Melissa Guida-Richards

Jessica Rae Williamson shares her journey from childhood poverty to foster care, highlighting the significance of her first meal with her foster parents. Melissa Guida Richards recounts her emotional reconnection with her Colombian roots through cooking and bonding with her birth mother over traditional dishes. Anne Y.K. Choi discusses how her family’s convenience store shaped their identity and experiences in Canada. Finally, Amanda Bee emphasizes the challenges and strategies of raising a daughter with severe food allergies, showing their resilience in seeking a normal life.

Melissa Guida-Richards, an adoption educator and author from Colombia, shares her personal journey of finding her heritage through food. Katja Rowell, a former family doctor and feeding expert, provides insights into the challenges adoptive and foster parents face regarding children's eating habits. They discuss the importance of mealtimes in creating a sense of safety and belonging for children entering care. Combining emotional narratives with practical strategies, the conversation tackles issues like food insecurity and trauma's impact on relationships with food.