Nutrition and Children with Special Needs

A healthy approach to nutrition can be tricky for most of us. Add in an underlying disease or disorder and it can be even more challenging. With so much information available through various channels, and with a proliferation of diets, fads and the latest “must try” item to add or avoid, how can anyone figure out what is the right approach, let alone guide their child with patience and commitment?

The presentation, for parents and caregivers of children who have special needs, will offer some much needed simplification and guidance. Our discussion will focus on:

·  The nutritional needs of children as they develop

·  The gut-brain connection

·  Additional dietary considerations for those with special needs and disabilities

·  How to overcome troublesome issues that can make a “healthy diet” seem impossible to achieve

·  Classic diets that many of you may have tried with your child

·  Myth-busting

While every child is different and their needs change regularly, our goal is for you to take away some key information on nutrition for the developing child, as well as a handful of tips on how you can improve your child’s dietary intake.

Speaker: Denise Fair, MSc RD AD

Denise is a Registered Dietitian from Canada. She was trained at the renowned Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada and spent her first few years as a dietitian working with children in both the clinical and research level. She obtained her Masters in Nutrition, looking at the effects of different proteins on the progression of kidney disease. After about five years of clinical practice Denise started traveling the world, living in Amman, Jordan and Abu Dhabi, UAE before settling in Hong Kong in 2007.

While in Hong Kong Denise worked at Central Health Medical Practice. Her clients included many patients with special needs, eating disorders, and everything in between. She has a strong drive to work with children and enjoys seeing her patients grow and develop over the long term. During her time in Hong Kong Denise also worked with many schools, including speaking in a relatable and accessible way to students at Jockey Club Sarah Roe School on the importance of a balanced diet and healthy eating. Denise is very practical in her approach to finding the right path for her clients.

Denise moved back to Canada two-and-a-half years ago and continues to consult with her clients from Hong Kong online.