Research & Practice
Case Study: Toddler with Limited Food Acceptance Complicated by Other Factors
This student examined a case study of a 19-month-old child (TG) with slowed growth due to limited food acceptance and cow’s milk allergy. The child’s oral intake was further limited by household concern about food allergies, parental food beliefs and dietary choices, the parents’ low nutritional knowledge, and reduced breastfeeding during the mother’s second pregnancy. TG’s diet was mostly comprised of oatmeal, bananas, chips, and human milk, and dietary analysis reflected low intake of vitamin D, vitamin B12, and calcium. Parents were provided with education about nutritional needs of a toddler and the nutrients that are hard to find in a vegan diet. The RDN and parents prepared a list of foods that were acceptable within the family’s dietary constraints and discussed ways to add additional nutrients to accepted foods. The family will benefit from ongoing nutritional counseling, including close monitoring of TG’s growth and intake patterns. This case was a clear example of the ways that conflicting familial food patterns and allergies can complicate feeding and the importance of providing early pediatric nutrition guidance to parents, especially when food choices are limited within the family dynamic.
Materials Available
Project Type(s): MNT Concentration Clinical Poster
Author(s): Kristen Evans
Program(s): Master of Science, RDN Training
Year: 2025
Adviser(s):