Plant Based Juniors

Two Registered Dietitian Nutritionist helping you raise your plant-based babies, toddlers, children and teens.

Pediatric Nutrition for Health Professionals Course

Confidently give evidence-based nutrition guidance to parents, children, and colleagues. And set your patients up for lifelong good health and habits.

Become an expert in pediatric nutrition.

This course is right for you if…
You’ve ever felt unprepared to answer the thousands of questions parents ask about nutrition and you’re ready to:

  • Understand the fundamentals of nutrition science including why nutrition is important, fundamentals of nutrition science and guidelines, the connection between food and health, and nutritional requirements — from macro and micronutrients to a positive feeding relationship.

  • Become a trusted advisor for parents and children at every stage — from preconception to teenage years.

  • Never again feel caught off guard when a parent asks nutrition questions. Confidently provide helpful — potentially life changing — guidance for both parents and children.

  • Successfully guide children through sensitive issues. Address pediatric weight concerns without contributing to weight stigma. Offer evidence-based approaches to address picky and selective eating.

  • Learn proven techniques for motivating change. Science-backed nutrition advice won’t change families’ lives unless they act on it. With proven techniques and systems in hand, you’ll be able to support more families to take action and create healthy habits.

  • Get science-based guidance to combat nutrition misinformation surrounding fad diets, food marketing, and more.

  • Have dozens of nutrition charts, handouts, and recipes at your fingertips that you can easily reference and share with patients in the moment.

Nearly 60% of children in the U.S. consume low-quality diets

The costs of poor nutrition are enormous — for both patient health and the medical system. Unhealthy diets account for almost 20% of U.S. health care costs.

A low-quality diet is associated with increase risk of:

  • All-cause mortality

  • Cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality

  • Cancer incidence and mortality

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Neurodegenerative disease

Research examining diet quality in children and adolescents is limited.
But associations have been found between high diet quality and:

  • Improved nutrient status

  • Higher IQ

  • Healthier body composition

  • Lower risk of metabolic syndrome

  • Lower blood pressure

  • Lower HbA1c

Your patients rely on you for nutrition guidance. But…

  • Neither school nor life experience prepared you

    ❌ Medical school nutrition education

    Less than 25% of physicians receive the minimum 25 hours of nutrition education set by the National Academy of Sciences.

  • Your program didn’t teach you the ins and outs of guiding families — at every stage

    ❌ RDN nutrition education

    Most dietetics programs require only 3 credit hours of lifecycle nutrition, which hardly scratches the surface.

Yet, doctors and dietitians are parents’ and kids’ primary source for nutrition information.

Inaccurate nutrition advice — or a lack of helpful nutrition advice — contributes to major health problems, like:

  • Low-quality diets: The first thousand days of life — and all of childhood — are critical for establishing good nutrition habits. Yet, nearly 60% of U.S. children ages 2-19 have low-quality diets.
  • Growth issues: According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 144 million children under age 5 are stunted, 47 million are wasted and 38.3 million have overweight or obesity.
  • Eating disorders: Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental health disorder. 30 million people in the U.S. have an eating disorder. 95% of people with eating disorders are between the ages 12 and 25.

As a health professional, you are one of the best resources to guide your patients in pediatric nutrition.

How do you find accurate, up-to-date, and evidence-based nutrition resources that aren’t like watching paint dry?

Many pediatric nutrition textbooks focus on disease states and medical nutrition therapy. They don’t teach you about preventative nutrition or nutrition to help children and pregnant moms thrive. On top of that, they’re dry and difficult to read.

Online courses can feel like playing the Powerball. Will the course lack key information? Is the format modern and engaging? You likely won’t know until after you’ve made a huge financial investment. 

Seminars and conferences can provide helpful insights, but don’t provide a comprehensive approach to understand all of the complexities of pediatric nutrition. 

Many CME and CEU resources are often dry, limited in scope, unengaging, and clinically irrelevant.

As a health professional, you know scouring Google and TikTok aren’t great places to find evidence-based nutrition advice, especially in pediatrics.

But where can you turn when even the “professional” resources are inadequate?

  • Finally, get a modern, evidence-based education in nutrition and help children from preconception to age 18 with

    The Pediatric Nutrition for Health Professionals course

    “A degree in pediatric nutrition in your pocket.”

    This is the most comprehensive, practical, and science-backed course for pediatricians, dietitians, and health professionals who are dedicated to helping their pediatric patients and families thrive. 

