Registered Dietitian
Why Mary Free Bed Kids?
As a CARF-Accredited Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Program, we provide expert, family-centered care designed to support the best possible recovery outcomes. Rehabilitation is essential after illness, injury, or surgery, and research consistently shows that beginning specialized care early can significantly improve a child’s progress.
Our accredited programs, seasoned clinical teams, and compassionate approach ensure that children and families receive the highest standard of support throughout their rehabilitation journey.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital holds a number of special accreditations from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International (CARF). This voluntary but rigorous accreditation process is based on specific and comprehensive standards ensuring the highest-quality rehabilitation.
CARF is an independent organization dedicated to providing reliable information to help patients and families make informed health care decisions. Consumers and medical professionals collaborate to develop the leading-edge standards by which providers are measured.
What is a registered dietitian?
A registered dietitian is a specialized health care professional who uses the power of food and nutrition as a tool for recovery. This role is especially important for kids as they continue to grow, develop, and learn following injury or illness. Proper nutrition during this critical stage supports both physical recovery and long-term health, helping children build healthy habits that last.
Why Nutrition Matters in Pediatric Rehabilitation
Nutrition plays a big role in a child’s recovery. Kids need specific nutrients as they grow. But when a child has faced an injury, surgery or a medical condition, their body may need extra nutrients to rebuild and recover. Registered dietitians help make sure your child’s diet supports:
- Healing after injury
- Muscle strength and energy for therapy
- Brain support for learning and cognitive skills
- Healthy growth and development
Good nutrition can also help your child feel better throughout the day, be more comfortable during therapy, and return home with confidence and strength.
What does a registered dietitian do?
A registered dietitian (RD) specializes in using food and nutrition to help kids meet unique health and healing goals. They’ll team up with your family and your child’s care team to create strong, practical plans built just for your child.
Here’s what they do:
Nutrition Assessment
First, the dietitian learns about your child, including their medical history, growth and weight patterns. They’ll ask you about your child’s feeding behaviors as well as their likes
and dislikes. They’ll also ask if your child’s care team has any specific goal related to nutrition. This helps them understand what your child needs to feel their best.
Personalized Nutrition Plans
Every child’s different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all menu. The registered dietitian develops a custom plan that meets your child’s health goals and supports rehabilitation. This may include:
- Modified textures for easier chewing or swallowing
- Meal plans to provide the right balance of nutrients
- Snacks that help boost energy between therapies
- Guidelines for nutrition support such as oral supplements and tube feeding
Their plans are designed to support healing and help your child succeed.
Monitoring and Adjustment
As your child heals and grows, their nutritional needs change. Dietitians follow progress closely. They’ll adjust plans as needed, whether your child is gaining strength, trying new foods or moving toward new therapy goals.
Education and Support for Families
Registered dietitians help kids and their families feel confident about nutrition at home. They teach caregivers:
- How to prepare balanced meals
- Ideas for picky eaters
- Tips for feeding children with special texture or swallowing needs
- Ways to support healthy growth and eating habits for daily life
Collaborating With the Care Team
Dietitians work side-by-side with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists to make sure nutrition fits each child’s overall care plan. Their insight helps every part of your child’s rehabilitation succeed.
How Dietitians Support Kids With Feeding Challenges
Feeding challenges are common after medical events or in children with certain conditions. A registered dietitian may work with a Feeding Therapy Team to:
- Evaluate how your child eats and drinks safely
- Identify textures your child tolerates best
- Support oral motor skills
- Modify foods so they’re easier and safer to swallow
- Provide guidance for tube feeding when necessary
- Help siblings and family members understand how to support positive mealtime experiences
With this coordinated care, your child can make progress in feeding skills while staying safe and nourished.
Where Dietitians Fit in Your Child’s Rehabilitation Team
Registered dietitians are part of a multidisciplinary care team, which means many professionals work together to help your child reach their goals.
Your child’s rehabilitation team may include:
- Pediatric physicians
- Nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Feeding specialists
- Psychologists
- Recreational therapists
- Care managers
Each expert brings unique skills, and dietitians ensure your child’s nutrition supports every part of healing and rehabilitation.The team meets regularly to discuss progress and adjust, so your child always has the best possible support as they grow stronger.
Examples of What a Dietitian Can Help With
Here are real ways a registered dietitian may support your child’s rehabilitation journey:
Growth and Development
Whether your child is an infant, toddler, school-aged or a teen, dietitians make sure they’re getting enough nutrients as they grow.
Post-Injury Healing
After injury or surgery, bodies need extra protein, vitamins and minerals. Dietitians guide meals and snacks that help rebuild tissues and boost energy for therapy.
Feeding Skill Improvement
Some children have challenges with chewing or swallowing; dietitians team up with feeding therapists to make mealtimes safer, more comfortable, and more successful.
Tube Feeding Support
If your child needs a feeding tube, a dietitian helps plan their nutrition so your child receives exactly what they need to grow and heal. Dietitians will also help them transition to eating by mouth when possible.
Weight and Nutrient Balance
Whether a child needs to gain weight, eat more variety or strengthen their immune system, dietitians help find a safe, effective way to reach those goals.
Real Impact: How Dietitians Help Kids Thrive
When dietitians are part of rehabilitation:
- Kids gain strength faster
- Children have the potential to reach their therapy goals quicker
- Families feel more confident feeding their kids at home
- Children enjoy meals more safely and comfortably
- Overall recovery goes more smoothly
Nutrition can make therapy more effective because a well-nourished body heals more quickly and tolerates therapy better.
What to Expect at Your First Meeting With a Dietitian
During your first visit with a registered dietitian:
- You’ll discuss your child’s eating patterns, likes and dislikes.
- You’ll discuss your child’s growth and weight trends.
- You’ll review your child’s medical history and feeding behaviors.
- Working alongside the dietitian, you’ll develop goals for eating, feeding or nutrition that are unique to your child.
- Together, you’ll develop a personalized nutrition plan.
When you leave, the dietitian will provide you with practical tips you can use right away, and a plan that evolves as your child grows stronger.
How Families Can Support Nutrition at Home
At home, nutrition continues to be part of your child’s success. Registered dietitians empower families by sharing:
- Fun, kid-approved meal ideas
- Ways to include your child in snack and meal prep
- Techniques to handle picky eating in positive ways
- Ideas for nutrient-rich foods that help energy and recovery
At Mary Free Bed Kids, families are part of the care team—and dietitians are here to guide you every step of the way.
Why Choose Our Pediatric Dietitians
Our registered dietitians are specially trained to work with kids and families. They understand that children think, eat, and grow differently than adults. They design plans with child-friendly, family-friendly solutions.
Choosing our pediatric dietitians means:
- Expert support for kids of all ages
- Personalized nutrition plans tailored to your child
- Collaboration with your child’s rehabilitation team
- Support for growth, healing and everyday nutrition
- Family education and confidence building
With a registered dietitian on your child’s care team, you aren’t just getting meal ideas; you’re getting a partner in long-term health and healing.
Ready to Learn More or Get Started?
If you think your child could benefit from a registered dietitian’s guidance, ask your care team about a referral.
Whether your child needs support with feeding, nutrition after an injury or any nutrition goals, our registered dietitians are here to help your child thrive—one healthy bite at a time.
Ready to Get Started With Mary Free Bed?
Wherever your child is on their rehabilitation journey, we’re here to help every step of the way. Our pediatric specialists are ready to listen, support and guide your family through recovery. Whether your child is just beginning treatment or continuing progress from earlier care, our team is committed to encouraging their growth, celebrating milestones and supporting every goal—big and small.
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