Food Issues, Behavior & Nutrition

The lack, abundance and quality of food is intermixed with attachment, human relationships, and feelings of safety and security about our environments. Children who have spent time in care are also disproportionately likely to have experienced past or even present nutritional deficiencies. Fortunately, repairing a child's relationship with food presents a delicious opportunity for fun, education and building sweet & savory strong emotional bonds. Please reference our Attachment, Sensory Supports and Specific Needs/Neurodiversity pages for more resources.

“Food is all about our emotions." ~Kath Hamblett, Food in Care instructor

Websites

Adoption Medicine University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital - worldwide consultations
Center for Adoption Medicine
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- How Much Physical Activity Do Kids Needs?
Child Mind Institute: Eating & Eating Disorders and en español
Cookin' With Chef Kibby
The Feeding Doctor, Dr. Katja Rowell
- Feeding Doctor Blog
MyPlate (many printables) by U.S. Department of Agriculture
Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Disorders Clinic at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, OHSU
Spoon Foundation - education & advocacy local to Oregon!
- Adoption Nutrition: A Starter Guide for Foster & Adoptive Parents

Culturally Specific

African American
- African Heritage Diet by Old Ways
- Obtaining Health Through Heritage by Today's Dietician
Asian
- Asian Heritage Diet by Old Ways
Hispanic/Latinx
- Latin American Heritage Diet by Old Ways
- Orale! Food & Identity Amongst Latinos by Institute for Latino Studies, Notre Dame
Tribal
- First Nations Development Institute - Food Guides and Gather film
- Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance (NASFA)

Recommended Books & Articles

Diet/Nutrition-Related Materials in ORPARC's library

3 Ways to Play in Food Without the Mess and You Want My Kid to Play in Food? Seriously? by Melanie Potock, MA
Adult "Picky Eaters" Recall Helpful Parenting Eating Strategies by NIMH
Child Always Dysregulated? Try This! by Robyn Gobbel
Early Attachment and Food Insecurity by Lisa Dickson on Rainbow Kids
Food Fight! The Complexities of Foster Care's Food Issues by Karla Marie Williams, Foster Focus Magazine, Vol 3, Issue 11
Food for Thought For Foster Carers by National Fostering Group, UK
The GFCF Diet, FASD and Adoption: Food for Thought by NACAC
Healing from Food Insecurity: Beyond the Stash by Dr. Rowell at NACAC
Help for Picky Eaters by Hand in Hand
Hoarding, Overeating and Food Obsessions in Adopted & Foster Kids by Creating A Family
The Honestly Adoption Company
How to Help An Adopted or Foster Child Who Hoards Food at Home by Our Parenting Life
Hungry for Love: The Feeding Relationship in the Psychological Development of Young Children by Dr. Charles Slaughter
Mealtime Support is Crucial for Children Who Have Been Adopted or Who Have Experienced Foster Care by Dr. Judith Eckerle, Adoption Medicine Physician
Relationship Building & Strategies for Adoptive and Foster Parents to Address Picky Eating and Food Challenges by National Council for Adoption, Adoption Advocate #123
Trauma, Body, Brain: How We Got Our Adopted Kids to Sleep Through the Night by Jenna, Alderton Media

Videos & Podcasts

Connecting Through Cooking with Chef Kibby on The Adoption Connection Podcast
Food Issues in Adopted Children (and foster care too) featuring Dr. Julian Davies & Dr. Katja Rowell on Creating a Family Radio
The Gut's Connection to Autism by Spectrum - video
Healing Trauma and Fostering Connection Through Cooking With Children on Securely Attached with Dr. Sarah Bren
His adoptive mom believed in him. It was the key ingredient to Marcus Samuelsson's Rise by Carlos Fias, Miami Herald - celebrity chef podcast story AND Talking Adoption, Identity and Family with Chef Samuelsson hosted by April Dinwoodie - video
The Honestly Adoption Company Podcast
- How Your Child's Diet Could Effect Their Behavior
- Is It Disobedience or Problems With Their Diet?
Nourished & Thriving by OSU and Spoon (video course)
Robyn Gobbel Podcast - with articles
Understanding Food Trauma & Food Insecurity with Guest Crista Jordan (podcast) by The Forgotten Initiative
When A Child is Stealing or Hoarding by Maureen Donley, Adoptive Mom & Therapist (video)
Why some kids hoard food and gorge themselves (podcast) by Gregory Keck

New and FREE! "Nourished & Thriving" Video Course

Enjoy learning about trauma-informed ways to encourage and support feeding with children with this brand new, innovative self-paced course provided by Oregon State University and SPOON!