Mealtime Distractions: during and between
Tips from the parents at the Around the Dinner Table forum
Imagine being asked to face your worst fear 5 to 6 times a day. For someone with an eating disorder that’s exactly how it may feel when caregivers begin the refeeding process. Many families have found it helpful to provide distractions during and between meals. While these activities will not completely relieve distress, they may provide enough of a distraction to reduce anxiety to some degree. What distractions you decide to use will depend on the age, interests and abilities of your child. Following are some ideas generated by families of individuals with eating disorders.
Distractions to try during meals:
Listening to music
Watching t.v. or videos
Being read to
Conversations about interests or enjoyable activities
Distractions to try between meals:
Any of the above distractions
Videos
Computer games
Board games
Reading books or magazines
Knitting
Making jewelry
Scrapbooking
Going to the library or mall
Planning a real or made up vacation
Planting, picking and arranging flowers
Running errands
Taking care of pets
Massage
Texting or talking by phone to friends or relatives
Pedicures and manicures
Painting
Playing pool, ping pong or fooz ball
Relaxing in the swimming pool
Writing letters to or making gift baskets for shut-ins, nursing home residents, military personnel
Volunteering at a local hospital, shelter, nursing home, etc for short periods of time, if physically and socially able
F.E.A.S.T. (Families Empowered And Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders) P.O. Box 331 ♦ Warrenton, VA 20188 ♦ USA ♦ (540) 227-8518 ♦ info@FEAST-ED.org F.E.A.S.T. is registered as a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code Information on this site is meant to support, not replace, professional consultation. Unless otherwise noted, content is edited by F.E.A.S.T. volunteers with assistance from our Professional Advisory Panel.
