Nutrition Groups and Classes

• Around 5 months+ is ideal for the sensory exploration class, as activities are taste-safe and developmentally appropriate for early engagement with textures, smells, and play-based food exposure.
• Around 6 months is a great time for the starting solids group, as babies are often ready to actively participate in taste testing.
• Many families also choose to attend a bit earlier (4–5 months) to feel prepared and confident before beginning solids with their baby. Later is also great for support with the feeding journey even after solids have been introduced.

Vital Roots Nutrition regularly offers Starting Solids: Baby & Me Group and Sensory Exploration: Baby & Me Group. Additional workshops, parent education sessions, and cooking classes may also be offered based on availability and community interest.

Nutrition groups and classes are designed for parents, caregivers, babies, children, and families who want practical support with feeding, food exploration, nutrition education, and kitchen confidence.

Yes. We offer kids cooking classes, which are highly popular and tend to fill up quickly, as availability and scheduled dates are limited. If you are interested, please join the waitlist to be notified of upcoming sessions.

In addition, we also offer 1:1 in-home cooking sessions. These sessions involve working directly with parents and children in their own kitchen environment, allowing us to tailor learning to your child’s needs, interests, and current skill level. This hands-on approach supports the development of practical cooking skills and confidence in a familiar setting.

If this option is of interest, please reach out or book an assessment to learn more and get started.

No. You do not need to be an existing counselling patient to join a nutrition group or class. Classes are open to families and community members based on the specific program, availability, and registration details.

Registered Dietitians help people improve their health and relationship with food using evidence-based nutrition care tailored to their individual needs, medical history, lifestyle, and goals. Dietitians look at the whole person — not just body weight or BMI. Nutrition is complex, and care is individualized, practical, and focused on overall wellbeing.

Dietitians support areas such as:

• Behaviour change and sustainable habit building
• Challenging relationships with food, disordered eating, and eating disorder recovery
• Blood sugar management and diabetes care
• Heart health, cholesterol, and chronic disease management
• Digestive health and gastrointestinal conditions
• Hormones, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and pediatric nutrition
• Sports nutrition and performance
• Picky eating, sensory concerns, and feeding challenges across all ages
• Malnutrition, nutrient deficiencies, and specialized nutrition support such as tube feeding
• Medication and nutrient interactions
• Cultural foods, traditions, and family values around eating
• Food accessibility, budgeting, meal planning, and realistic strategies for everyday life

Dietitians also interpret lab work, medical history, medications, and nutrition-related symptoms to provide individualized care that supports long-term health and quality of life.

Registered Dietitians work in many settings including hospitals, clinics, private practice, long-term care, public health, schools, sports settings, research, food service, and community programs. They support individuals, families, athletes, businesses, and communities by translating complex nutrition science into practical, sustainable guidance that helps people feel nourished, supported, and well.

No, a Registered Dietitian (RD) is not the same thing as a nutritionist.

A Registered Dietitian is a regulated healthcare professional with extensive education and clinical training. To become a dietitian in Ontario, individuals must:

• Complete a 4-year accredited undergraduate degree
• Typically complete a master’s degree
• Be accepted into a competitive accredited post-graduate internship/practicum program
• Complete approximately 1 year of supervised practical training
• Pass a national certification exam
• Maintain continuing education and professional standards throughout their career

Registered Dietitians are regulated by the College of Dietitians of Ontario, which helps ensure care is safe, evidence-based, and ethical.

In Ontario, the titles “Dietitian” and “Registered Dietitian” are legally protected. Only qualified professionals who maintain registration in good standing can use these titles.

In contrast, the term “nutritionist” is not legally protected in Ontario. This means anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, regardless of education, clinical training, or accountability to a professional regulatory body.