    No magic bullets. No pseudo-science. Just real, evidence-based guidance from board-certified and respected health professionals.

    • If you want to become the go-to expert for parents, kids, and even your colleagues, you’re in the right place

    You are the committed, caring, and conscientious health professional your patients need.

    How do we know? You’re here reading this page, because you care about your patients.

    You know the pediatric nutrition resources available to you are incomplete. You’d like to further your nutrition education with evidence-based and practical guidance. Ultimately, you want to positively impact your patients’ lives and improve their overall health and happiness.

    Here’s what the Pediatric Nutrition for
    Health Professionals course will give you:

    • 12 modules of up-to-date, science-backed training, covering everything from guiding parents through picky eating to macro and micronutrients

    • 35 CMEs or CEUs upon completion of the course that you can apply to your continuing education requirements

    • Dozens of quick-reference guides, charts and clinical scenarios to help you give sound guidance on the spot

    • Interactive quizzes at the end of each module and a final exam to test your retention of key information

    Sign up now and get access to these bonus offers:

    • The ability to join Plant-Based Juniors’ national database of health professionals, a place where parents can find practitioners educated on practical, evidence-based nutrition.

    • Parent facing handouts that translate the nutrition guidance from the course into consumer friendly recommendations.

    • Full color recipe ebook to share with patients

    • Downloadable summary at the end of each module to help retain learning and key considerations

    The course curriculum

    Pediatric Nutrition for Health Professionals contains 12 modules of lessons packed with both written and video content. The course modules are designed to give you deep understanding of the most important aspects of pediatric nutrition and how to effectively and practically help families apply this info and instill healthy nutrition habits:

    • Module 1

      Introduction

      Start the course strong with an overview of the course benefits, logistics, and learning goals.

      • Meet your course instructors.
      • See what you’ll learn throughout the course.
      • Get a walkthrough of the course structure and platform.
    • Module 2

      Why Focus on Nutrition

      This module will give you the foundational knowledge to understand the importance of nutrition and what dietary practices are best for health.

      • Get a 30,000-foot overview of nutrition.
      • Learn the history of nutrition science.
      • Understand how to assess nutrition research and identify the current gaps in nutrition science and research.
      • Discover evidence-based dietary patterns that are best for overall health.
      • Master key nutrition terms and how a plant-predominant approach is the foundation for good health.
    • Module 3

      Childhood Nutition: Current State and Future Direction

      While there is no one “perfect” diet, the evidence overwhelming supports a diet centered around plants as being the best for overall health. In this module, learn about the latest dietary guidelines and the common challenges your patients may face.

      • Identify the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025
      • Find out what American kids are actually eating and the most common gaps in nutrition
      • Understand the fundamentals of a plant-predominant approach as the foundation for pediatric dietary guidelines as well as the advantages and potential limitations of more plant-exclusive diets for children
      • Provide compassionate and inclusive care by understanding the issues — like food insecurity and food marketing — that prevent families from accessing healthy diets
    • Module 4

      Minimizing our forkprint

      Climate change and food are inextricably connected, and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This module will demonstrate the health impacts of climate change on children and the connection between food, climate, and equity.

      • Understand how climate change impacts health
      • Find out how agriculture impacts climate change
      • Know the qualities of sustainable diets
      • Learn about the connection between food, climate, and justice
    • Module 5

      Pediatric Nutrition Assessment and Feeding Dynamics

      Is your patient’s growth on track? How can you accurately assess the state of their nutrition? Answering these questions is a fundamental component of comprehensive pediatric care, and in this module, you’ll learn how to.

      • Discover the 5 categories of information needed to accurately complete a pediatric nutrition assessment
      • Understand the components of a nutrition-focused physical exam and get tools to confidently gauge a patient’s nutrition
      • Avoid misinterpreting growth charts by understanding their history, accuracy, role, and how to use them
      • Learn how to thoughtfully approach pediatric weight-related issues without causing harm
      • Help parents build a positive feeding relationship with their children by learning the 4 basic components of building competency around eating, how parenting style influences feeding, and more
      • Know what laboratory assessment is needed for routine care in pediatric nutrition
    • Module 6

      Macronutrients

      This module will provide an overview of the three macronutrients, their role in a healthy dietary pattern, and how to optimize intakes for growth and development.

