For many families, mealtimes are meant to be moments of connection and nourishment. But when a child or teen is struggling with disordered eating, ARFID, anxiety, or appetite loss, meals can quickly become tense, exhausting battlegrounds.

Eating disorder recovery isn’t linear — and sometimes the biggest wins are quiet, internal, or easy to overlook. While we often focus on the red flags (and those are important), it's equally vital to celebrate the green flags — the signs that recovery is taking root, even in small ways.