Optimum Intake Dietitians

16/07/2026

The right advice only works if people can remember it, understand it, and put it into practice.

That’s why resource development is an important part of the nutrition care we provide at Optimum Intake Dietitians.

Every person learns differently. During a consultation there can be a lot of information to take in, particularly when managing a chronic health condition, recovering from illness, living with disability, or supporting an older loved one.

Our dietitians create personalised resources that transform nutrition advice into practical, easy-to-follow tools that clients can use every day.
These may include:
✔️ Personalised meal and snack ideas
✔️ Shopping guides
✔️ Food lists and portion guides
✔️ Nutrition comparison charts
✔️ Visual handouts and infographics
✔️ Goal trackers
✔️ Resources for carers and support workers
✔️ Educational information tailored to an individual’s health needs

The goal is simple. To help clients feel more confident, more independent, and better supported between appointments.
Well-designed resources also help families, carers and healthcare professionals provide consistent nutrition support, creating better outcomes for everyone involved.

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we don’t believe your nutrition plan should stay in the consultation room. We create practical resources that support you long after your appointment has finished.

If you’re looking for personalised nutrition advice that is realistic, practical, and designed to fit your life, we’d love to help.

📞 Contact Optimum Intake Dietitians to book an appointment with one of our Accredited Practising Dietitians.

13/07/2026

Most parents don’t wake up one morning and suddenly realise their child has an eating disorder.

More often, it starts with a feeling.

A quiet sense that something isn’t quite right.

Perhaps meals have become more difficult. Maybe your child seems more anxious than usual. Perhaps you’ve noticed foods disappearing from their plate, excuses to skip meals, or an increasing focus on weight, exercise or appearance.

Many parents tell us that when they eventually receive an eating disorder diagnosis, they look back and realise there were signs long before they knew what they were looking at.

If you’re reading this because you’re worried about your child, know that you are not overreacting by paying attention.

Trusting your instincts as a parent is often one of the most important first steps. Read more on our blog:

Worried your child may be developing an eating disorder? Learn the early warning signs, and when to seek professional support.

02/07/2026

Starting a new medication can bring significant benefits for a child’s health, learning, behaviour or daily functioning.

For many families, it can also bring an unexpected challenge.

Suddenly, a child who previously enjoyed food is skipping meals, eating much smaller portions, or saying they’re simply not hungry.

Parents often tell us:

“They used to eat everything and now they’re barely touching their lunch.”
“They seem to forget to eat all day.”
“They’re doing really well on the medication, but I’m worried about their weight.”
“Dinner is the only meal they’ll eat.”
“Their growth has slowed since starting medication.”
These concerns are common and understandable.

At Optimum Intake Dietitians, we regularly support children and families who are navigating the impact medications can have on appetite, eating patterns, growth and nutrition.
Read more on our blog:

Worried your child isn't eating after starting medication? Learn how a paediatric dietitian can support appetite, growth and nutrition.

29/06/2026

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. 📊📉
A diet analysis is far more than a food diary. It’s one of the most valuable tools we use to understand a person’s nutrition, identify nutritional gaps or excesses, and measure the impact of our dietetic interventions over time.

Whether we’re supporting an older adult at risk of malnutrition, someone managing a chronic health condition, a person with disability, or an individual looking to optimise their nutrition, analysing dietary intake helps us make evidence-based recommendations that are personalised, practical, and measurable.

By comparing dietary intake before and after intervention, we can:
✔️ Identify nutrition risks and priorities
✔️ Develop personalised nutrition goals
✔️ Measure progress and outcomes
✔️ Provide objective data to clients, carers, GPs, and the broader healthcare team
✔️ Demonstrate the value and effectiveness of dietetic care

Nutrition advice should never be based on guesswork. Diet analysis provides the data that helps turn good intentions into meaningful health outcomes.

If you’re looking for practical, personalised nutrition support backed by evidence, our Accredited Practising Dietitians are here to help.

📞 Contact Optimum Intake Dietitians to book an appointment and discover how a comprehensive nutrition assessment can help you achieve your health goals.

NutritionCare

23/06/2026

Slow Weight Gain in Children: When Mealtimes Become Stressful and Growth Becomes a Concern

New blog post - check it out here:

Concerned about your child's growth? Learn the causes of slow weight gain and how a paediatric dietitian can support healthy growth and positive mealtimes.

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.