Destress Dinner with the Division of Responsibility in Feeding

This post was written by Gabrielle LaSala, a recent graduate of Nutritional Sciences in the Dietetics path at Penn State University. After completing Graduate school, Gabrielle wants to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and focus on nutrition-related illnesses within pediatrics and families. Her passion for dietetics stemmed from her lifelong journey with food allergies and intolerances. Her favorite foods are steak and pasta with zucchini! Follow Gabrielle’s gluten-free adventures on Instagram @amoreglutinefree

Destress Dinner with the Division of Responsibility in Feeding

As parents, we all want to raise kids who grow healthy, strong, and develop a positive relationship with food from a young age. However, mealtimes can often be a battleground filled with power struggles, picky eating, and mealtime meltdowns. As a Pediatric and Family Dietitian and mom of four, I thought feeding my kids would be easy given my profession was literally in child feeding. But after struggling with tongue tie, reflux, and picky eating, I began to truly embrace the feeding approaches that I had studied endlessly during my PhD research. One approach, the Division of Responsibility in Feeding, has been transformative for our family meals and keeping mealtime stress at bay.

What is the Division of Responsibility in Feeding?

The Division of Responsibility in Feeding (sDOR) was developed by Ellyn Satter, a Registered Dietitian and Family Therapist who specializes in child feeding. The sDOR is based on the idea that as parents, we are responsible for what, when, and where our children eat, while our children are responsible for how much and whether to eat. This approach may sound simple, but it often challenges common parenting instincts. For many parents, implementing the Division of Responsibility requires a conscious effort and practice, as it doesn’t always come naturally.For example, many parents often fall into the trap of trying to control how much or what our children eat. We may coerce them into finishing their plate or only let them eat dessert if they eat food options that we deem as “healthy.” However, this can lead to power struggles and hinder our children from developing a positive relationship with food. By following the sDOR, we give our children autonomy over mealtimes which empowers them to learn how to make their own food choices and listen to their hunger and fullness cues, ultimately helping them learn how to self-regulate their eating habits. After all, lifelong, independent eaters is our long-term goal. It’s important to note that the sDOR is not a strict set of rules, but rather a flexible framework that allows for individual differences in appetite and preferences. As parents, we still have control over what types of food are offered and when meals and snacks are served.

Origins of the Division of Responsibility in Feeding

The Division of Responsibility in Feeding was first coined by Ellyn Satter, a registered dietitian and family therapist, in the 1980s. It has since become a widely accepted approach to feeding children and is recommended by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization. Satter’s work in pediatric nutrition and her experience as a family therapist led her to observe that many families struggled with power struggles, picky eating, and mealtime battles, often stemming from a lack of clear roles and responsibilities around food. In response, she developed the Division of Responsibility in Feeding as a practical and theoretically sound model grounded in an understanding of children’s growth, behavioral, nutritional, psychosocial, and physical competencies. The sDOR aims to create a supportive feeding context that allows children to develop “Eating Competence” – a positive and nurturing relationship with food.

Definition of the Division of Responsibility in Feeding

The sDOR is an evidence-based approach that outlines clear roles for both parents and children during mealtimes:

Parents are responsible for:

• What to Eat: Choosing and preparing a variety of nutritious foods from all food groups.
• When to Eat: Establishing regular meal and snack times to help children develop a consistent eating routine.
• Where to Eat: Creating a designated mealtime location that minimizes distractions and promotes mindful eating.

Children are responsible for:

• How Much to Eat: Determining how much they want to eat from the foods provided by their parents, based on their internal hunger and fullness cues.
• Whether to Eat: Deciding whether they want to eat the foods offered by their parents, respecting their appetite and food preferences.

What are Benefits of the Division of Responsibility in Feeding?

Implementing the sDOR has been shown to offer numerous benefits for families, including:

• Reducing mealtime stress and battles over food
• Encouraging children to trust their internal hunger and fullness cues
• Promoting healthier eating habits and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
• Fostering a positive and nurturing relationship with food
• Providing opportunities for family bonding and connection during mealtimes

How to Implement the Division of Responsibility in Feeding

Implementing the Division of Responsibility might seem straightforward, but it often requires a shift in mindset and approach for many parents, requiring time and patience. The key is to provide structure around meals while allowing children to develop self-regulation skills. Here are some practical ways to put this approach into action:

1. Establish a Consistent Meal and Snack Schedule: Serve meals and snacks around the same times each day to help regulate your child’s appetite.
2. Offer a Variety of Nutritious Foods: Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats at meals and snacks to expose your child to different tastes and textures.
3. Create a Calm, Distraction-Free Eating Environment: The dining table is ideal for promoting mindful eating and family bonding during mealtimes.
4. Avoid Pressuring or Bribing Your Child to Eat Certain Foods: Simply provide the options and allow them to decide what and how much to eat based on their hunger cues.
5. Be Patient with New Foods: It can take 10-15 exposures or more before a child accepts them.
6. Involve Your Child in Age-Appropriate Meal Planning and Preparation Tasks: This can increase their interest in trying new foods.
7. Model Healthy Eating Behaviors During Family Meals: Enjoy a variety of nutritious foods during family meals.
8. Refrain from Labeling Foods as “Good” or “Bad”: This can promote an unhealthy relationship with certain foods.
9. For Desserts, Consider Serving with Meals: Offer at least once per day as part of a meal or snack.
10. Maintain Consistency in Your Approach: Give it time to become your new normal.

Remember, the goal is to create a positive mealtime atmosphere where children can learn to trust their bodies and develop a healthy relationship with food. It may take time, but with patience and persistence, many families find this approach reduces mealtime stress and promotes healthier eating habits.

