Fern Rodrigues, RNutr, BFood&Nut, ECE
I decided to shift my career after watching a documentary featuring five young people with eating disorders. All five had the root of their struggles in childhood. After a brief research (yeah, I googled) on the matter, I was completely convinced that helping young children develop a positive relationship with food can significantly reduce the chances of them being featured in a documentary like that, and that was a career path worth shifting to.
So, I quit my job at a food additives manufacturer - industry I had been in for over two decades, since I was 16 years old -, and traced a plan to become a children’s nutritionist.
I went to get formal education in children’s development and, with my new qualifications, I started working in early childhood education which then helped me fund my Bachelor degree in Food & Nutrition.
But, of course, I didn’t stop there… To make sure I can recommend the most effective strategies to support children’s nutrition I keep up with the latest research through literature, seminars, courses etc… Yes! I am a nutrition nerd! I also have formal training in Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in feeding, Responsive Feeding and in S.O.S. (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding. And am developing my research in Food Literacy in Early Childhood with the Queensland University of Technology.
My qualifications as a chemist and as a food technologist, and my large experience as a recipe developer and as a food taster widen my abilities to answer questions about packaged foods, food labels, health claims, how foods are manufactured etc, and also help with recipes that are simple and affordable, yet delicious and nutritious.
My qualifications and twelve years’ of experience as an early childhood educator grant me formal understanding of children's development in all domains (cognitive, emotional, physical, language and social), and also understanding of the routine, perils and opportunities to support children’s food education in a practical way, that makes sense in the ECEC setting.
To the technical knowledge and experience, add passion and commitment to a job I consider more important than myself, and you have the ideal professional to guide you and your children on a journey to a healthy relationship with food.
WHAT WE DO
What People Are Saying
"Both of my children are eating well."
Fern was wonderful in helping us with our kids and mealtimes. We all used to dread mealtimes. Now it's a great time of day together to unwind, tell stories and enjoy our time together. Both of my children are eating well and enjoying trying new things in their own time. Thank you Fern!!!
Elizabeth Albergoni, Leura
"Enjoyable eating experiences together more often."
Fern has been very helpful with improving how I approach feeding my 4-year-old. She's taught me to start with having enjoyable eating experiences together more often, to let him decide whether or not to eat and how much while I decide what to eat and when, and to expose him to different foods, at the dining table and away from it. Fern is always understanding, non-judgmental, and encouraging, pointing out the small wins even when it seems that my food experiments have failed.
Liv Galendez, Katoomba
“Great information.”
"Thank you so much, it will be great to bring positivity back into serving at meal times. Great information and well spoken."
Katrina Nuske, chef, Horsham Uniting Early Learning (VIC)
“Meals are officially pain free!"
"He’s doing really well. We have actually been gobsmacked at how well he is doing and how much things have changed. There is absolutely no anxiety around mealtimes anymore and he eats almost everything we put in front of him. Meals are officially pain free!"
Melissa Atkinson, Katoomba
Five practical strategies to help you and your team manage food refusal at your service.
Plus, monthly articles and other resources to help your staff and families learn strategies to support children’s nutrition.
It’s free.
Fern’s five-week FREE coaching is your starting point to end fussy eating in your house
Free coaching for five small, but powerful, changes you can make in a few days to start walking your way out of fuss at the dining table.
Start off by downloading this eBook – also free – with my Top 5 Strategies to Stop Fussy Eating at Home. Then receive in the coming five weeks a guide to implement each strategy with the confidence that you’re on the right track.