Helping Children Heal from Trauma: A Holistic and Nutritional Perspective
As a holistic nutritionist who works closely with families, I’ve seen firsthand how trauma—especially when it’s ongoing or complex—can deeply affect a child’s health. What’s often overlooked is that trauma doesn’t only come from obvious or dramatic events. For many children, living with a chronic illness is traumatic in itself.
Whether it’s managing constant medical appointments, restrictive diets, unpredictable symptoms, or simply feeling “different” from their peers, chronic illness can disrupt a child’s sense of safety, autonomy, and ease in their own body. The same is true of family conflict, divorce, grief, neglect, or prolonged stress. Regardless of the source, trauma takes root in the nervous system—and it often shows up physically: in sleep, digestion, immunity, and behaviour.
That’s where a holistic, body-based approach can make a powerful difference. Food, nutrients, and daily rhythms become tools to help a child’s body remember that it’s safe to rest, grow, and heal.
How Trauma and Chronic Illness Show Up in the Body
Whether a child has experienced emotional stress, medical trauma, or years of navigating an unpredictable health condition, their body often carries that burden quietly.
Common signs of stored stress in the body:
Stomachaches, food sensitivities, or constipation
Sleep disturbances, nightmares, or night waking
Frequent illness, low energy, or weakened immunity
Emotional overwhelm, anxiety, or meltdowns
Difficulty focusing or regulating behaviour
Children may not always have the words to describe their stress—but their nervous system will always speak for them. That’s why healing begins in the body.
🥣 1. Food as a Foundation for Healing
For children navigating trauma and chronic illness, food can become one of the most grounding, stabilizing tools. It offers more than fuel—it offers comfort, rhythm, and restoration.
When supporting families, I focus on:
Balancing blood sugar to stabilize mood and energy
(Protein, healthy fats, and fiber-rich carbs at each meal)Soothing, easy-to-digest meals that reduce inflammation
(Soups, stews, congee, root veggies, warm breakfasts)Mineral-rich foods to support nervous system regulation
(Pumpkin seeds, avocados, sea salt, bananas, leafy greens)Gut-healing additions like bone broth, collagen, slippery elm, aloe, fermented foods
Anti-inflammatory support from turmeric, omega-3s, and colourful fruits and veggies
The goal is always to work with the child’s body, not against it—meeting them where they are emotionally and physically, and building nourishment from the ground up.
💊 2. Gentle Supplementation for Stress & Resilience
Children under chronic stress—whether physical or emotional—often experience nutrient depletion. Poor absorption, inflammation, medications, or trauma itself can make it harder for their bodies to regulate or recover.
Gentle, commonly used supports may include:
Magnesium (glycinate or citrate): For calming, digestion, and sleep
Methylated B-complex vitamins: For energy and nervous system support
Omega-3 fatty acids: For brain development, inflammation, and mood
Probiotics: To support gut-brain connection and immune health
L-theanine or GABA (child-safe dosing): For anxiety and sensory regulation (only under practitioner guidance)
Because every child is unique—especially those with chronic conditions or trauma history—individualized support plans are essential. The goal is gentle regulation, not overwhelm.
🌿 3. Daily Rhythms That Rebuild Safety
Children thrive on predictability. When their world has felt chaotic—due to illness, family stress, or trauma—simple, consistent rhythms help their bodies feel safe again.
Regulating, healing routines may include:
Morning light and movement: To anchor their circadian rhythm and mood
Grounding afternoon activities: Drawing, reading, quiet time, nature walks
Consistent mealtimes: In calm, connected environments
Evening rituals: Magnesium baths, lavender, soft music, stories
Reduced screen time: To support nervous system regulation
Connection and co-regulation: Through touch, cuddles, and safe eye contact
These daily rhythms gently shift the nervous system out of “fight-or-flight” and into “rest-and-digest”—the state where true healing becomes possible.
💛 To the Caregivers Holding It All
Supporting a child through trauma—whether emotional, physical, or medical—is a courageous and tender journey. It takes softness, strength, and often, a deep well of patience.
You may wonder if you’re doing enough. You may feel exhausted or stretched thin.
But please know: you are your child’s safe place.
When you nourish their body, calm their environment, and advocate for their healing—you’re already doing something profound. And you don’t have to do it alone.
Children can heal. Their brains and bodies are beautifully adaptable. When we support their whole system—with food, rhythm, nervous system care, and love—they begin to remember what safety feels like.
If you’re on this path and looking for a practitioner who understands the intersection of chronic illness, stress, and trauma—I’d be honoured to walk alongside you.
Healing is possible.
With warmth and compassion,
Alexis Tanner
Holistic Nutritionist | Trauma-Informed Practitioner