Diet Education Series for Parents & Carers
Digestive Health
with DS NSW
Thanks to everyone who joined my talk on Digestive Health with DS NSW on 25 February 2025.
Click here for the high-fibre recipes that I mentioned. These are great for gut health.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions at info@nickyclarknutrition.com.
A right diet for DS?
I recently recorded an online Nutrition Talk with Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London (here) on “is there a right diet for Down Syndrome”. This is largely a repeat of the messages I gave in Brisbane at the World Down Syndrome Congress (WDSC). Please share this to friends who were not at the conference if you think they would benefit.
I was recently interviewed by newsweek.com for my insight on diet for Down Syndrome. You can read the article here.
6-week online Program for People with Down Syndrome
This program is designed to educate people with Down Syndrome, of all ages, on what and how to eat more healthily. The program gives practical and easy to implement diet and lifestyle advice.
The program is ideal for people with Down Syndrome who struggle with weight, portion control, or who love junk food and 'white carbs'. It is for young adults with Down Syndrome who have recently moved to their own home or who are preparing to move out.
Program details:
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6-weeks start to finish
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3 x online sessions of 60 minutes each, held fortnightly
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Online via Zoom (session recorded/shared)
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Highly visual, with clear messages
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Homework between sessions using easy-read recipes
Each program is limited to 10 places.
Next program runs from 12 March to 23 April 2025, with online sessions held at 11am on
Wednesdays:
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12 March,
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26 March and
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9 April 2025.
Sessions are recorded and shared.
Can’t join this time, but keen to join another program – email Nicky and register your interest info@nickyclarknutrition.com
Parent feedback
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"Program is well structured, recipes easy to follow. Resources clear and instructive. Nicky was positive in her interactions online and guided participants encouraging them to try new foods." - Helen & Tony H, Parents
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"All in all Nicky , I felt it was very worthwhile" and something like 'it opened up new ideas about healthy foods... not just from mum' – Trish G, Parent
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“What I really liked about the program is the simplicity and the easy to remember information with lots of repetition. The photos and colourful charts were helpful. The topics all great” – Ingrid R, Parent
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“A really helpful visual course to help a person with Down syndrome understand what a healthy plate of food looks like” Jan K, Parent
Options for program finishers AFTER they finish the program?
Finishers of the program, can sign up to quarterly follow-up sessions which will be help on at 7pm (AEST) on:
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Tues 18 February,
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Thurs 15 May,
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Tues 19 August and
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Tues 18 November 2025.
These can be booked as one-offs (here) or as a package of 4 sessions (here). The package booking can be used for sessions in 2026. All sessions are recorded and shared. The first session on 18 February will be on sugary drinks, smoothies, energy drinks, 'zero' drinks (book here)
World Down Syndrome Congress 2024
Please click here for a copy of the slides I presented at the World Down Syndrome Congress 2024 on "Is there a 'right diet' for Down Syndrome: what the research says?"
Click here for my blog which gives a brief summary of the information presented.
Click here for an online recording which largely repeats the messages given in Brisbane - although probably not quite as succinct as taking to a camera for 30 minutes was surprisingly difficult!
Is there a right diet for Down Syndrome?
This is a great question.
But there is no simple answer.
I recently did a presentation for Down Syndrome NSW on this exact topic which can be accessed here.
If you want my top tips then:
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avoid added sugar (essentially anything that tastes sweet, unless it looks like a piece of fruit that was plucked off a tree) - see my sugar talk here,
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consciously include a wide variety of colourful and vegetables - and to a lesser extent fruits - to make sure you are getting lots of antioxidants,
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consciously ensure you are getting B vitamins in your diet which, in general, means animal foods (with many caveats in how you do this),
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ensure seafood is part of your diet or, if not, talk to someone about which specific - and very important nutrients for people with DS - might be missing.
Want to learn more?
1. Watch my 90 minute presentation on YouTube here: is there is a right diet for DS?
2. Download my quick and easy antioxidant boosting recipes which are packed with colourful vegetables and are ideal for people with Down Syndrome. Use the form below.
3. Watch my talk on sugar! Sugar comes in thousands of different guises and has a fascinating history. Click to watch.
4. Join one of my online programs.
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I have a 6-week program for people with Down Syndrome;
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I am running an education series for Parents/Carers of people with Down Syndrome in May/June 2025.
5. Get in touch for a free 15 minute chat or simply email or call me.
Parents comments on the 6-week program.
The first program is currently running. This is what Parents/Carers have have about the course so far.
“[Attendee with DS] really enjoyed the first session.”
“The pace you worked at was great. You were clear with information. Timing was enough."
“I really enjoyed the simplicity of the presentation.... The message was so clear and that has really helped it stick in my mind”
"I liked it when you said you only had to take a bite ...who knows you might like it."