Why It's Awesome to Work with Eating Disorder Dietitians
Thought about seeing an eating disorder dietitian as part of your eating disorder recovery? Not quite sure how they might be helpful for you? Feeling nervous about meeting with someone to talk about food? Whether in San Diego or in other places, it can take a lot of courage to work with an eating disorder dietitian.
Perhaps you had bad experiences with dietitians or nutritionists in the past. Perhaps you feel scared that the person is just going to tell you what to eat without your input. Perhaps you’re worried that the person will put you on a meal plan or a diet that will feel uncomfortable. Perhaps you’re anxious that the dietitian will shame you for what you’re eating—or not eating.
I’ve interviewed top San Diego eating disorder dietitians for them to share WHY it makes a difference to work with one who is trained in eating disorders. These amazing women are not about shaming—they’re about educating, supporting, and empowering.
Reason #1: They debunk all the BS that’s out there about health and nutrition —Amy Ornelas, RD
There’s so much conflicting information about health and nutrition on the internet, on social media, on television, at the gym, and even in chiropractic, acupuncture, and medical offices. You’d be amazed at how much such information is not grounded in science. An eating disorder dietitian has many years of education and training on nutrition and how the body processes food. Working with one means that instead of following fads, you’ll be following physiological and nutrition science. Plus, they do it with care and compassion, not judgment.
Reason #2: They can provide the most up-to-date recommendations from evidence-based research —Theresa Carmichael, RD
Eating disorders are incredibly complex. Treating them nutritionally is a delicate dance in which eating disorder dietitians address your body’s unique needs while targeting the physiological challenges of changing the way you eat. For example, gastrointestinal issues are common in people recovering from eating disorders. Trained dietitians can help you manage these physical symptoms while meeting your nutritional requirements
Reason #3: They help you outsmart your eating disorder with nutrition science —Jaren Soloff, RD
You may have an “eating disorder voice” that fills your head with rigid rules about what you can or can’t eat—or even about how or when you should eat. Eating disorder dietitians recognize how loud that voice can be. In their work with you, they are compassionate and non-judgmental. They know how difficult the struggle is. They can help you take a stand against the eating disorder voice by teaching you about nutrition science. Knowing about nutrition science is EMPOWERING because it’s based on FACTS, not eating disorder fiction. FACTS help you outsmart your eating disorder.
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I love love love working with San Diego eating disorder dietitians. If you’re looking for one outside of San Diego, check out the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP) Foundation’s website and do a search for a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian (CEDRD), who have gone through and continue to maintain extensive experience and training on eating disorders.
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Special thanks to the fabulous San Diego eating disorder dietitians who contributed to this post! You can find links to their practice websites below:
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Hey everyone, I really appreciate you reading my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)
Marianne
If you are struggling to find eating disorder treatment in San Diego, schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation using the online scheduler (just click on the orange button), and I will help you get where you need to be!
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