Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

Depending on the foods avoided and nutrient deficiencies, this condition can cause fatigue, dizziness, stomach cramps, slow heart rate, hair loss, fragile bones, anemia, and abnormal menstruation in girls.

ARFID can lead to serious complications including extreme weight loss and malnutrition, which require hospitalization. Furthermore, this condition is often associated with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, and an autism spectrum disorder.

There are support groups and organizations like the National Alliance for Eating Disorders that provide free support for children with ARFID and their family members.

But what else can you do as a parent to help your child with ARFID?

• Educate yourself. Set aside time every day or week to learn more about ARFID. Subscribe to podcasts on this topic or read a book (click here to find helpful books about ARFID available on Amazon). When reading blogs, it’s important to get reliable information. Focus on articles written by healthcare providers or parents of children with ARFID. Also, keep an eye on the latest research. For instance, the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program team developed a new cognitive-behavioral therapy specific for ARFID (CBT-AR) to treat those ages 10 and older at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The substantial results are yet to be discovered, but “preliminary results are promising”.
• Be a role model. If you eat a healthy diet with various foods, it will be easier for your child to follow your eating habits.
• Set a routine. Eat the main meals at regular times to create healthy eating habits, and also to improve digestion. Eating randomly can increase food-related stress.
• Create a stress-free environment at the table. Maintain a pleasant atmosphere, and avoid talking about problems that may have happened during the day. Also, keep the phone and tablets away, and avoid watching TV during meals.
• Educate yourself. Set aside time every day or week to learn more about ARFID. Subscribe to podcasts on this topic or read a book (click here to find helpful books about ARFID available on Amazon). When reading blogs, it’s important to get reliable information. Focus on articles written by healthcare providers or parents of children with ARFID. Also, keep an eye on the latest research. For instance, the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program team developed a new cognitive-behavioral therapy specific for ARFID (CBT-AR) to treat those ages 10 and older at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The substantial results are yet to be discovered, but “preliminary results are promising”.
• Be a role model. If you eat a healthy diet with various foods, it will be easier for your child to follow your eating habits.
• Set a routine. Eat the main meals at regular times to create healthy eating habits, and also to improve digestion. Eating randomly can increase food-related stress.
• Create a stress-free environment at the table. Maintain a pleasant atmosphere, and avoid talking about problems that may have happened during the day. Also, keep the phone and tablets away, and avoid watching TV during meals.
• Let your child explore his options. Encourage your child to go grocery shopping with you. Allow him to try new foods and explore new dishes, without forcing him to eat. According to the American Heart Association, research shows that it may take 11 tries for a child to decide they like a new food because they are cautious with new things. Young children may want to play with a vegetable or fruit before eating.
• Offer one bite at a time. Just one bite. Introduce new foods in small amounts and increase the amount over time. Repeated exposure to a food increases familiarity and the child will learn to tolerate it. Just make sure not to force one food type. Rather, introduce a variety of new foods.
• Offer “smart snacks”. Offer fruits and vegetables when the child is hungry as snacks. These are better than chips, cookies, or other processed foods.
• Reward positive eating behaviors. Set realistic expectations and involve the child in choosing the reward. Provide positive feedback and stay consistent throughout the process.
• Have your child around during meal prep. Allow him to get involved in cooking and ask what else you could add to the dish to make it tastier.
• Talk to the teachers. Discuss the accepted and preferred foods, and monitor the food intake at school. If needed, make arrangements for your child to eat lunch in a quiet location.
  

  Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder diet

  There is no official ARFID Diet. The condition is treated by a team of healthcare professionals, including a dietician who will create a personalized plan.

  The principles of the Mediterranean diet can be used as a guideline. It emphasizes wholesome foods, with plenty of vegetables and fruits. Whole grains, legumes, poultry, fish, seafood, olive oil, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices are all part of the diet.

  The goal is to eat a variety of foods from all food groups that provide all macronutrients – proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.

  Protein shakes, multivitamins, and mineral supplements are also a great addition to the diet.

  Avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder diet

  There is no official ARFID Diet. The condition is treated by a team of healthcare professionals, including a dietician who will create a personalized plan.

  The principles of the Mediterranean diet can be used as a guideline. It emphasizes wholesome foods, with plenty of vegetables and fruits. Whole grains, legumes, poultry, fish, seafood, olive oil, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices are all part of the diet.

  The goal is to eat a variety of foods from all food groups that provide all macronutrients – proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.

  Protein shakes, multivitamins, and mineral supplements are also a great addition to the diet.