An important stage in your adolescent's recovery process would be restoring healthy eating habits. Nutrition therapy is indicated for patients with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. It is important to encourage your child to develop a healthy relationship with food.
Plan your child’s daily intake, spacing meals and snacks ~2-3 hours apart.
Structured family meal times can help with providing external support when eating becomes challenging for the individual.
Energy (calorie) requirements are higher in order to meet needs for continued growth and catch-up weight gain (if required).
A balanced meal should consist of grains, protein, vegetables and a fruit.
An example of a wholesome breakfast could consist of 2 slices of bread with a spread (e.g. butter/margarine/nut butter) + 1 egg + 1 cup of full-cream milk.
Midmeal snacks are important in helping with weight gain and to regulate eating patterns.
Snacks can easily make up at least 1/3 of energy requirements.
Aim for 1-2 snack items + 1 milk-based drink at each midmeal snack.
Examples include 1 handful of nuts with ½ cup full-fat yoghurt, 1 slice of cake with 1 cup milo, or 1 pau with calcium-fortified soy milk.
Nutritional supplements are energy-dense, nutritionally complete beverages that may be provided if your child is struggling with completing meals and/or snacks, especially in the short-term.
If your child is unable to complete adequate meal portions, inclusion of nutritional supplements as part of daily intake may be discussed as an option.
Any form of structured exercise or incidental activity (e.g. standing, walking, taking the stairs) means more energy lost.
Make a conscious effort to minimise movement and rest for at least 45 minutes after meals. Watching TV or the movies together, engaging in board games with the family, reading or craft-based activities are alternative methods to keep your child occupied.
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