Hi Reader,
Most families I work with arrive with the same question: what am I supposed to actually do at the table?
The meal plan tells them what to serve. It doesn't tell them what to say when their child pushes the plate away, or how to recover after a meal that went badly. That gap is where caregivers lose confidence, and where progress made in session can quietly unravel at home.
I created a free Meal Support Starter Kit for exactly that moment. It includes three short handouts:
A self-assessment that helps a caregiver gauge whether they're ready to provide meal support, and how to build toward it.
Ten common phrases that backfire at the table, with word-for-word replacements.
Five signs the eating disorder is steering the meal, and why none of it is the family's fault.
It's written for parents and caregivers in plain language. Use it however it fits your work: share it after an intake, send it home after a family session, or give it to the parent who has more questions than your session has time for.
Families can get it here: Free Caregiver Meal Support Starter Kit
Want to see what families receive? Preview the three handouts here: Self-Assessment Checklist, 10 Things NOT to Say, and 5 Silent Signs.
To share it in seconds, copy and paste this message into a text, email, or patient portal:
"Here's a free resource I recommend for families supporting a loved one at meals. It includes three short handouts on what to say at the table and what to watch for: https://nutrition-improvement-center.kit.com/17a3e6bc9d?utm_source=clinician_share"
No shame, no blame, no guesswork. That's the standard I hold for everything I give families, and I hope it makes your work a little easier.
Taking care of you,
Iris Epstein, RDN, CEDS, CAI
Founder, Nutrition Improvement Center
P.S. What's the mealtime question families bring you again and again? Hit reply and tell me. It helps me decide what to build next.
