Planning a Summer Vacation?
A color vector-style drawing of a family of five walking along a sandy beach path on a tropical coastline towards a sunset over the ocean from an elevated viewpoint on a wooden balcony overlooking the scene.

Planning a Summer Vacation?

Not all summer vacations are built the same way. One family travels abroad, while another family packs everything into an RV and hits the road! Additionally, not all families plan in the same way, either. One family follows an itinerary and must get everything done on the list, while another family is more carefree. The goal of the vacation in either family is hopefully the same: to make memories together. 

One of the biggest driving forces that dictates how a vacation is going to look is what kind of people will be going on the summer vacation. If a family has a Disney princess enthusiast or an outdoor enthusiast, chances are the vacation will cater to them to some extent. That’s just an example. But what about a family member who is recovering from an eating disorder? Is it possible for a family to plan a summer vacation for all parties involved, including the one still recovering from anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), or binge eating disorder (BED)? What does that even look like? 

A color illustrative image shows a couple, a man and a woman, seated and standing at an outdoor wooden table on a wooden porch or terrace overlooking a tropical beach and ocean, with a sunset or sunrise on the horizon. The illustration has a flat, vector design style.

Where to Start?

Know in advance that planning any vacation will always involve many steps for any family. A family with a member who uses a wheelchair will have to plan a certain way. It will not take away from the fact that the vacation can still be memorable and fun. The point is: having a family vacation with a son or daughter recovering from an eating disorder is more than possible and is more than achievable!

If you are hesitant about even starting to plan a vacation for fear that your loved one may backslide in their recovery journey, by all means, communicate that with your recovery team. If you don’t have a team of experts who can help you navigate through the recovery process for your child, consider the team in the FAB program. The FAB program is dedicated to replicating real-world scenarios during the recovery journey, such as eating out in a restaurant. Recovery cannot be realistically accomplished in a bubble. Any loving parent would want their child to thrive in the world and not be trapped by fear.

A color illustrative image of a family, a father, a mother, and their teenage son, sitting at an outdoor wooden table on a balcony overlooking a tropical beach landscape with palm trees.

The To Do List 

Don’t diminish your desire as a parent to plan a memorable family vacation simply because you don’t know how to support your child while they heal from anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), or a binge eating disorder (BED). Now is the perfect time to learn how to best support your child, your friend, your neighbor, or any other person in your life who is struggling to overcome an eating disorder. Below is a list of suggestions on where to even begin if you’re considering a vacation with someone recovering from an eating disorder. 

  • If you’re unsure if your loved one is ready to travel then schedule an appointment with the FAB program therapist or registered dietitian to discuss their progress. 
  • If you suspect your child might be battling against an eating disorder but you’re not sure, by all means reach out to the FAB program to learn more!
  • Replicate real world eating scenarios through meal support in preparation. 
  • If you already know the destination of the vacation, do research on the kind of cuisine available in the region, especially if the destination is abroad.  
  • Set the example at home by listening to the hunger and fullness cues of your own body, that your child might learn from you. 

Planning in advance is key, and one blog post alone definitely does not cover everything that could happen while on a family vacation. More details will be shared in the next blog post for the month of May! Stay tuned as more information and suggestions will be shared for all your vacation inquiries! If you want to learn more right now, contact the FAB program through call or email. Our team of experts is eager to meet with you!

If you want to learn more rigth now, contac the FAB program through call or email. Our team of experts is eager to mett with you!

A full-color vector illustration shows a young woman eating at an outdoor wooden table on a balcony overlooking a tropical beach landscape with palm trees and several huts in the distance, with the sun rising or setting on the horizon.

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