Meet Danielle Zold, RD, LDN, CLC, CGN | Pediatric Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Zold, RD, LDN, CLC, CGN and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always knew that I wanted to work with kids and be REALLY good at something – I just didn’t know exactly what that would be. I spent some time working as a dietitian in the WIC Program (The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) and realized a lot of families were coming to me with similar concerns – their kids weren’t eating. Either not eating enough, enough variety, or enough of a specific food group. It really challenged me to learn more about how to help these families, so I sought out MANY education opportunities. Pediatric nutrition is already a specialization within nutrition, and working with kids who are selective eaters is even more nuanced, so I really had to go out of my way to learn more. I realized that I could help so many more families, so Picky Eating Dietitian was born

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work with families of kids who are selective eaters. Maybe they aren’t eating enough meat or veggies (most common), or they eat a variety of foods but are still having trouble gaining weight or following their growth curve. I also work with kids who are constipated, especially because that can actually be a contributing factor to eating less. When we don’t feel well, we don’t eat well – it’s as simple as that.

Eating is a very complex process. If you think about it, we use all organ systems when we are eating. We use our core muscles to sit upright, muscles in our jaw and cheek and tongue to coordinate chewing and swallowing, all senses (smell, see, touch, taste, and hearing), the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems, the autonomic nervous system, and of course – our entire digestive system working in harmony.

My work sets me apart from other dietitians because I take a look at the many layers of a child to determine what the root cause of their food selectivity is, and come up with creative ways to get in the calories or nutrients they need to grow and thrive. I’ve learned that every child and every situation is different and requires an individualized approach to truly support them.

Eating is COMPLICATED and often requires an interdisciplinary approach. Feeding Matters is an organization that does a wonderful job depicting just how complex eating is, and is working to create diagnostic codes and resources for better identification of Pediatric Feeding Disorder. I hope if this resonates with you that you know you are not alone and nourishing your child does not have to be difficult!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend in town for a weekend, I would say we definitely need to either drive or hike a 14er – my favorite driving 14er is Mt. Evans! Amazing views and there is usually a wildlife sighting or two. I almost always see mountain goats, pika and/or marmots. We would then head to Beau Jos in Idaho Springs to grab some honey crust pizza to refuel (yes – a dietitian who loves pizza!), and then drive down to Hot Sulphur Springs to soak in the hot springs. The next day, a little closer to Denver, I’d take my friend on a tube float on Clear Creek, get cleaned up, and then head to Abejas for a delicious dinner. My favorite Colorado days always entail a combination of something active and really good food.

Website: www.pickyeatingdietitian.com

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Image Credits
@britnicolephotography_