Katja Rowell > Quotes

“In modern times, making family meals happen is hard, but family meals are a better predictor of a child’s overall healthy eating, happiness, and success than the socioeconomic status of the parents or extra-curricular activities.8,9”
― Katja Rowell, Love Me, Feed Me: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Ending the Worry About Weight, Picky Eating, Power Struggles and More

“What happens in your own home matters most, so first and foremost, keep hold of the DOR—the division of responsibility. Staying with your roles (the what, where, and when of feeding) and allowing your child his roles (the whether and how much of eating) will steer you away from power struggles, anxiety, and pressure.”
― Katja Rowell, Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding Disorders

“We have observed that rather quickly, if the table is a pleasant place, he’ll want to stay and even start eating. Limiting the time initially can reassure an anxious child.”
― Katja Rowell, Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding Disorders

“This right of first refusal gives children a much-needed sense of control. Not inviting immediate resistance is step one, and ignoring initial refusals is step two.”
― Katja Rowell, Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating: A Step-by-Step Guide for Overcoming Selective Eating, Food Aversion, and Feeding Disorders