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.

Fear food exposure is a technique used in eating disorder recovery to help you gradually reintroduce foods that cause anxiety and break free from food-related fears. It allows you to retrain your brain, rebuild trust with your body, and ultimately enjoy all foods without guilt or stress.

Eating at a restaurant can feel overwhelming, stressful, or triggering in eating disorder recovery. Preparing ahead of time can help reduce anxiety, increase confidence, and create a more positive dining experience.

Birthdays can be exciting, emotional, or even challenging in eating disorder recovery. They often involve food, social gatherings, and body image thoughts, which might bring up anxiety or ED urges. However, your birthday is about celebrating YOU—not about stress, guilt, or food rules.

Meal planning in eating disorder recovery can help reduce anxiety around food, build consistency, and ensure balanced nutrition while supporting a healthy relationship with eating. However, it’s important to approach meal planning in a flexible, non-restrictive way that aligns with recovery goals.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Saxenda) are increasingly used for weight management and diabetes, including in patients who have had bariatric surgery. However, there are important considerations regarding safety, effectiveness, and interactions with eating behaviors that must be addressed.

As your child progresses in eating disorder recovery, the goal is to gradually shift responsibility for eating back to them in a safe and structured way. This process requires patience, monitoring, and emotional support to ensure they maintain progress without feeling overwhelmed.

Traveling with a child in eating disorder recovery can feel overwhelming, but with planning, structure, and flexibility, it is possible to maintain progress while creating positive memories. Whether it’s a family vacation, school trip, or visiting relatives, keeping your child emotionally supported and nutritionally stable is key.