I am often surprised and pleased at the way we—pediatric providers who believe in the biological basis for eating disorders and parents who are caring for their children– stumble our way forward trying to make things work and find ourselves on the same track.

I was given this lovely plate after the FEAST conference, by a mom, with the following kind words:

Dr. O’Toole,

Thank You for believing in parents and for all your hard work and dedication in the treatment of EDs, and understanding that EDs are a biologically based brain illness, and that our children DO NOT choose this, and we as parents DO NOT cause EDs but rather can be part of the solution that helps to heal and re-feed our children. I hope the “Magic Plate” has found its way and a new home in your office.

It is my greatest hope for all those who view this “Magic Plate” that it will empower them with the strength and courage they will need to stand up, show no fear and fight against ED. Food is medicine, there is hope and recovery is possible!

It starts with full nutrition every day and requires a lot of time, a halo of patience, more time with plenty of persistence and perseverance, but it is so worth all the effort to get our children back!

Behold the power of the Golden Fork! Again it was such an Honor to meet you.

Respectfully,

Denise

So what is a “magic plate”?  Well you might ask!  It is essentially the embodiment of how we have been teaching our parents to feed their children since the first days of Kartini Clinic: parents in charge, parents shopping for food, preparing food and sitting down to eat with their child in a firm spirit of love and support. It has always been –and remains—the foundation for weight restoration in our patients.

And in the spirit of synchronicity, here is what the FEAST website says about their magic plate:

“In the first stage of recovery, medical restoration to healthy weight is the primary goal of care. The Magic Plate is a simple way of describing how caregivers provide meals and snacks to patients.  The planning, cooking, and serving is done without help or input from the patient, whose only job is to arrive at the table and eat. This loving technique can be effective because it intentionally relieves them of the anxiety they experience when they have to make decisions around food.”

So here is my magic plate, proudly displayed in my office at Kartini Clinic.  It’s lovely, isn’t it?