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 & en español
Cookin' With Chef Kibby
The Feeding Doctor, Dr. Katja Rowell - author in ORPARC's library
- Feeding Doctor Blog
Food Hero & en español - recipes, coloring sheets & more by OSU
Kids Eat In Color
MyPlate (many printables) by U.S. Department of Agriculture
Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing Disorders Clinic at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, OHSU
Dr. Taylor Wallace "America's Favorite Food Scientist" - adoptive parent!
- FREE! Sizzling Science e-Cookbook
Spoon Foundation - education & advocacy local to Oregon!

Food pantries/free food

Milk Crate Kitchen - Portland Metro
Oregon Food Bank
St. Vincent de Paul - Portland Metro

Disordered eating (anorexia, bulimia)

The Bulimia Project
Family-based Treatment for Eating Disorders by Child Mind Institute & en español

Culturally Specific

Food & Roots by Suni Miller Zmich, adoptee
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)
- Young Indigenous & Healthy by San Diego American Indian Health Center & Leah's Pantry

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 - author in ORPARC's library
Dietary suggestions for ADHD and Autism? & en español by Food Hero
Eating at the Table Social Story by Autism Little Learners
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
FREE: Family Dinner Toolkit by Search Institute
The GFCF Diet, FASD and Adoption: Food for Thought by Kari Fletcher for NACAC
Healing from Food Insecurity: Beyond the Stash by Dr. Katja Rowell - author in ORPARC's library
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 - authors in ORPARC's library
- The Difficult Places of Our Past
- How to Manage Your Child's Food Insecurity
- How to Parent a Child With Food Insecurities
- How to Parent Children With Food Issues
- Secondary Trauma: How Your Child's Special Needs May Be Affecting Yours
- Surviving the Holidays With a Food Hoarder
How to Help An Adopted or Foster Child Who Hoards Food at Home by Our Parenting Life
How to Help Teenage Picky Eaters Eat Different Foods by Alicia Grogan
Hungry for Love: The Feeding Relationship in the Psychological Development of Young Children by Dr. Charles Slaughter - author in ORPARC's library
Kinship Grandfamilies/Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Mealtime Hostage Blog
Mealtime Support is Crucial for Children Who Have Been Adopted or Who Have Experienced Foster Care by Dr. Judith Eckerle, Adoption Medicine Physician
Picky Eating: What's Normal and What's Not by Child Mind & en español
A Practical Approach to Classifying & Managing Food Difficulties by Kerzner et al (good to share with providers!)
Relationship Building & Strategies for Adoptive and Foster Parents to Address Picky Eating and Food Challenges by National Council for Adoption, Adoption Advocate #123
Together at the Table: Supporting the Nutrition, Health, and Well-Being of Grandfamilies by Generations United
Trauma, Body, Brain: How We Got Our Adopted Kids to Sleep Through the Night by Jenna, Alderton Media
What is Food Adversion? by Parent Press

Videos & Podcasts

Connecting Through Cooking with Chef Kibby on The Adoption Connection Podcast
Dr. Deborah MacNamara on Attachment, Adoption, and the Connection Between Food & Caring by Adoption Unfiltered (video+transcript) - authors in ORPARC's library
Food Issues in Adopted Children (and foster care too) featuring Dr. Julian Davies & Dr. Katja Rowell on Creating a Family Radio
Fruits & Veggies: Food Rooted in Better Mental Health (free course!) by Dr. Taylor Wallace, adoptive parent
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 - authors in ORPARC's library
- How Your Child's Diet Could Effect Their Behavior
- Is It Disobedience or Problems With Their Diet?
Living with a Picky Eater by Creating a Family Podcast
Nourished & Thriving by OSU and Spoon (video course)
Robyn Gobbel Podcast + articles author in ORPARC's library
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

Food for Thought

Nourishing & Thriving self-paced course provided by Oregon State University & SPOON!

Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating by Dr. Katja Rowell

Loving & Feeding the Child with a History of Trauma Webinar by Robyn Gobbel

How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder by Casey Crosbie RD CSSD

Hungry Johnny by Cheryl Kay Minnema

The ADDitude Guide to Diet & Nutrition for ADHD by ADDitude

Kisepāyāwi Nikamowin Nanāskamowin Kistikān (Morning Song) by Randy Morin

Food Refusal and Avoidant Eating in Children, including those with Autism Spectrum Conditions by Gillian Harris

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat by Raúl The Third Iii

Nope. Never. Not For Me! by Samantha Cotterill