Be a healthy role model
As a parent or caregiver, you are a role model for your children. It is important to promote not only a healthy body image in children but also to show that you have a healthy body image. Avoid saying negative things about your physical appearance and weight. Instead, focus on what your body can do and on your positive attributes that have nothing to do with appearance. Minimize talk about good or bad foods and focus instead on overall health.
Create a regular pattern of family mealtimes
Make eating meals together as a family a priority, starting when your child is young. Eating as a family also promotes strong family bonds and better communication.
For children and teens diagnosed with an eating disorder, meal supervision is a key part of recovery. If your child avoids or restricts foods, it is important for someone to sit with them for every meal and snack during the first phase of their treatment. The underlying goal for family meals with someone with ARFID is to have them gradually eat one more bite than they first wanted to.
Be persistent and consistent
The anxiety of an eating disorder may make parents and children hesitant to challenge it. However, the only way to get over these fears is to keep trying the challenges. Remember, one attempt to eat more food is not enough. You and your child will need to keep practising so that your child can fully recover.
