Managing Family Life Booklet

Mealtimes and Eating Patterns
Try to keep to a routine of mealtimes
and snacks
Be aware of your loved ones desire to
‘compensate’ after eating and have
open conversations about what might
be better distraction approaches
Support your loved one with their
emotions around when and what
they eat. Be aware that their emotions
may be heightened in this challenging
situation
Seek the opportunity to ensure that the
family time of meal occasions can be
a positive one, of shared conversation
and discussion
Tread carefully about allowing your
loved one to ‘take control’ of cooking
and dictating what the family eats.
This is not the time to allow their eating
disorder to become the dictator of
family life. Some families feel it is best
to insist the loved on has no role in
the kitchen, while others find it helpful
to have set days where that person
is involved in cooking or suggests the
menu
Binging potential should be taken into
account during this difficult time. There
is no hard and fast rule, but some find
that you will need to lock certain foods
away, or limit access. Have an open
and honest conversation you’re your
loved one around what you all feel is
best
Remember that when it comes to
binging, this is often worsened by
making foods ‘off limits’. Restriction
inevitably leads to binging.