“Following exchanges has its role in the treatment setting, especially initially, but a balanced meal approach serves patients very well as they encounter a variety of experiences in the real world where there’s not a dietitian reviewing your selections,” she says. “When patients feel comfortable in knowing the components of a healthy plate, they can make better spontaneous food choices in any situation.”
Together with the other members of the nutrition team at the Center for Eating Disorders Care, Riley helps patients take the initiative to create daily menus that often include items from their list of “likes” while incorporating the components of a balanced meal. Patients learn to include starch, protein, fat, fruits, vegetables, and dairy in certain portions, and to select items that go well together, without having to rely on exact calorie counts or exchange numbers.
Practice through Experience
Throughout treatment, patients can practice applying what they’ve learned through a variety of experiential opportunities. These include regular trips with a dietitian to the cafeteria at University Medical Center of Princeton, cooking groups, and weekend passes. Patients then process these experiences with the treatment team to identify concerns or challenges and build on progress.
Family meals held at the Center for Eating Disorders Care are another important component of experiential treatment, particularly for children and teens. Facilitated by a dietitian and a therapist, these opportunities have the added benefit of coaching the family on addressing eating-related behaviors at home and effective interaction during meals to set the stage for sustained progress after discharge.
“Our goal is not only to provide the skills and tools patients and families can use moving forward, but also to create the opportunities they need to use them confidently,” says Riley.