Need quick advice? Call our clinical nutrition info line! This is a key way we share our nutrition knowledge with families like yours. Please don't use this number for appointments. It's here so you can easily get the important food and health support you need.
Treatment
Clinical Nutrition
Helping kids grow and thrive with tailored nutrition plans.
Clinical Nutrition Info Line
Where Do Registered Dietitians Provide Care?
If your child has a medical condition or special dietary needs, nutrition care may be a key part of their care. Here are answers to common questions:
Can my child see a dietitian in the hospital?
Yes, if they need one. Dietitians are available on every unit to provide nutrition screening and tailor a diet plan to your child. These plans can help shorten your child’s hospital stay, reduce complications and support recovery.
How do we see a dietitian as an outpatient?
Dietitians work closely with the care teams in many of our clinics. To see one of our dietitians your child must also see an expert from that clinic.
We meet with kids and families in:
- Adolescent Medicine
- Cardiology
- Celiac Disease
- Child Development
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Diabetes and Endocrinology
- Enteral Feeding
- Feeding Team
- Food Allergy
- Gastroenterology
- Genetics
- Neurology
- NEW (Nutrition, Exercise and Weight Management) Kids
- Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant
- Renal
- Sports Medicine
Do dietitians help with special diets or feeding challenges?
Yes. We help families with:
- Food allergies
- Modified nutrition needs
- Picky eating
- Tube feeding
- Other nutrition challenges
We work with you to create a plan that fits your child’s needs and your family’s routines.
What to Expect from a Registered Dietitian Visit
What Do Registered Dietitians Do?
Registered dietitians (RDs) are nutrition experts with advanced training in the nutritional needs of kids. They know how medical conditions, growth and development affect your child’s dietary needs.
At Children’s Wisconsin, our dietitians:
- Tailor your child’s nutrition plan to their age, health and lifestyle
- Teach you and your child how to follow their plan at home, school and in daily activities
- Work in both inpatient and outpatient settings, across multiple specialties
- Partner with doctors, nurses and other experts to support your child’s care
Clinical Nutrition services can include:
- Nutrition counseling
- Support for feeding difficulties, including oral-motor and oral-sensory issues
- Help with special diets, for example, gluten-free for kids with celiac disease
- Guidance for tube feeding or IV nutrition
Our goal is to help your child feel their best, heal faster and develop healthy habits that last.
What To Expect
Your first visit will focus on getting to know your child’s health history, eating habits and nutrition needs. They may measure your child’s height and weight, review lab results and ask about typical meals and snacks.
The dietitian will talk with you and your child about your concerns and answer questions. They’ll explain how nutrition can support your child’s health. You’ll leave with a nutrition plan that includes realistic steps you can take at home.
Some children may need follow-up visits to adjust the plan or track progress. Your dietitian will work with you to set up future visits if needed.
Why Choose Children’s Wisconsin for Your Child’s Nutrition Care
Our clinical nutrition team brings experience, compassion and pediatric expertise to every interaction.
- National recognition: Our clinical nutrition team has earned the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Clinical Nutrition Team of Distinction award.
- Pediatric expertise: Every dietitian has advanced training in caring for kids. We’re well-versed in all types of medical and dietary needs.
- Team-based care: We work side-by-side with your child’s medical team. We make sure their nutrition supports their treatment and recovery.
- Tailored plans: We tailor every diet plan to your child’s health, growth and preferences.