There are many misconceptions about what it’s like to work with a registered dietitian, especially when it comes to eating disorder recovery. You may worry that a dietitian will put you on a strict meal plan, judge your food choices, tell you that you need to change the way you eat right away, or push you to eat foods you’re not comfortable with before you’re ready.
In reality, eating disorder dietitians are there to meet you where you are and support you throughout your recovery. Your care is individualized, and you and your dietitian can work together at a pace that feels supportive and appropriate for you.
Let’s dive into what you can expect when working with an eating disorder dietitian and why it’s important.
What is a Registered Dietitian?
Registered dietitians are nutrition experts who receive extensive education and hands-on training to support people with many different health and nutrition needs, including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and kidney disease. But nutrition is a broad field, and dietitians can also choose to focus their work on an area they’re especially passionate about. Eating disorder nutrition is one of these areas, allowing dietitians to build specialized knowledge and experience to support people as they work toward recovery and a more comfortable relationship with food.
Eating Disorder Dietitian Role in Recovery
Eating disorder recovery often involves a team of professionals working together to support different parts of your health and recovery. Depending on your individual needs, your treatment team may include a primary care physician or pediatrician, eating disorder dietitian, therapist, psychiatrist, and other medical specialists.
An eating disorder dietitian is one part of this team, but they play an important role in helping you build a healthier relationship with food, meet your body’s nutrition needs, and develop skills that support recovery. By working alongside the rest of your treatment team, your dietitian can help make sure your nutrition care is personalized to you and your recovery goals.
How Can an Eating Disorder Dietitian Help?
An eating disorder dietitian is equipped to help you with:
Understanding Your Nutrition Needs
- Learning about your eating patterns, nutrition needs, food rules, and areas where your body may need additional nourishment.
Challenging Nutrition Myths
- Dietitians play a big role in debunking nutrition myths, confusing messages, and diet culture beliefs that may have influenced the way you think about food.
Creating a Personalized Meal Plan
- Meal plans that support adequate nourishment while taking your preferences, schedule, and recovery goals into account.
Working Through Fear Foods
- With your dietitian, you will work toward slowly and gently including foods you may feel anxious or uncomfortable eating and challenge rigid food rules at a pace that feels appropriate for your recovery.
Supporting Weight Restoration or Stabilization
- When needed, your dietitian can help establish nutrition goals and support you throughout the process. Depending on your individual needs, this may include weight restoration, weight stabilization, or improving nutritional adequacy without focusing on weight loss.
Feeling More Comfortable Around Food
- A dietitian aims to help you have a more flexible relationship with food and reduce the anxiety that can come with calorie counting, food rules, or labeling foods as “good” or “bad.”
Reconnect With Hunger and Fullness Cues
- When appropriate for your stage of recovery, your dietitian can help you become more comfortable noticing and responding to your body’s hunger and fullness signals.
How we can help
Deciding to work on your relationship with food is nothing short of brave. When you’re ready to explore how we can support you, give us a call at 630-474-5321. If you’d rather reach out online, simply fill out the form on this page, and we’ll be in touch soon.