within weeks to a month, in more chronic conditions.

Extra Care Is Needed

  • If the child is chronically ill, working in partnership with other health care providers may be beneficial.

Contraindications: When Nutrition Consultation Should Be Avoided

  • Nutrition Consultation and principles are always relevant and will support any other therapy, treatment or modality.

History

  • For the last 5000+ years, our major health systems around the world have focused on nourishing the body, mind and spirit.
  • “Food is our best medicine,” is ancient wisdom. Nutrition Consultation uses diet, herbs, healing waters and exercise or movement as remedies.

Basic Concepts And Components Of Nutrition Consultation

  • The basic premise is to support the client, to encourage them to fully participate and take responsibility for their ongoing health by educating them as to the basic and essential needs of their unique constitution and condition.
  • There is belief that the body has the ability to heal itself and remain in balance, and needs ongoing support in the form of self-awareness, essential nutrients found in our foods and lifestyles that support rejuvenation.
  • It works to discover factors that contribute to illness and replace them with ones that support health.
  • It supports the whole person; does not just treat symptoms.
  • It helps the person become fully independent with the necessary tools and knowledge to live a healthful life.

Description Of A Typical Session

  • An initial session of 60-90 minutes with a nutrition educator or consultant includes; compiling a complete health and family history, including diet and activity records, and review of medical tests. The child and the caregiver both participate.
  • The questions are focused on accessing all the contributing factors: genetics, current and past diet, medications used, metabolism, and ancestry.
  • The practitioner may offer some initial recommendations, but usually will review the information and present an individually tailored plan for the child within a few days.
  • Follow-ups (to check in) can be done by phone.
  • If needed, follow-up appointments are usually 20-40 minutes to review the child’s progress and current status, so as to advance the protocol.

Major Differences Of Opinion Between Nutrition Consultation Practitioners

  • Some practitioners will determine the pace that a child and the family can maintain while transitioning into a healthier diet and lifestyle, working slowly over a period of one to three months.
  • Others will evaluate the child’s health condition and present the desired health plan all at once, expecting the family to implement the changes on their own over time.

Fees/Costs In 2007

  • Fees are $40-$100 per hour, depending on the practitioner’s training and experience, as well as their geographical location.

Average Time Per Session

  • Initial visits average from 60-90 minutes. Follow-up visits are generally 30 minutes.

Recommended Length Of Time Between Sessions

  • After the first session, a follow-up appointment is scheduled for one to two weeks.
  • Sessions occur monthly thereafter to check on the progress of the child’s or youth’s recommended protocol.

Estimated Length Of Time Before Improvements Can Be Expected

  • Depending on the severity and duration of the health condition, expect symptoms to begin improving within a few days to a week.
  • For chronic and debilitating conditions, symptoms will improve gradually and continue to improve with time, as the depleted status of the child’s health rebuilds.

Suggestions To Make Nutrition Consultation More Effective

  • Parents need to communicate extensively with the nutrition educator or consultant regarding the child’s health history and any changes they see after the start of the new dietary program.
  • Families who participate with the child in the process of learning and implementing the changes in diet and lifestyle demonstrate confidence in the program, which helps the child to feel he or she is on the path to healing. This avoids making the child feel too different, as well as having other family members benefit from the improvement in diet.

Other Methods That Are Similar To Nutrition Consultation

  • Nutrition is specific unto itself.
  • Many modalities include nutrition, or value its importance.

Other Methods That Complement Nutrition Consultation

  • All natural, traditional and conventional therapies are compatible with nutrition.

Nature And Length Of Training To Be A Practitioner

  • The field of nutrition is currently a non-licensed profession.
  • Several schools offer certification with their one to two year training.
  • Some universities offer degrees for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs.
  • The field of nutrition is constantly evolving. Nutrition educators are lifelong students. It is essential for practitioners to keep current by attending ongoing seminars, conferences, and training.
  • The practitioners should practice what they teach.

Special Training Needed To Work With Children & Youth

  • Nutrition educators and consultants are educated in human anatomy and physiology. They understand the basic requirements of the human body to maintain optimal health, as well as understanding of the patterns of disease that are typical in the various life cycles; including babies, children and young adults.
  • Many practitioners will specialize in children’s concerns.