Modifying the Division of Responsibility for Different Ages

Infants

Parents are responsible for:

• What to Feed: Breastmilk, formula, solid foods
• When to Feed: Following hunger cues
• Where to Feed: Creating a calm environment

Infants are responsible for:

• How Much to Eat: Following their appetite
• Whether to Eat: Respecting hunger/fullness cues

Tip: Be responsive to hunger/fullness signals and avoid distractions during feedings.

Toddlers

Parents are responsible for:

• What Foods to Offer
• When to Offer Meals/Snacks
• Where Meals Take Place

Toddlers are responsible for:

• How Much to Eat
• Whether to Eat What’s Offered

Tip: Offer variety, establish routines, and allow self-feeding.

Children and Adolescents

Parents are responsible for:

• What Foods Are Provided
• When and Where Meals/Snacks Occur

Children are responsible for:

• How Much They Consume
• Whether They Eat What’s Offered

Tip: Involve kids in meal planning/preparation, eat family meals together, and allow age-appropriate independence in food choices.

Adapting the Division of Responsibility for Children with Developmental Disabilities

Children with developmental disabilities may have unique feeding challenges that require adjustments to the sDOR approach. Here are some strategies to adapt the Division of Responsibility for these children:

Parent’s Adapted Responsibilities

• What to Eat: Work with a dietitian or therapist to select appropriate foods that meet the child’s nutritional needs and sensory preferences.
• When to Eat: Establish a flexible yet consistent meal and snack schedule that accommodates the child’s specific needs and routines.
• Where to Eat: Create a calm, supportive eating environment that minimizes sensory overload and distractions.

Child’s Adapted Responsibilities

• How Much to Eat: Encourage the child to listen to their hunger and fullness cues, with gentle guidance and support as needed.
• Whether to Eat: Respect the child’s food preferences and sensory sensitivities, offering a variety of options within their comfort zone.

Tips for Using the Division of Responsibility in Feeding with Children who have Developmental

1. Work with Professionals: Collaborate with occupational therapists, speech therapists, and dietitians to address specific feeding challenges and develop personalized strategies.
2. Use Visual Supports: Implement visual schedules and social stories to help the child understand mealtime routines and expectations.
3. Incorporate Sensory-Friendly Foods: Offer foods with different textures, colors, and temperatures that align with the child’s sensory preferences.
4. Be Patient and Flexible: Recognize that progress may be gradual and celebrate small successes. Be prepared to adapt strategies as needed.
5. Involve the Child in Meal Preparation: Engage the child in age-appropriate cooking activities to increase their interest in food and mealtimes.

Read more here: The Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding Works for Special Needs

Conclusion

By following Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding and incorporating these strategies, you can create a positive mealtime environment and help your children develop a healthy relationship with food that will last a lifetime.

Do you want to learn more about the Division of Responsibility in Feeding?

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References and Further Readings

1. Satter E. Division of Responsibility in Feeding. Ellyn Satter Institute. Available at: https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/satter-feeding-dynamics-model/. Accessed July 21, 2024.
2. What to Expect. Division of Responsibility in Feeding: How to Trust the Model for Feeding Kids. Available at: https://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/eating-and-nutrition/division-of-responsibility-in-feeding-toddler. Accessed July 21, 2024.
3. Penn State Thrive. The Division of Responsibility in Feeding. Available at: https://thrive.psu.edu/blog/the-division-of-responsibility/. Accessed July 21, 2024.
4. Dusi, R., Botelho, R.B.A., Nakano, E.Y., Queiroz, F.L.N.d., & Zandonadi, R.P. (2023). Division of Responsibility in Child Feeding and Eating Competence among Brazilian Caregivers. Nutrients, 15(9), 2225. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092225
5. Satter, E. (2020). Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense. Bull Publishing Company.
6. Cristiana B., Piotr S. Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices and Health. Nutrients. 2023;15:1184. – PMC – PubMed
7. Satter E. Adjusting the Eneli et al. Feeding Dynamic Intervention to Make It Consistent with Satter Feeding and Eating Models. Contemp. Clin. Trials. 2015;43:279–280. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.06.021. – DOI – PubMed
8. Conlon BA, Mcginn AP, Isasi CR, et al. Home Environment Factors and Health Behaviors of Low-income, Overweight, and Obese Youth. Am J Health Behav. 2019;43(2):420-436. doi:10.5993/AJHB.43.2.17

Beth Conlon( Pediatric and Family Nutrition )

Welcome to From the Start Nutrition! I’m Beth Conlon, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with over 14 years of experience in pediatric and family nutrition. I’m here on a mission to support you in confidently nourishing your family, tackling feeding challenges, and making mealtimes stress-free! As a mom of four, I get the ups and downs of feeding little ones. Let me be your guide in addressing your concerns and helping you foster positive habits right from the start. No fad diets or gimmicks here, just a caring, evidence-backed approach to health and nutrition. Dive into my blog for tips, fun activities, tasty recipes, and reliable information to support and empower you. Sign up for my email list to stay in the loop and swing by my website to explore my services and schedule an appointment or free consultation. Together, let’s achieve your nutrition goals! https://www.fromthestartnutrition.com.

Hi! I’m Beth Conlon, PhD, MS, RDN

I'm so glad you're here!

As a Pediatric and Family Nutrition Expert and mom of 4, I truly understand the ups and downs of feeding children. This is a space where you can get tips and tricks that will help you with any feeding challenges, from picky eaters to eating disorders, and more. Additionally, I'm excited to share recipes that are perfect for families.

I can't wait to share this journey with you. If you need extra assistance, please contact me today and we can explore ways to work together.

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