Dietary & Nutrition

One-of-a-kind nutrition plans for each child – helping to promote growth and development through balanced, complex diets.

HOW WE CARE FOR EACH CHILD

Every feeding plan made uniquely based on nutritional needs

Comprehensive Nutritional Assessments

We begin with a thorough review of your child’s medical and nutritional history to establish a complete picture of their current nutritional status and needs.

Individualized Formula Preparation

Based on the assessment, our RD prescribes the most appropriate enteral formula — or prepares a custom blend when your child’s needs require something beyond what is commercially available.

Coordinated Feeding & Schedules

Feeding schedules are carefully coordinated with nursing and therapy teams, ensuring that meals are scheduled to help promote optimal nutrient intake and development for each child.

Ongoing Monitoring & Adjustment

We continuously monitor your child’s growth, tolerance, and nutritional response — adjusting the plan whenever their needs change, because children grow and so does our approach to their care.

Our Nutrition Specialists

CHC’s lead nutrition specialist assesses each child’s nutritional status, then creates individualized enteral formulas to ensure optimal nutritional outcomes.

CHC’s nutrition assistants support the preparation and delivery of individualized enteral feedings, working closely with the RD to ensure every feeding is prepared accurately and on schedule.

CHC’s dietary aide provides vital day-to-day support across the department, helping to ensure that every child’s nutritional care runs smoothly, safely, and consistently.

SPECIALIZED NUTRITIONAL CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH COMPLEX MEDICAL NEEDS

At Children’s Habilitation Center, we take a medically complex and individualized approach to nutrition because nutrients play a foundational role in both physical growth and brain development. Evidence shows that adequate nutrition during childhood, particularly early childhood, is critical for healthy linear growth, immune function, and cognitive development, while nutritional deficiencies during this period can have long-lasting effects on learning and health outcomes (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). Guided by these principles, our Dietary and Nutrition Department leads comprehensive assessments to design personalized nutrition plans that align with each child’s unique metabolic and physiological needs.

100% of the children at CHC are on individualized enteral nutrition plans, implemented using appropriate feeding routines and ensuring consistent delivery of essential nutrients necessary for growth and development. Children receive high-quality, well-balanced formulas that support energy needs and development, and some participate in therapeutic taste experiences to encourage oral stimulation and sensory engagement. Key nutrients such as protein, iron, zinc, and essential fatty acids have been shown to support muscle growth, bone development, and cognitive performance in children (American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], 2021; WHO, 2023).

Our commitment to ongoing monitoring and rigorous nutrition quality standards reflects well-established research, which demonstrates that medically tailored nutrition improves health outcomes for children with complex medical needs (AAP, 2021; CDC, 2022). By combining evidence-based practice with individualized care, we strive to create a nutritional foundation that supports both immediate health and long-term developmental potential for every child we serve.

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