Naureen Hunani Nutrition
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I’m Naureen Hunani, a Montreal based registered pediatric dietitian and family nutritionist.
I offer one on one nutrition coaching, feeding therapy and nutrition workshops for parents and professionals.
02/27/2022
Here is your friendly reminder that:
Meals can look different for different families.
The recommendation that parents "should" only make one meal (one, starch, veggies, one protein) is based on the assumption that all family members have the same feeding abilities, sensory needs and preferences.
Many parents need to accommodate their children and adapt their meals so all members can be adequately nourished.
Feeding a family is not easy, especially when you have kids with feeding differences.
Alt Text: Because sometimes, it's not possible to "just make one meal" for the entire family.
01/17/2022
Offering preferred foods at every meal can help children meet their nutrient needs. If your selective eater doesn't have familiar options, he might leave the table feeling hungry.
Pressure can decrease appetite, and when children feel more clam, hunger can kick in. Pressure-free meals are essential for children to feel safe.
If there is a lot going on during mealtime and your child is sensitive, your child might experience sensory overload and not feel well enough to eat. This is particularly the case for neurodivergent children.
If your child is constantly asking for food right after dinner, it is time to dig deeper.
12/20/2021
Wishing you a peaceful and restful holiday season!
See you in 2022!
12/13/2021
There are many reasons children can have difficulty eating at family gatherings, and sensory overload is one of them!
Here are a few tips to reduce sensory overwhelm during the holidays
👚Make sure your kiddo is wearing sensory-friendly clothes. “Fancy” clothes can often feel "itchy" and uncomfortable to some children. Always choose comfortable clothing.
📺 Schedule downtime and avoid doing too many activities in one day.
⏱ Leave events early if needed; this is one of the best ways to avoid a meltdown. Some children can only handle 1-2 hours of socialization, which is fine.
⌛️Allow extra time for transitions and reduce demands as much as possible.
🌮 Offer preferred foods, and don't be shy to use noise-cancelling headphones even at family dinners!
♟Don't force children to participate in activities they don't want to join in.
🎄Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season!
Alt text: Eating can become challenging when a child experiences sensory overload.
Tips to reduce sensory overwhelm during the holidays!
11/01/2021
Here are a few questions to as yourself if your child is showing signs of distress at the dinner table:
🌯 Are you honouring your child's hunger and fullness cues? Children need to know that they won't be forced into eating foods they don't want to. Reducing pressure is essential!
🌯 Some children need more autonomy and need to be able to make their own choices around food. This is especially the case for children with demand anxiety (PDA). Are you offering options and involving your child in meal planning?
🌯 Is the feeding environment sensory-friendly? We are all sensory beings, and we all have sensory needs! How are you meeting your child's sensory needs during mealtimes?
🌯 Do you have a flexible eating routine? Modelling flexibility is essential.
🌯 Are you offering preferred foods at every meal and snack? This is a must for selective eaters!
Alt text: When kids feel voiceless at the dinner table, learning to eat new foods becomes difficult. Learning can only happen when we prioritize felt safety.
🌯🌯🌯🌯
I'm Naureen Hunani, a pediatric and family registered dietitian specializing in selective eating and ARFID. Want to work together? Check out the link in my bio!
10/29/2021
Micromanaging Halloween candy backfires!
Check out the following accounts that have posted some great info on why restricting sweets isn’t a good idea!
.kids_intuitive.eating .diet.kids
10/11/2021
TW Abuse, ableism, childhood trauma
🍽 Participating in family meals can be difficult for parents who've experienced food-related trauma in childhood.
🍽 This is often the case for parents who identify as selective eaters, have sensory-related food aversions, and were abused at the dinner table.
🍽 Dissociation can be protective; your inability to implement family meals is not a "compliance" issue! You deserve trauma-informed nutrition and eating support.
🍓🍓🍓
I'm Naureen Hunani, a trauma-informed dietitian specializing in the area of feeding and eating difficulties. If you are looking for support, you are welcome to connect with me! Link in bio.
09/24/2021
I am so tired of hearing the argument that eating sugar at lunch will prevent children from learning.
This is unscientific, and policies that endorse this idea are steeped in diet culture.
Alt text: If schools were that concerned about our children's education, they would make more effort to accommodate kids who deserve accommodation, provide ample time for play
and prioritize felt safety, especially for kids with learning differences and marginalized
identities. Implementing a "no sugar policy"
is not what is going to enhance learning.
09/22/2021
09/10/2021
Been seeing lots of "interesting" tips on IG lately on how to get kids to try new foods.
I've come across freaky-looking peppers with googly eyes to "helicopter carrots". I mean, who has time for that?
Look, this stuff might work for some kids, but it can make eating worst for others.
Plus, it becomes another added thing parents feel the need to do to "get" kids to try new foods. And this trick doesn't always work, especially for neurodivergent children!
Find natural ways to interact with food, and your children will progress when they are ready!
09/03/2021
School nutrition policies create a lot of stress for parents of selective eaters.
Parents constantly feel judged and shamed for packing preferred foods for their children.
This creates unnecessary anxiety around feeding children.
Schools need to do a better job at creating inclusive feeding environments!
09/02/2021
Want to work together? Check out the link in bio
🥕🥕🥕🥕
I’m a registered pediatric dietitian and family nutritionist. And I firmly believe that our early experiences with food impact the food choices we make later in life.
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