Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit – Meet The Dietitian

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Upcoming Events

Health Expert Dishes Out Free Nutrition Advice for Families at Special Events Planned This Fall in Northumberland

This fall, there’s plenty to learn for families seeking help to establish healthier eating options for their infant, toddler or pre-schooler.

Registered Dietitian Laura Abbasi will share her nutrition expertise with parents of young children at Meet the Dietitian events slated for EarlyON Child and Family Centres throughout Northumberland County. These free events, organized by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit Learn, all run from 10 am to Noon on the following dates:

Thursday, Oct. 10 at the Colborne EarlyON Centre (in Colborne Public School, 8 Alfred St.)

Friday, Oct. 25 at the Port Hope EarlyON Centre (in Beatrice Strong Public School, 90 Rose Glen Rd. N.)

Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Cobourg EarlyON Centre-YMCA Site (Cobourg YMCA, 339 Elgin St. W.)

Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the Cobourg EarlyON Centre-St. Joe’s Site (St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School, 919 D’Arcy St.)

Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Campbellford EarlyON Centre (in Rotary Hall, 179 Saskatoon Ave.)

Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Brighton EarlyON Centre (in East Northumberland Secondary School, 71 Dundas St.)

Thursday, Nov. 28 at the Hastings EarlyON Centre (in Hastings Civic Centre, 6 Albert St.).

“Healthy eating is essential for a young child’s growth and development, but the early years can also lay the foundation for the types of food choices he or she will make later in life,” says Abbasi. “That’s why we encourage parents and caregivers to attend a Meet the Dietitian event in their community for advice and support.”

The Meet the Dietitian events are informative, yet informal and allow for one-on-one time with parents who may have specific questions they want answered. Typically, Abbasi will cover such topics as: introducing solid foods to infants, dealing with a picky eater, making healthy snacks for the entire family, using Canada’s Food Guide (http://food-guide.canada.ca) to plan nutritious meals, finding reliable nutrition information online, and promoting healthy eating and supportive feeding environments.

“Sitting down to eat a home-cooked meal together as a family without any digital distractions like cellphones and TVs is a great way parents can showcase healthy eating for their children,” she notes. “Busy schedules can make it difficult to enjoy meals together every night, so instead aim for two or three family meals together each week.”

According to Abbasi, each age and stage of early childhood has its own challenges when it comes to eating and she is more than happy to address these in the Meet the Dietitian events. For example, introducing new and solid foods is often the biggest challenge facing parents of infants. At the toddler stage, establishing good eating routines is crucial. Parents of preschool-aged children may find dealing with picky eaters or kids with variable appetites are more pressing concerns.

For more on the Meet the Dietitian events, call the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1233.