Understanding eating challenges for Kids in care

Children in care often face unique struggles with eating habits. These challenges are rooted in their experiences of early neglect, trauma, and disrupted routines, creating a perfect storm for problematic eating behaviours. While the research is still quite young, there’s already a lot to unpack about how these patterns develop and what can be done to help.
First, let’s talk about the link between neglect and food. Food shortages are a key sign of neglect, and for many children entering care, food insecurity has shaped their earliest memories. This can lead to behaviours like hoarding, overeating, or even eating non-food items. Add to this the instability of moving between homes and carers, and it’s no wonder consistent eating habits can be tough to build.

Interestingly, these eating behaviours can swing both ways. Some children may undereat, while others might lean into hyperphagia- overeating to the point of excess. Both extremes risk malnutrition, which can have long-term physical and mental health effects. On top of this, children in care settings are often exposed to unhealthy diets, heavy on ultra-processed foods and light on fruits and veggies. There are many reasons for this but some include: budgets, eating habits of carers, feeding large groups of people, support staff lacking the skills and knowledge to cook nutritious meals, Poor nutrition like this is tied to risks of obesity, heart disease, and even mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

A major hurdle here is understanding the “why”. Why do kids in care eat differently than their peers? One leading idea is the bio-psychosocial model, which looks at biological vulnerabilities, psychological stressors, and social influences all working together. For example, children who experienced food insecurity might develop a preoccupation with food, leading to hoarding or secret eating. Others might avoid new foods altogether—a phenomenon called food neophobia.
So, what can we do about it? Research into effective interventions is still in its early days, but there’s hope. Tailored strategies could include better training for carers on nutritional needs, routines, and how to handle challenging behaviors at mealtimes. Borrowing lessons from other groups- like neurodivergent children, for whom specialised feeding strategies are now well documented- could also pave the way.

The big takeaway? Kids in care need more than just food on the table; they need a thoughtful approach that considers their history, emotions, and environment. By focusing on early intervention and understanding the root causes of their behaviors, we can help them build healthier relationships with food- for life.