Nadia Fathinia, an accredited practicing dietitian, has dedicated her career to helping children with complicated relationships with food. Her work at the Orange Feeding Clinic focuses on feeding therapy, gradually exposing children to new foods to overcome challenges like fear of food, chewing, or swallowing issues. One of her recent successes was with a child who, after nine months of therapy, was able to take a bite, chew, and swallow a round water cracker, a significant milestone for a child with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder and autism.
Fathinia's own complicated relationship with food as a child inspired her to pursue dietetics. She initially considered engineering like her family but was drawn to dietetics after a career guidance chat. Her work with children at Anson Street School, many of whom have disabilities or eating disorders, has led her to specialize in feeding therapy. She emphasizes that progress takes time, often six months or more, and that parents should focus on the bigger picture rather than individual meal successes.
Fathinia encourages parents to view feeding as a long-term process and to seek help if needed. She also advises parents to have fun with food, encouraging children to explore and engage with different foods through touch, smell, and taste. She believes that this approach helps children develop a more positive relationship with food.
Despite the challenges, Fathinia finds her work incredibly rewarding. She loves seeing children broaden their diets and become more comfortable around food. She also highlights the importance of dietitians in helping families navigate the rising costs of food, electricity, and rent, especially with the recent NDIS price cut. For her, the progress she sees in her clients is the most important aspect of her work, and she is grateful to be able to make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families.
