Feeding Does Matter

In this conversation, guest Heather Goettsch shares her personal journey, detailing the challenges she faced in advocating for her child's needs. She emphasizes the importance of small victories in the journey of feeding therapy and the value of community support through organizations like Feeding Matters. Heather discusses her involvement in the family-centered pediatric feeding disorder research consortium and concludes with reflections on the human aspect of research and the dedication required to drive change in the field.

Hosts, Jaclyn Pederson and Hayley Estrem reflect on the 12th Annual International PFD Conference to discuss their key takeaways, favorite moments and what to look forward to in the on-demand conference offering.

More information on the 2025 on-demand conference: https://www.feedingmatters.org/conference/2025-registration/

In this episode of Feeding Does Matter, four of the authors (including our hosts) of the consensus paper on the diagnostic overlap and distinction for pediatric feeding disorder and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder discuss their thoughts on the 10 consensus statements, the importance of accurate diagnosis, and the need for collaboration and a common language in the field. 

Guests: Cuyler Romeo and William Sharp

This consensus paper is published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders and is available via open access, made possible by the generous donors of Feeding Matters.

View Consensus Paper

Parent and Feeding Matters consortium member Shanda Cool shares her family's experiences with pediatric feeding disorder, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and tube feeding through the story of her daughter, Mira. She highlights the difficulties they encountered from Mira's birth, including her multiple disabilities and underscores the importance of families feeling acknowledged and supported in their journey, and the critical role that feeding tubes play in ensuring children like Mira receive the nutrition they need.

Jaclyn Pederson and Hayley Estrem engage in a deep conversation with Dr. Richard Noel, a prominent figure in pediatric feeding disorder. They explore Richard's journey into the field, the evolution of PFD and ARFID definitions, and the importance of multidisciplinary care. The discussion emphasizes the need for effective communication and common sense in patient care, as well as the significance of recognizing PFD as a disability to improve support for families. The episode concludes with insights into future research opportunities and the ongoing efforts to bridge gaps in understanding and collaboration within the feeding disorders community.

Anka Roberto, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and EMDR clinician, discusses her expertise in trauma-informed care, focusing on children's medical trauma. She shares her personal experiences as a mother of a child with medical complexities, emphasizing the need to understand how medical procedures affect children's mental health.

In this episode we welcome Christina Van Ditto, Vice Co-Chair of the Feeding Matters Family-Centered Research Consortium. Christina shares her journey as a caregiver to her daughter who is neurodiverse with feeding differences, discussing the challenges and triumphs they have faced. She emphasizes the importance of advocacy, community support, and the need for a shift in how pediatric feeding disorders (PFD) and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) are perceived and treated. Christina also highlights the role of the consortium in advancing research and ensuring that family perspectives are included in the conversation around feeding differences.

In this episode, Darlena Birch from the National WIC Association discusses the WIC program, the importance of nutrition education, and the various components of WIC services. She highlights the challenges families face in accessing resources, particularly those with pediatric feeding disorders and food allergies.

In this episode of Feeding Does Matter, hosts Jaclyn Pederson and Dr. Hayley Estrem welcome Kelly Randall from Raising Special Kids to discuss the intersection of disability and pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). The conversation covers the history of the disability movement, the importance of early intervention, the role of IDEA, and the challenges families face in navigating services as their children transition to adulthood. The episode emphasizes the need for advocacy, awareness of available resources, and the recognition of feeding as a critical developmental domain.

In this Feeding Does Matter conversation, Jaclyn Pederson and co-host Hayley Estrem discuss the importance of family-centered care. They explore how personal experiences can drive research and the significance of defining 'family' in healthcare settings. The conversation emphasizes the core concepts of family-centered care, the challenges faced in pediatric feeding research, and the need for a longitudinal perspective to understand the long-term impacts of feeding disorders on families.