Nutrition
Infants, children, and teens have unique nutritional needs as they grow and develop. When medical complications arise, adequate growth is still a primary concern. At East Tennessee Children’s Hospital your child will receive individualized attention from our staff of pediatric Registered Dietitians, registered dietetic technicians, and support staff.
What is a Registered Dietitian?
Registered dietitians are nutrition experts who have completed their bachelor’s degree followed by an internship of 1200 practice hours in an accredited didactic program and passed the national registration exam. Registered dietitians are required to obtain regular continuing education credits to maintain their credentials and ensure they are staying up to date on the latest research. Many dietitians have advanced degrees and have obtained specialty certifications in areas such as pediatrics, nutrition support, diabetes, eating disorders, weight management, and lactation.
Who we are at ETCH
Kelly Holbert MS, RD, LDN, CLC
Outpatient Clinical Dietitian
Our staff is highly experienced and qualified to conduct evidence based medical nutrition therapy sessions that are family-centered, and considering the family’s community setting, culture, and how family members interact with nutrition and health.
Outpatient Nutrition Clinic
Our outpatient Registered Dietitian offers individualized counseling to help maintain and improve your child’s nutritional health. During your appointment the Registered Dietitian will obtain an eating history and body measurements and will review medical information provided by the child’s referring physician. The patient, family, and dietitian will work together to develop a safe and individualized nutrition plan. Our goal is to optimize nutrition, growth, and overall health.
Our outpatient dietitian is equipped to help you address a wide range of topics including:
- Obesity/weight management *
- Food allergies
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypertension
- Chronic kidney disease and kidney stones
- Failure to thrive, weight loss, malnutrition
- Tube feeding evaluation and enteral nutrition management **
*If patient has BMI above 85%ile for age, please consider referral to Healthy Ways Clinic at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital instead.
**For feeding difficulties or feeding concerns, please consider referral to Motivating Mealtimes (Form #32353, Rev. 12/22) clinic at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital instead.
What to bring to your outpatient nutrition visit
- Any growth charts. We will measure your child’s weight and height and compare these measurements with children of the same age and their own trends
- Your completed 3-day food log – Download a food log here: Outpatient Nutrition Food Log (Form #33756, Rev 3/24).
- Any vitamins/minerals your child is taking
- Any oral or tube feeding nutrition supplements your child is taking
- Any nutritional lab results your child may have received