Nourished and Thriving Children
SPOON's Nourished and Thriving Children is a feeding and nutrition training program for use in the United States. Its goal is to improve the growth, health, and development of children who have experienced trauma, so they have the chance they deserve to be healthy and thrive.
Children who have experienced trauma, including children in foster care, are at high risk for malnutrition. Trauma can often contribute to food-related and nutrition challenges. SPOON has developed the following training and resources tailored for service providers, child welfare professionals, caregivers, and others who
support children facing feeding and nutrition challenges.
For Trainers
Child welfare professionals can access the Nourished and Thriving Toolkit and become trainers for their organizations through our online “training of trainers” program. Complete the online Facilitators Training to gain access to the Toolkit and begin applying these trauma-informed approaches in your work today.
For Parents and Caregivers
Caregivers of children who have experienced trauma may take part in the Nourished & Thriving Children program through an online course Oregon State University developed in conjunction with SPOON.
What Topics are Covered?
The full program covers a range of subjects related to the importance of mealtime and challenges that can arise.
Feeding Topics
- Developmental Feeding Milestones
- Responsive Feeding
- Establishing Connection and Mealtime Routines
- Division of Responsibility
- Picky Eating
- Food Preoccupation
- Feeding Challenges: Aversion
- Requiring Distractions to Eat
- Safe Pacing
- When to Seek Help
Nutrition Topics
- General Dietary Guidelines
- Making the Most of Snacks
- Learning to Love Vegetables
- Cooking with Kids
- Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Understanding Weight Dysregulation
- Overweight and Obesity
- Poor Weight Gain
- Constipation
- Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Food Allergies
