Introducing Ellyn Satter’s Division of Feeding Responsibility
My approach is guided by Ellyn Satter's Division of responsibility in feeding (sDOR), a recognized model as best practice for feeding children from infancy to adolescence by The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and The American Academy of Pediatrics. Ellyn Satter is a Registered Dietitian and a family therapist. Her combined expertise in both fields makes her an authoritative figure in matters related to feeding children.
Why the Division of Responsibility (sDOR)?
It outlines the parent's job in feeding and the child's role in eating. As a parent, your job is to provide the what, when and where when it comes to feeding. You child determines whether to eat and how much. Tension arises if you do your child's job or if you let your child dictate what is supposed to be your role. A disruption in the sDOR creates eating difficulties for your child (e.g. picky eating, disruptive behaviour at the table) and takes away the pleasure of feeding your child.
When you consistently take charge of the what, when and where of feeding, your child will learn how to:
Eat the amount that she needs
Learn to eat the foods you eat
Grow in the way that is right for him
Learn to behave appropriately at mealtime
You help your child grow into a competent eater
Competent eaters:
Find joy in eating and feeding themselves
Feel relaxed around food
Know how to regulate the amount that they eat, including high fat and high sugar foods
Eat fruits and vegetables because they want to, not because they have to
The best thing you can give your child is to trust them that they will learn how to eat. Your job as parents is to create a structure that allows them the opportunity to explore and eat foods that they enjoy on their own terms. It takes trust and it takes patience. But it is worthwhile as your child learns to build a trusting and peaceful relationship with food. Afterall, a positive relationship with food is the key to well-being.