Meal support training for friends and families of patients with eating disorders

Families have identified their need for practical guidance on how to be most helpful to a member with an eating disorder while those recovered have recognized the importance of relationships in getting better. The manual and video described in this article were created collaboratively with families and patients to facilitate support during what is often a particularly stressful event--mealtimes. A collaborative stance is preferred at all times while taking a persistent problem-solving approach to finding solutions to improving the meals. Strategies that help, and those that do not, are discussed. Providing a predictable structure and being an appropriate role model in healthy eating and exercising were identified as being most helpful.