Dr Kirsty Porter

Specialist Paediatric Dietitian

BSc (Hons) Dietetics · MRes Clinical Research · PhD Nutrition · HCPC Registered

Dr Kirsty Porter is an experienced Specialist Paediatric Dietitian offering expert nutritional and feeding support for babies, children and young people at Dundonald Consulting Rooms in East Belfast.

With over 16 years of clinical experience, she supports families with a wide range of concerns, including food allergies, fussy eating, sensory feeding difficulties, restricted diets, growth concerns and gastrointestinal conditions.

Kirsty has a particular interest in helping neurodivergent children, including those with autism and ADHD, develop greater confidence around food.

Her approach is compassionate, practical and evidence-based, helping families better understand their child's needs and work towards calmer, more positive mealtimes.

Babies, children and young people

(0–18 years)

Book an appointment

About Dr Kirsty Porter

Dr Kirsty Porter is an HCPC-registered Specialist Paediatric Dietitian with over 16 years' experience working across NHS hospitals, community healthcare, private practice and academia in Northern Ireland and England.

She is the founder of Nutrition4KidsNI, a specialist paediatric dietetic service established in 2019 to help families navigate feeding challenges and improve children's nutritional wellbeing.

Throughout her career, Kirsty has supported children with a wide range of nutritional and medical needs, from food allergies and digestive conditions to complex feeding difficulties and highly restricted diets.

She has a particular clinical interest in selective eating, sensory-related feeding challenges and supporting neurodivergent children, including those with autism and ADHD.

Kirsty understands that feeding difficulties can affect the whole family. Her approach focuses on listening to parents, understanding each child's individual needs and developing realistic strategies that fit into everyday family life.

Alongside her clinical work, Kirsty holds a PhD in Nutrition and has extensive experience in university teaching and research, including roles at Ulster University and the University of Nottingham.

Her contributions to paediatric nutrition have been recognised through multiple national awards, including Paediatric Dietitian of the Year, Paediatric Nutrition Innovator of the Year and Excellence in Sensory Feeding Support.

Conditions treated
and areas of expertise

Specialist assessment and management are available for those aged under 18.

Feeding difficulties and selective eating

Fussy or picky eating

Food refusal and very limited food variety

Children who only eat familiar or 'beige' foods

Anxiety or distress around unfamiliar foods

Challenging or stressful mealtimes

Difficulties progressing to new foods and textures

Food allergies and gastrointestinal conditions

Cow's milk protein allergy

Multiple food allergies and intolerances

Nutritional support for elimination diets

Coeliac disease

Constipation and other digestive concerns

Maintaining a balanced diet when foods must be excluded

Sensory eating and neurodivergence

Feeding difficulties in autistic children

Food-related challenges in children with ADHD

Sensitivities to food textures, smells, tastes and appearances

Highly restricted diets linked to sensory preferences

Supporting children's confidence and comfort around food

Growth, nutrition and feeding

Faltering growth and poor weight gain

Childhood weight management

Nutritional deficiencies and restricted dietary intake

Infant feeding and weaning

Introducing solids and progressing textures

Nutritional support for children with complex medical or developmental needs

Reasons you may see a paediatric dietitian

Children's eating habits can change as they grow, but sometimes feeding or nutritional difficulties require additional support.

You may wish to arrange an appointment with Dr Porter if you are concerned about your child's diet, growth, feeding development or relationship with food.

Common reasons for seeking support include:

Your child eats only a small number of foods or refuses to try anything new.
Mealtimes regularly lead to stress, anxiety or distress.
Your child struggles with particular food textures, smells or appearances.
You are concerned that your child is not getting enough nutrients.
Your child has food allergies or intolerances and you need help managing their diet.
Your baby is struggling with weaning or progressing to different food textures.
Your child is not gaining weight or growing as expected.
Your child has constipation, coeliac disease or other digestive concerns.
Your autistic or ADHD child experiences sensory-related feeding difficulties.
You would like professional reassurance and practical guidance about your child's eating.

Kirsty works with families to understand the reasons behind feeding difficulties, rather than simply focusing on what a child will or will not eat.

Her aim is to support nutritional wellbeing, reduce pressure around food and help children and parents feel more confident at mealtimes.

What to expect at your appointment

During your initial consultation, Dr Porter will take time to understand your child's feeding history, current eating habits, nutritional needs and any concerns you may have.

She will discuss your child's medical and developmental history, growth, food preferences and any challenges experienced during meals.

Where appropriate, she may also review relevant medical information, growth records, allergy diagnoses or previous dietary advice.

Following her assessment, Kirsty will work with you to develop a personalised plan that considers your child's individual needs and your family's daily routines.

This may include practical feeding strategies, nutritional recommendations, support with food variety or guidance on managing dietary restrictions.

Her approach is gentle and non-judgemental, with an emphasis on achievable changes rather than putting pressure on children to eat.

If possible, please bring:

Details of your child's usual food and drink intake
Any relevant growth or weight records
Information about diagnosed food allergies or intolerances
Details of any current medication or nutritional supplements
Previous medical reports or dietetic recommendations, if available
A list of your main concerns or questions

Qualifications, training & professional memberships

Dr Porter's qualifications include:

Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians – FRCP
Certificate of Completion of Training in Diabetes and Endocrinology and General Internal Medicine
Specialty Certificate in Endocrinology and Diabetes
Member of the Royal College of Physicians – MRCP (UK)
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery – MBBS

She has held specialist clinical positions within several NHS organisations, including:

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Bromley Healthcare, London

Northern Health and Social Care Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

Her professional registrations and memberships include:

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) – Registered Dietitian
British Dietetic Association (BDA) – Full Member
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Awards and recognition

Kirsty's work in paediatric nutrition has received national recognition, including:

Paediatric Dietitian of the Year – Fitness and Nutrition Awards (UK & Ireland)
Paediatric Nutrition Innovator of the Year – Parent & Baby Awards
Excellence in Sensory Feeding Support – Parent & Baby Awards
Best Paediatric Nutrition Service – Parent & Baby Awards
Paediatric Nutrition Professional of the Year – CN Awards
Social Media Personality of the Year – CN Awards

Appointment Information

Patient age: Adults aged 18 and over