Why do so many children—especially those in foster care or adoption—struggle with food, weight, and self-regulation?In this episode of From Foster to Forever, Rachel sits down with Kami Moussavi, founder of Step Together, to uncover the real root causes behind childhood eating issues, ADHD, and addictive behaviors.This conversation goes far beyond diet and discipline. Together, they explore how trauma, emotional suppression, and dopamine shape a child’s relationship with food, screens, and self-worth.Rachel also shares her own powerful story of childhood trauma, emotional neglect, and disordered eating—making this one of the most personal episodes yet.💡 What You’ll LearnWhy food issues in kids are often symptoms—not the root problemHow trauma, grief, and emotional suppression show up as eating behaviorsThe connection between ADHD, dopamine, and addiction (food, screens, etc.)Why foster and adopted children may be especially vulnerableThe surprising truth: it’s not about fixing the child—it’s about supporting the parentHow to recognize when a child’s behavior has crossed into addictionWhy removing “problem foods” too quickly can backfireThe 5 healthy sources of dopamine every child needsSimple, practical ways to shift your home environment to support healthier habits🔑 In This EpisodeThe link between foster care, trauma, and food addictionHow ADHD and dopamine drive eating and screen habitsWhy traditional weight loss advice doesn’t work for kidsThe role of emotional suppression in childhood behaviorWhat parents can do to support lasting change❤️ Key Takeaways“The root cause is often emotional pain—not lack of willpower.”Children use food, screens, and other behaviors to cope with feelings they don’t know how to processParents don’t need to be perfect—but they do need to become safe emotional spacesLasting change happens when families address environment, emotions, and connection—not just behaviorLinks referenced in this episode:stepstogether.usfromfoster2forever.comFromFoster2foreverpodcastscreenzen.co