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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.

03/04/2026

Wishing you and your family a Happy & Safe Easter 🐰

Please note our offices will be close from today 3rd of April, 2026 and reopening Tuesday 7th of April, 2026.

We will respond to any messages as soon as we can.

From the Happy Eaters Team 😊

02/04/2026

What a lovely catch up we had yesterday morning to meet Ashlea's beautiful new baby boy Theo and to spend time with Alice before she goes on her maternity leave this week. A very special time for them both 👼💛

01/04/2026

One of the biggest fears we hear from parents: “What if they never eat vegetables?”

Progress in selective eating rarely starts with a mouthful of broccoli.

It might look like:

• Tolerating it on the table
• Helping wash or chop it
• Touching it briefly
• Allowing it on their plate

Exposure builds familiarity. Familiarity builds safety. Safety builds progress.
Often it is a long game and small steps truly count.
#
sunshinecoastfussyeaters

25/03/2026

Nutritional Safety Comes First ⚖️

Before working on variety, we prioritise:

✔ Enough energy
✔ Key nutrients (iron, calcium, protein etc.)
✔ Growth and hydration

Sometimes this means using preferred foods and/or supplements first — and that’s okay. Progress is built step by step.

19/03/2026

Signs Your Child May Need Feeding Support ⬇

Some children don’t “grow out of fussy eating.”

Early support can make a big difference 💛

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.

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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