      • Identify the 3 macronutrients and their main functions
      • Recognize the major dietary sources of each macronutrient and what to consider for intake
      • Know how to select and balance macronutrients to optimize nutrition and growth
    • Module 7

      Micronutrients

      Micronutrient deficiencies can cause long-term health issues. In this module, learn common micronutrient gaps and how to help patients increase intake of critical micronutrients.

      • Identify key micronutrients and their main functions
      • Recognize the major dietary sources of each micronutrient and considerations regarding intake
      • Discover common micronutrient gaps for kids on different diets — including vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous children
    • Module 8

      Nutrition through the lifecycle part 1: Preconception, pregnancy, and lactation

      Good nutrition impacts children before they’re born. Learn how to help parents (and soon-to-be parents) adopt safe, healthy nutrition practices.

      • Learn specific nutrition principles for fertility, pregnancy, and lactation, including supplementation
      • Recognize nutrition-associated conditions in pregnancy and recommended treatment protocols
      • Understand lifestyle factors that may impact pregnancy and know how to make recommendations for patients
      • Recognize signs of feeding difficulties during lactation
    • Module 9

      Nutrition through the lifecycle part 2: Infancy, childhood, and adolescence

      A child’s nutrition needs are unique from an adult’s. Similarly, pediatric nutrition needs change as children age and grow. Learn the nutrient needs for children at every stage in this module.

      • Understand the specific nutrition requirements — including appropriate supplements — during infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
      • Discover feeding approaches that address picky eating and help parents improve their child’s nutrition.
      • Learn developmental and nutritional considerations for starting solids and the various approaches to starting solids.
      • Navigate challenging and unique circumstances related to pediatric nutrition — including picky eating, constipation, food allergies, family meals, and eating disorders.
    • Module 10

      Nutrition for young athletes

      What are the specific nutrition needs of youth athletes? What foods should they prioritize? How much protein do they actually need? We answer all of these questions and more in this module.

      • Understand specific nutrition principles for youth and adolescent athletes, including macro and micronutrient requirements and hydration needs
      • Understand RED-S — including the scope of the syndrome, potential health and performance effects, and treatment considerations
      • Know about the safety and appropriate use of ergogenic aids and performance supplements for youth athletes
    • Module 11

      Motivational interviewing

      Great nutrition advice is useless if it’s never implemented. In this module, you’ll learn motivational interviewing (MI) skills that can increase the likelihood of patient engagement and implementation.

      • Learn the elements of motivational interviewing from guest instructor Dr. Megan Ratcliff, a Pediatric Psychologist who specializes in MI
      • Discover the spirit, principles, process, and skills involved in MI
      • Find out how to differentiate between various types of reflections in MI
      • Understand rating scales and the EPE technique for motivational interviewing
    • Module 12

      Culinary and practical application

      Culinary medicine is nutrition research transformed into practical guidance health professionals can use to help parents apply nutrition recommendations at home — while considering the potential limitations and barriers they may face in the process.

      • Learn how to help parents organize food groups and meal composition
      • Find out how to help parents ensure nutritional adequacy by focusing on key food groups in meal planning and preparation
      • Learn the basics of meal planning and batch cooking
      • Discover how to prepare food for safe, baby-led weaning
      • Learn the answers to frequently asked questions about pediatric nutrition, including if organic foods are healthier and whether food additives are safe for children
      • Learn how to construct a nutritious, well-rounded plant-based meal

    • Learning Objectives

      The Pediatric Nutrition for Health Professionals education activity is composed of a series of modules viewed in a digital format. Users are able to move through the module at their own pace. Each module ends with a with quiz to assess the learner’s comprehension of the subject matter. Video, written material, and interactive features are used to enhance the experience. A passing score of 80% or greater on the final exam is required for course completion.

      • Identify health promoting dietary patterns and current gaps in diet quality during childhood.
      • Recognize the health impacts of climate change and the interplay between climate and food.
      • Describe the core components of pediatric nutrition assessment and management, including the evaluation of overweight and obesity.
      • Distinguish specific nutritional needs during phases of the lifecycle from pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, including macro and micronutrient needs, as well as developmental considerations.
      • Summarize the core features of motivational interviewing and its relevance in clinical practice.
      • Translate specific nutritional guidance to culinary applications.

  • Enrollment Opens Soon!

     

    • Meet your instructors

    They have decades of professional and real-life
    experience and are the creators of nutrition content
    that’s guided millions of families around the world.

