Nourishing Your Child: A Guide to Overcoming Eating Problems: Health, #11

By Dr Chittaranjan Panda

This ebook guides parents on supporting their child through an eating disorder by fostering a positive relationship with food.

Key Features:

Plate-by-Plate Approach: This unique method offers clear visual guidance on portion sizes and meal composition, making mealtimes less stressful for both parent and child.

Rooted in FBT: The approach aligns with Family-Based Treatment (FBT), the leading psychological therapy for eating disorders, ensuring its effectiveness.

Comprehensive Guide: It covers various aspects beyond meal planning, including:

Understanding eating disorders

Family-based therapy overview

Medical considerations associated with eating disorders

Practical tips for managing challenging situations like travel

Encouragement and support for parents throughout the recovery journey

User-Friendly Format: Sample menus, clear explanations, and pictures of plates make the information easy to understand and implement.

Target Audience:

This ebook is primarily for parents or caregivers concerned about their child's eating habits and suspecting an eating disorder. It can also be a helpful resource for professionals like dietitians working with families facing this challenge.

Overall, "How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder" empowers parents with practical tools and fosters a supportive environment to guide their child towards healing and a healthy relationship with food.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr Chittaranjan Panda
• Release date: Mar 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224709595

Book preview

Chapter 1: Understanding Eating Problems in Children

Types of Eating Problems in Children

As parents, it can be concerning when our children exhibit eating problems. Understanding the different types of eating issues that children may face can help us better address and overcome these challenges. Here are some common types of eating problems in children:

Selective Eating Disorder: Some children may have a limited range of foods they are willing to eat, leading to nutritional deficiencies. This can be a result of sensory issues or anxiety around new foods.

Emotional Eating: Children may turn to food for comfort or as a coping mechanism for emotional issues. This can lead to unhealthy eating habits and weight gain.

Picky Eating Habits: Many children go through phases of picky eating, where they may refuse certain foods or only eat a limited variety. This can be frustrating for parents but is usually a normal part of development.

Eating Disorders in Adolescents: Adolescents may develop more serious eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, which require professional intervention.

Childhood Obesity and Unhealthy Eating Habits: Poor eating habits and lack of physical activity can lead to childhood obesity, putting children at risk for a variety of health issues.

Food Aversions: Some children may have strong aversions to certain textures, tastes, or smells, making mealtime challenging.

Sensory Processing Issues: Children with sensory processing issues may have difficulty tolerating certain foods due to sensory sensitivities.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ADHD: Children with these conditions may have specific challenges around food, such as rigidity in food choices or difficulty sitting still during meals.

Parenting Strategies: It's important for parents to approach eating problems with patience, understanding, and consistency. Seeking the help of a pediatrician or nutritionist can also provide valuable guidance in addressing eating issues in children. Remember, every child is unique, and finding the right approach may take time and persistence.

Causes of Eating Problems in Children

As parents, it can be incredibly challenging to navigate the world of eating problems in children. There are a multitude of factors that can contribute to these issues, and it's important to understand the causes in order to effectively address them.

One common cause of eating problems in children is selective eating disorder. This condition, also known as picky eating, can be the result of a variety of factors, including sensory processing issues and food aversions. Children with selective eating disorder may have a limited range of accepted foods, leading to nutritional deficiencies and mealtime struggles.

Emotional eating is another cause of eating problems in children. Children may turn to food for comfort or as a coping mechanism for stress or anxiety. This can lead to unhealthy eating habits and weight gain, putting children at risk for childhood obesity and other health issues.

In some cases, eating disorders may develop in adolescents, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia. These serious conditions require professional intervention and support to address the underlying emotional and psychological issues at play.

Children with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD may also experience eating problems due to