Certification/Licenses Held By Practitioners

  • Nutrition Educator Certification
  • Nutrition Consultant Certification (NCC)
  • Bachelors, Masters, Doctorate, and PhD in Nutrition

Professional Associations To Contact For Names Of Local Practitioners

  • American Holistic Health Association; P.O. Box 17400; Anaheim, CA 92817; 714-779-6152; Website:www.ahha.org
  • National Association of Nutrition Professionals; P.O. Box 1172; Danville, CA 94526; 800-342-8037; Fax: 510-580-9429; Website:www.nanp.org

Number Of Certified Practitioners In U.S., Canada, And Mexico

  • This is difficult to know since it is a non-licensed profession.
  • Some health professionals also specialize in nutrition such as: DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine); DC (Doctor of Chiropractic); L.Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist), and N.D. (Doctor of Naturopathy).
  • Some people practice without certification or degree. Always check their educational and training references.

What To Look For When Choosing The Best Practitioner

  • Check their training and certification.
  • Ask for references from someone you trust.
  • Trust your instincts.
  • Do you connect and communicate well with this person?
  • You want to work with someone who respects you, is compassionate and caring, is a good listener, and is thorough.
  • Seek out people who have worked with the nutrition professional whom you are considering to work with your child:
  • Have they been treated well?
  • Did they achieve positive results?
  • Were they pleased with the outcome, as well as the experience?

Leading Clinics, Centers, Practitioners

Research Papers

  • Anything by Dr. Stephen Schoenthaler, which can be found by doing a search on the Internet using Google.
  • Weston A. Price Foundation for Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts. The Weston A. Price Foundation; PMB 106-380, 4200 Wisconsin Ave., NW.; Washington DC 20016; Ph: 202-363-4394; Fax: 202-363-4396; Website: www.westonaprice.org; Email:info@westonaprice.org.

Bibliography

Helpful Tips For Parents

  • I suggest all parents take a basic nutrition class.
  • Develop an appreciation for, routinely purchase, prepare and serve fresh, whole foods and liquids.
  • Exercise and be active with your children.
  • Learn, teach, and practice stress reduction techniques with your children.
  • Instill healthful attitudes and appreciation for life.

Biography Of Paula Bartholomy, Author

  • Paula has 30 years of experience.
  • Approximate total number of clients who are infants, children, or teens: She has worked with several hundred families and their children.
  • Degrees: She holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Holistic Nutrition. She is a Certified Clinical Nutrition Consultant, Certified Transformational Hypnotherapist and Certified Creative Healer.
  • She is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition
  • Paula is the School Director of Hawthorn University. Hawthorn University offers online degree and certificate programs in holistic health and nutrition. Visit www.hawthornuniversity.org for more information.

Paula Bartholomy’s Personal Statement

I appreciate the ability of children to heal when they receive the essential nutrients and support. Nutrition is essential to life and is the foundation upon which we all depend. I have witnessed minor miracles occur when a child was supported with diet and lifestyle.

To Contact Paula Bartholomy, Who Contributed This Chapter

Paula L. Bartholomy; P.O. Box 275; Whitethorn, CA 95589; Ph: 707-986-9745; Fax: 707-238-1468; Email: paulab@sonic.net

Marie Mulligan’s Comment About Nutrition Consulting: I recommend nutrition consultation if your child or youth is overweight or underweight, or if they eat an unbalanced diet.

  • It is a good idea to give children & youth an appropriate multivitamin/multimineral supplement when their diets are low in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and/or high iron foods (meats, beans, lentils, broccoli). The supplement should give 100% of the DIR (daily reference intakes) of vitamins and minerals recommended by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture).
  • Ask your medical provider/nutritionist for their recommendations for your child or youth.
  • Many foods and dietary supplements are vitamin and mineral fortified, so consult your medical provider/nutritionist to avoid giving too much Vitamin A and/or Vitamin D.
  • Avoid giving children or youth adult strength supplements.

Rick Geggie’s Comment About Nutrition Consulting: I used to marvel at the connection between the food children ate, how they grew, learned and behaved. I found that many well-intended parents had little idea about good nutrition, let alone nutrition that helped children be their best.

Over the years, I discovered that government recommendations about daily requirements of food were simply not enough—especially when children were under stress. Children today need optimal nutrition because they face stress from the environment, the fast pace of family life, and from the complex social problems of society. Given excellent nutrition, children have a better chance of thriving mentally, emotionally and physically.
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