    • Alex Caspero MA, RD

      Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors and New York Times bestselling chef.

    • Reshma Shah MD, MPH

      Pediatrician, former affiliate clinical instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine and co-author of Nourish: The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families.

    • Whitney English, MS RD

      Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors and co-author of The Plant-Based Baby + Toddler.

    Designed for busy, on-the-go,
    “I-barely-had-time-to-eat-lunch”
    health professionals

    • Reference the course anytime, anywhere.

      Whether it’s on your laptop late at night while charting or during a face-to-face meeting with a patient or client, this course is a tool you can reference from any device — desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or phone — to quickly answer your questions or patient questions.

    • Take the course on your schedule.

      Your days are hectic. Your nights are precious. That’s why the entire course is self paced, virtual, online, and interactive.

    Of those in clinical practice, 100% say the course will influence the way they practice as a health professional and 96% would HIGHLY recommend it to their colleagues.

    • “An incredible resource to any physician who focuses on nutrition counseling in their practice- both pediatric and adult patients! Definitely worth the time and money. Strongly recommend.”

      M. Schwiesow, MD

    • “Thank you for creating this course! As a family physician and a parent, I appreciate not just the detailed and comprehensive information regarding nutritional needs in pregnancy and each stage of childhood, but also the philosophy behind this course of trusting parents, meeting families where they are at and working in a nonjudgmental way with patients. This is an excellent resource for any physician taking care of children in any community. After completing this course, I feel much more comfortable providing nutrition education for every stage of childhood.”

      Lisa Picascia, MD

    • “This course is a MUST for any clinician working with children or families with children. This in-depth evidence-based course will help you better understand the importance of why we should encourage children to consume more whole plant-foods, help children develop a better relationship with nutrition. . . , plus so much more. I highly recommend this course and will be referencing the information often in my own practice.”

      Ashley Fitzgerald, MS, RDN, LDN

    • “A great evidence-based course to support my practice as a pediatric dietitian.”

      Dahlia Rimmon, MS RD

    • “This course on pediatric nutrition was comprehensive, engaging and very up to date with most recent clinical evidence and guidelines. As a provider who has a background in lifestyle medicine and plant based diets I was familiar with many of the topics as it relates to adults, but really appreciated the deep dive into what data is available for pediatric patients. It can be intimidating to talk to any patient about their dietary choices as it is such a personal topic, this level of care is heightened when talking to parents and children about what their children are eating. This course provided a great backbone of both knowledge and skills that increased my confidence in approaching these topics with patients and their parents in a non judgmental way that can encourage ongoing conversations about what role food plays in their life and health as a family. This course was great for me as a person with some baseline nutrition education and knowledge, but would be a really great place for someone who is just starting out on their nutrition education journey. This truly covers the important foundational knowledge and skills that are necessary to be competent in this area. Thanks for all your hard work, time and passion in creating this course!”

      Rochelle Palmiscno, MD

    • “The Pediatric Nutrition for Health Professionals Course is an outstanding addition to nutrition education in medicine. This is a comprehensive course that provides both an overview and details about healthy eating at every age during childhood. The team also included helpful information on common nutrition-related issues for each age group and provided guidance for assessment and treatment. It is my hope that this program makes its way into medical schools and residency programs nationwide. Highly recommended!”

      Bryanne Robson, MD, DipABLM

    • “Alex, Whitney, and Reshma did an incredible job with this course! It’s evidence-based and packed with relevant, practical guidance that goes beyond just macro and micronutrient needs. I feel much more confident now counseling families. I would highly recommend it to my dietitian colleagues.”

      Hannah Vogel, RD

    • “This course was so thorough and added to my base knowledge and also what I can share and use in my practice. The research is well done, concise and easily understood. This is a reference that will be useful for everyone and not just those interested in pediatric nutrition.”

      Angela Tam Stevenson MPH, RDN

    • “This course was very thorough and provided evidence based information to help support children, pregnancy and families. The tips to include more plant forward eating were realistic and fun! I’ve gained so many new tools to use both personally and professionally!”

      Liz Vermilya RD, LD

    • “Thank you so much! I really enjoyed furthering my knowledge in this important area of pediatric nutrition! This will help me immensely in my practice and also at home with my own kids.”

      Malini, Pharmacist, PharmD

    • “The course I wish I’d had access to when starting out as a new graduate dietitian wanting to learn more about pediatric nutrition AND evidence-based information on plant predominant/vegan diets throughout the lifecycle. I hope this is one day taught as university curriculum, until then, Alex Whitney & Reshma have done an incredible job creating this fully referenced & important resource. Thank you!”

