Child Nutrition in Jacksonville and Serving Ponte Vedra Beach & Jacksonville Beach, FL
A nutrition and diet appointment with us might be just what you need for your child’s overall physical and emotional wellness. Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of nutrition at Happy Minds Healthy Bodies.
What is Nutrition?
Nutrition is the practice of applying various foods and supplements to improve a patient’s well-being. Having the right diet, macronutrients, and micronutrients is key to not only managing several symptoms of disease or illness, but it can also be integral in improving your child’s mood and emotions. Different diets are ideal for different individuals and we treat every patient to optimize the unique needs of their situation and family/cultural preference.
Recent studies have shown a direct correlation between mood disorders, like anxiety and depression, and diets high in refined sugars and processed foods. The providers at Happy Minds Healthy Bodies look at patients as individuals and use a personalized diet plan to restore balance within the body. Examples of nutrition management include:
- Diet plans for children struggling with picky eating, or being underweight or not achieving their mid-parental height goals
- Using herbal or vitamin supplements if needed
- Anti-inflammatory diets such as multiple limited ingredient or whole food diets
- Plant-based diets and how to optimize protein and growth in children
What are the Benefits of Child Nutrition and Diet?
- Improvements in mood, emotion, attention span
- Better digestion, resolution of gastric reflux and chronic constipation
- Reduction in chronic pain and inflammation, especially in patients with migraines, arthritis, autoimmune conditions
- Improvement of food allergies
Depending on the personalized nutrition plan, diets can also be effective in patients with type 2 diabetes, cancer, and kidney disease. Your provider can recommend diet plans that involve dietary changes, and the inclusion of specific foods.
What to Expect During a Child Nutrition and Diet Appointment
If you’ve never been to Happy Minds Healthy Bodies, you might be wondering what to expect during your session. A provider at HMHB will typically ask you for a complete multiple-day food record, including any medications and supplements you might be taking, as well as a comprehensive look into your physical and mental health.
From there, we will make recommendations that are personalized to you. This can include the ordering of lab tests to rule out any food allergies or sensitivities, and other medical problems. We may suggest a gradual introduction of new food habits, or removal of certain trigger foods from your diet. The use of a food journal to track your eating habits, how you feel after certain foods, or even exercises to help balance and clear out any energy blockages that may affect your gastrointestinal tract can be helpful. Following a specific nutrition plan is recommended for at least four weeks before your health can be re-evaluated and new recommendations made by your provider based on your progress or symptom improvement/resolution.