Passionate local paediatric nutritionist, Casey Jones from Carter Nutrition, has signed on to become the official Food is Cool ambassador for the region. The program, which is focused on providing food and nutrition to young children in a daycare setting has been met with critical acclaim for its simple, fun approach to food.
Ms Jones said the opportunity to partner the creators of Food is Cool, fellow nutritionist Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore (Dr Flav), and teacher Miss Sinead, was an easy decision.
“I’m so excited for to be the Food is Cool Ambassador for Tamworth, it’s an amazing program that has some phenomenal outcomes when it comes to knowing how to talk to young children about food and really empowering them to make great food choices,” said Ms Jones.
Ms Jones, who is currently Tamworth’s only clinical nutritionist, has been practicing as a nutritionist for 6 years now, but started her career as a cook in a local childcare centre.
“I’ve always been really passionate about children’s health and, having worked in a day care setting, I know there’s a real gap in education for kids around nutrition,” she said.
“The Food is Cool program gives me the opportunity to reach as many families as possible, particularly those who may not be able to afford get private nutrition advice.”
Food is Cool is now available to be purchased by local childcare centres, with a variety of options for involvement by Ms Jones as the local ambassador.
“How the program works is that it’s a one-off payment for the childcare centre – they then get 1-year of access to the program which gives educators a variety of learning options via the Early ‘foodi’ program,” said Ms Jones.
“Where I come in is that I can then come into the centres and provide staff-development programs for the educators, or I can run in-room learning opportunities for the kids, I can also provide a menu review for centres to help them further incorporate what they’re learning through the program.”
From the course materials, childcare centres are then encouraged to offer a variety of play-based learning opportunities to the children in their care, with the overall outcome expected to be reduced anxiety around meal times.
“The lessons are all really focused on child-based learning – it’s about encouraging a real food and whole food approach but also letting them know that there is no such thing as good and bad foods as these are the kinds of things we know can create a negative relationship with food for kids,” said Ms Jones.
When asked what the most common problem she sees local families dealing with Ms Jones said, “Limited intake of food, really limited varieties food being eaten or really specific food preferences are very common in a lot of young children.”
“I also work with a lot of neurodivergent clients which can be challenging but it’s also very rewarding.”
Ms Jones’s focus is on childhood and teenage nutrition however she said that her wholistic approach to nutrition often means that the whole family ends up involved.
“Quite often when I’m seeing kids for a certain eating issue or allergy, mum or dad will chime in and say hey, I think I’ve got that too so it really does often end up being a whole family approach!”
In line with her wholistic view on food and nutrition, Ms Jones has also now successfully run her local Meet, Eat and Collaborate event for two years running.
“Meet, Eat and Collaborate is a really great evening,” said Ms Jones.
“All allied health or complementary medicine practitioners in the region are welcome and it’s just a great opportunity for us to all connect and network and be aware of what other services are available in our region.”
“We can’t treat and help everyone, so knowing where we can refer outside of our scope of practice is essential for good patient care.”
With 2023 and 2024 being hugely successful, Ms Jones is in the process of organising the next event for early 2025.
Ms Jones also won the Excellence in Customer Service Health & Wellbeing Award at the 2023 Tamworth Business Chamber Quality Business Awards.
For more information about Ms Jones’s practice you can visit her website.
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