Food Issues with Adopted, Foster, and Kinship Kids
Food issues and feeding challenges are not uncommon in adopted, foster, and kinship children for various reasons:
- They may have experienced food insecurity.
- They may not have known when or where their next meal is coming from.
- They may have experienced food being used as a tool for manipulation or control.
- They may have experienced food used as the only way to express love or to apologize for poor parenting or neglect.
- They may have only had access to “junk” food.
Even babies who are adopted, fostered, or in kinship care may experience feeding challenges. When a child was prenatally exposed to substances, the risk increases.
Adoptive and foster parents and kinship caregivers need resources and support to help their children overcome challenges with food and feeding.
Creating a Family has many resources on food issues with adopted children. A few of our most recent that we think you will find particularly helpful are:
- Practical Ideas to Help Your Child Overcome Food Issues (article)
- Tips For Handling Picky Eaters When Fostering or Adopting (guest article)
- Raising a Picky Eater without Resorting to Bribery or Murder (article)
- Picky Eating and Other Food Issues (1 hr. podcast w/ expert)
- Feeding Issues and Nutrition in Adoption (1 hr. podcast w/ experts)
You will find many more resources from Creating a Family in articles, podcasts, and fact sheets at the icons below.
Additional Resources
Creating a Family Podcasts on Food Issues
Creating a Family Blogs on Food Issues
Creating a Family Factsheets, Tips, Research on Food Issues