      Klaire Lacota-Barnes Accredited Practicing Dietitian, APD

    • “The material was presented in a way that was fun, interactive, and engaging. Having access to key topics on downloadable handouts is a very helpful to use as a reference. I was looking forward to completing this course and it definitely did not disappoint!”

      Heather Young, MS RD LD

    • “This course was an excellent primer on nutrition with a strong focus on the value of a plant focused diet. I feel more equipped to discuss nutrition with all my patients, especially those with food allergies! The material was presented in a straight forward way with tools to engage the learner. I recommend this to any health care provider.”

      Laurie McWilliams, MD, FAAAAI

    • “Exceptionally comprehensive and complementary evidence based nutrition course. You have thought of everything! Thank you for creating such an amazing course that I can trust and have as an invaluable resource. I learned so much to enhance supporting my patients and families and am grateful for the opportunity to participate!”

      Reshma Shah, MD

    • “Thank you so much for creating this course. I absolutely loved it above my expectations. Your book has been my go-to since I first got it in my sons food introduction and my health coaching practice for mothers. But now I feel much more confident about discussing pediatric nutrition, and I have a new go-to. The course allowed me to dive deep in a subject that is really not widely available anywhere, although of uttermost importance for the future of our planet. I’m recommending this course to EVERYONE.”

      Paula Brunt, Chef

    • “A deep dive into nutrition science focusing on pediatric nutrition. It took me deeper than expected and I am thankful for that. No study buddy? No worries – every module ends with a round of questions to help you remembering the material.”

      Nina Bahr, Biomedical Engineer

    • How do I know the course information is accurate and evidence based?

      A 3rd-party board of health professionals — including a doctor and dietitians — reviewed the entire course for scientific accuracy. Citations are used throughout the course to reference the appropriate studies and supporting scientific research. Additionally, the course was created by trained and board-certified professionals — including doctors and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

    • Does this course count for continuing education?

      Yes! This course counts for 35 CEUs or CMEs.

    • Are there any extra requirements — besides taking the course — to earn CEUs or CMEs?

      Yes! There is a final exam, which you must pass to qualify for CEUs or CMEs.

    • Can I only access the course for a limited time?

      When you purchase this course, you get unlimited access to it, as long as it’s hosted online.

    Try the course completely risk-free

    We get it.

    Low-quality courses are common. Many of these courses use misleading marketing tactics to draw in hopeful customers who are stuck footing a bill for disappointing, inadequate content.

    We refuse to allow that to happen to you.

    That’s why we’re inviting you to buy Pediatric Nutrition for Health Professionals completely risk free.

    Take up to 25% of the course, and if you’re not happy with it, get a refund within 14 days of your purchase.

  • Finally feel confident that you are the best resource for parents’ nutrition questions. And provide the proof to back you up.

    Proudly display a certificate of completion on your website and qualify to join the Plant-Based Juniors’ Certified Practitioner Database, a registry for parents who are looking for health professionals highly trained in pediatric nutrition.

    • Complete your pediatric nutrition education and become the trusted expert for parents, patients, and colleagues

    • Accreditation, Designation & Additional Course Details:

    • In support of improving patient care, Rush University Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

      For Medicine: Rush University Medical Center designates enduring material for a maximum of 35.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

      For Nursing: Rush University Medical Center designates this enduring material for a maximum of 35.00 nursing contact hour(s).

      For Dietitians: This enduring material has been approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration for 35.00 CPEUs.
    • In addition to the above mentioned instructors, course faculty include: Megan Ratcliff, PhD, MPH and Jennifer Sapolsky, MSN, RN

      Faculty Disclosures:
      Reshma Shah, MD, MPH – Royalty, HCI Publishers
      Whitney English, RD, MS – Royalty, Avery; Consultant, LiveWise Naturals
      Alexandra Caspero, RD, MS – Royalty, Avery; Consultant, LiveWise Naturals, HUM Nutrition
      All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated. The remaining course director(s), planner(s), faculty, and reviewer(s) of this activity have no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • This course can be viewed on desktop, tablet or mobile device. Speakers or headphones are required for this course. This course has been approved for Education Credits from December 15, 2022-December 31, 2023. Access to the course materials are granted as long as the course is hosted.