What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 4pm

Happy Eaters

Helping kids to eat! Happy Eaters acknowledges that eating can be very difficult for some children. We regularly see children with NDIS funding.

Between 3 - 10% of children experience some form of feeding difficulty. It can be a normal pattern of behaviour for children to develop fussy eating habits at some point in their life. For most children, these patterns resolve without intervention, however for some children these issues can be long lasting and can be very difficult to manage. Justine has many years experience helping fussy eaters and their parents. Justine also has experience in the management of ARFID - Avoidant/Restrictive Feeding Intake Disorder. These children and adults avoid foods based on colour, taste, texture or smell. Foods may cause adverse reactions such as gagging or vomitting and whole food groups such as fruit, vegetables and quality proteins may be refused. Happy Eaters also regularly runs food school
programs for small groups of children.

09/03/2026

Why Pressure Often Backfires 😨

When children feel pressured to eat:

• Anxiety increases
• Appetite decreases
• Refusal often strengthens

A low-pressure approach helps build long-term progress. At Happy Eaters, we focus on creating safe, predictable, supportive mealtimes.

If you need individualised support to help make mealtimes more enjoyable at home, give our office a call on 5445 6145.

04/03/2026

What Feeding Therapy Actually Looks Like ❓
Many people imagine feeding therapy as “making kids eat food”…

But at Happy Eaters, sessions might look like:

• Food play
• Sensory exploration
• Talking about food
• Cooking or building food
• Playing games near food

Eating is not always the first step. Safety, trust and curiosity come first 🤝

26/02/2026

Many children struggle with eating for reasons beyond “picky behaviour”, including sensory sensitivities, anxiety, medical factors or feeding skill differences.

At Happy Eaters, our support goes beyond just what’s on the plate. We help families to:

• Build eating routines that support appetite and reduce grazing
• Use helpful, neutral language at mealtimes to lower pressure and stress
• Ensure children are nutritionally safe, even when food variety is limited
• Develop realistic strategies that fit your child’s needs and your family life
• Coordinate with GPs, paediatricians and other allied health professionals as needed

Our goal is to reduce stress, build trust around food, and help parents feel confident that their child is getting what they need, now and as they grow.

17/02/2026

Our small-group Food School program for Term 2, 2026 is now open for enrolments.

Food School focuses on:
• Gentle food exposure
• Building confidence around food
• Reducing anxiety and pressure
• Supporting sensory food aversions in a fun, supportive environment

Spots are limited, reach out early if this feels like the right fit for your child or if you would like any extra information.

12/02/2026

Iron plays a key role in children’s energy, growth, immunity and learning — yet many selective eaters struggle to meet their needs.

Low iron can sometimes show up as:

Fatigue or low energy
Poor appetite
Difficulty concentrating
Frequent illness
Restless sleep

We can provide dietary support, supplement recommendations and child-friendly strategies can make a big difference. We’re here to guide families every step of the way.

04/02/2026

🩸 Is your child taking iron supplements?

Did you know that calcium (from milk, yoghurt and dairy foods) can reduce iron absorption if taken at the same time?

✨ Helpful tips:

• Separate iron supplements from dairy where possible
• Offer iron powders with juice, water or non-dairy options
• Timing matters more than perfection

If getting iron into your child feels tricky — especially with taste or texture sensitivities — we can help you find strategies that actually work.

29/01/2026

As we step into a new year, we want to remind families that support is here 💛

At Happy Eaters, we support children and families with:
• Fussy and selective eating
• ARFID and feeding anxiety
• Food allergies and intolerances
• Weight gain support
• Feeding and food therapy

If feeding feels stressful, overwhelming or stuck — you don’t have to manage it alone.

22/01/2026

💛 A big goodbye (for now) to our wonderful therapy assistant and food whisperer, Ashlea 💛

Today is Ashlea’s last day with Happy Eaters as she prepares to welcome her newest (and most important) role — becoming a mum.

We are so grateful for her care, creativity and warmth she has brought to our families and sessions, and we wish her all the very best for this exciting next chapter.

31/12/2025

🥳 Looking forward to 2026 and seeing familiar faces and welcoming new families to Happy Eaters this year!

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas to all our Happy Eaters and families 🎄🎅🏻⭐️

23/12/2025

Family gatherings can bring joy… and sometimes unhelpful comments like:

“In my day, kids had to finish everything on their plate!” 🙃

For children with ARFID or selective eating, pressure (even well-meaning pressure) can make things much harder.

A few ways to set everyone up for success:

💬 Send a quick message beforehand explaining what supports your child’s eating. (“We’re keeping meals pressure-free — no comments about what they are or aren’t eating.”)

🌟 Redirect conversations at the table — talk about the day, holidays, pets, anything but food.

🪫 No food policing — skip statements like “you haven’t eaten much” or “just one more bite.”

🤝 Thank loved ones for helping you keep mealtimes calm — often they simply need gentle guidance.

Your child’s comfort comes first — you’re allowed to advocate for them.

18/12/2025

Happy Eaters will be closed over the Christmas/New Year period.

We look forward to seeing you in 2026!

Address

Suite 7 61-63 Primary School Court
Maroochydore, QLD
4558

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 4pm

Website

http://www.happyeaters.com.au/

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