Pediatric Dietitian
Feeding a child is one of the most personal, emotionally loaded parts of parenting. And when mealtimes are hard, it can feel like you are the only one struggling.
When I was introducing solids to my own children, I remember the questions running through my mind. Was this the right texture? Am I missing something? I am a registered dietitian and I still wished someone was right there at the table with me, especially when I was home alone with my child.
And when my child said no, pushed the plate away, turned their head, or refused to even look at a new food, I felt it too. The frustration. The worry. The wondering if I was doing something wrong.
What I learned through additional training in pediatric feeding is that making it feel like play rather than pressure changes everything. When children feel safe and curious, something shifts. I took that training because I wanted to offer families more than information. I wanted to offer them a real moment of ease at the table.
Tracy Frem, RD, CDE, founder of NutraNom and mom of two.
That is exactly why NutraNom brings the dietitian to you. To your kitchen, your table, your real life.
Who this is for
Pediatric virtual, office, or home visits may be a good fit if your child or family is navigating any of the following:
Picky eating and mealtime struggles
Your child refuses most foods, has strong texture or smell sensitivities, or mealtimes have become a battle every single day.
Introducing solids or baby-led weaning
You want guidance on what to offer, when, how to progress textures safely, and how to build a varied diet from the very beginning.
Food allergies and intolerances
Tracy can walk you through reading food labels in your own kitchen, safe food preparation, avoiding cross-contamination, and building variety within your child's safe foods.
Family meals without cooking multiple dinners
Tired of making separate meals for everyone? Tracy can show you how to adapt one meal to work for the whole family, including a picky toddler, a teenager, and adults with different nutritional needs.
Growth and nutritional concerns
Your child's doctor has flagged concerns about growth, low iron, or other nutritional gaps and you want hands-on, practical support at home.
Constipation
Ongoing constipation in children is often closely connected to food choices, hydration habits, and mealtime routines, all things we can observe and work on together at home.
1. Initial virtual consultation
We start with a virtual session to gather a full picture of your child's history, feeding patterns, mealtime environment, and your family's goals. This gives us everything we need to plan a meaningful visit.
2. Planning the meal together
Together, we plan a realistic meal or snack for the home visit. Familiar foods your child is comfortable with alongside new ones to explore, in a way that feels natural and low-pressure.
3. The home visit
Tracy arrives, introduces herself warmly, and joins you at the table as a dietitian and feeding support. Your child sits with the family and parents are welcome and encouraged to eat too. Tracy observes how your child is seated, the language and energy around the meal, and your child's individual reactions and cues. She then gently interacts with your child using creative, playful approaches to build curiosity and comfort around food. The focus is connection, not compliance. Just a real mealtime, with support.
4. Debrief and practical strategies
After the meal, we talk through what was observed and what it means. Practical, evidence-based techniques tailored to your child and your family that you can start using that same evening.
5. Ongoing follow-up
We follow up virtually to check in on progress and adjust the plan together. Additional virtual sessions and further home visits are added as needed. Support that fits your family's pace, not a fixed package.
What to Expect
Every family comes to us with their own story. Here is what a typical care pathway looks like for a home visit from start to finish.
When a home visit makes the most sense
Some things are hard to explain in a clinic. How your child reacts when a new food appears on their plate. The energy around the table at dinner. The way a small change in seating, setup, or routine can shift the whole meal.
A home visit is also for parents who simply want someone there with them. Someone to guide you through food preparation, sit with you at the table, and offer real-time support as you introduce a new food or navigate a tricky mealtime. Not every family needs to be struggling to benefit from having a dietitian in the room. Sometimes you just want hands-on guidance from someone who knows what to look for. You do not have to figure it out alone.
Common questions
Pediatric visits are available for children from the introduction of solids through to adolescence. They can be virtual, in-person, or home visit consults. Adult nutrition services are available in clinic and virtually.
Many extended health benefit plans cover registered dietitian services. Tracy is a Registered Dietitian regulated by the College of Dietitians of Ontario, and receipts are provided for submission to your insurer. We recommend confirming your plan's coverage directly with your provider before your first appointment.
Dietitian services may also be eligible as a medical expense on your Canadian tax return. We recommend speaking with your tax advisor to confirm eligibility based on your situation.
That said, many families choose to work with a dietitian without insurance coverage. The support, the clarity, and the calmer mealtimes that can come from having a plan are worth the investment for a lot of families, and we are here regardless of your coverage situation.
It happens, and it is more common than you might think. Children do not always respond to new people or new situations right away, and that is completely okay. Tracy has worked with children who refused to sit, pushed food away, or wanted nothing to do with anything new on the table.
When that happens, she adapts. Different children respond to different approaches, and part of the home visit is figuring out what works for your child specifically. Sometimes progress looks like a child touching a new food. Sometimes it looks like playing near the table. Sometimes it simply looks like a calm mealtime where everyone felt okay. If your child does not eat during the visit, that does not mean the visit was not productive. Nutrition can be supported through creative, playful means too, and every observation still informs the plan going forward.No special preparation is needed beyond filling out forms that were sent you or the meal ideas we plan together in advance. For home visits, your home, your usual table setup, your normal mealtime. That is exactly what we want to see.
Keep a list of questions or concerns to refer to during our time together.Yes. Virtual pediatric nutrition sessions are available for families across Ontario. Home visits are currently offered in Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, and Milton.
All services are provided by Tracy Frem, Registered Dietitian (RD) and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). Nutrition guidance is individualized, evidence-based, and delivered within the scope of practice of a Registered Dietitian as regulated by the College of Dietitians of Ontario.
