FBT TIP#8 RDNs and Parent Communication

This month the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published an article: Use of the Plate by Plate Approach for Adolescents Undergoing Family-Based Treatment. Wendy Sterling, MS RD CSSD and Casey Crosby’s RD CDDS along side their colleagues Nan Shaw LCSW, and Susanne Martin, MD shared a step-by-step overview of the Plate method approach that can be used to communicate to parents during FBT treatment.

This approach builds on the premise that parents are the top resource and know how to feed their kids. RDNs need to speak the same language that the parents understand and not introduce new and more complicated systems.   Parent advocate groups and FEAST-ED have used the term “Magic Plate” which can be described as “the planning, cooking and serving done without help or input from the patient whose only job is to arrive at the table and eat.”  It intends to empower parents to use instincts and relieves the adolescent from anxiety to make decisions about food.
 
Nutrition intervention for eating disorders can contain a variety of communication tools.  Most RDNs agree that no one way work with all clients. Nutrition supports will flex based on our clients previous nutrition experiences, current level of care and treatment goals. (1) This nutrition “language” could take many forms:  Exchanges, sample meal plans, plate method, or a blending of a number of approaches. No studies have validated one approach over the other.
 
To get more information about this Plate by Plate approach grab a copy of Wendy and Casey’s new book.  They provided a step-by-step overview of the Plate method to support parents as they feed their child to reverse the consequences of malnutrition and restore health.  This unique method was adapted from the 2011 version MyPlate.  

1) Lian B, Forsberg SE Fitzpatrick KK. Adolescent anorexia: Guiding Principles of the Dietetic support of Family-based Treatment. ​J Acad Nutr Diet Dec 2017.