Here at NourishRX we are proud to call ourselves anti-diet dietitians. However, we also recognize that it can cause a bit of confusion - how can one be a dietitian and be against something in our own job title? We totally get it, and want to explain a little more about what it means to be an anti-diet dietitian.
what does it mean to be an Anti-diet dietitian
The anti-diet space was created in response to the ever growing and evolving presence of diet culture, which often spreads false information about nutrition to the general public. Diet culture often leads individuals to rely on external cues like messages from their favorite influencers or comments from Aunt Suzie at the dinner table, rather than listening to their own bodies. In short, diet culture leads us further & further away from listening to or trusting our bodies. This can not only lead to problematic eating or disordered eating, but also eating disorders.
Anti-diet providers, such as anti-diet dietitians, work to fight back against diet culture messages. As anti-diet dietitians, we believe in the innate wisdom of our bodies to know what, how much & when to eat using an intuitive eating framework. Utilizing evidence-based practice including nutrition therapy, anti-diet dietitians treat individuals looking to heal the disconnect between their thoughts around food & body such as those suffering from disordered eating, chronic dieting, negative body image & eating disorders.
So what would this even look like? We’ve created a list of 5 different ways an anti-diet dietitian can help guide you to a better relationship with food & your body.
5 ways an anti-diet dietitian can guide you towards food freedom
1. By providing a safe, nonjudgemental space for you to discuss your relationship with food & body
We understand how difficult and even shameful it can feel to discuss the belief and fears you may have around food. In sessions, we work to normalize negative thoughts and feelings about food in order to uncover the ways diet culture misleads us.
2. Ensuring the scale is not a measure of progress
Anti-diet dietitians work from a weight-neutral space meaning that weight is not the main priority of our work. Conversely, we hope to guide you to think about goals that are focused on the ways we engage with food & movement rather than the numbers on a scale.
3. Help to debunk misinformation about food
As mentioned earlier in this blog, diet culture is EVERYWHERE and it can be difficult to figure out what nutrition information is reliable. When working with an anti-diet dietitian, time in session can be spent deciphering the murky waters of diet culture messaging and determining how to be a more confident consumer to fight back against common nutrition myths we hear.
4. Empowering you to be the expert of your body
By approaching nutrition using an intuitive eating framework, anti-diet dietitians work to empower you to reconnect with your physical and emotional cues to appropriately respond to hunger, fullness, satisfaction
5. Normalizing and celebrating the diversity of bodies
In addition to a weight-neutral approach to nutrition, anti-diet dietitians operate from a Health-At-Every-Size™ lens, believing wholeheartedly that all bodies are deserving of equitable treatment + respect. We reject the notion that there are “good” and “bad” bodies and work to help dismantle the strongly held beliefs pushed by diet culture that thinner or smaller is always better.
how to take next steps with an anti-diet dietitian
If any of the above mentioned information has resonated with you, know that there are anti-diet dietitians excited to meet you where you are at to take the first steps to regaining confidence around food and your body.
Struggling with chronic dieting, disordered eating and/or an eating disorder can feel scary, confusing and downright lonely, so know that there are resources out there for you to reach out to for support including any and all members of a solid treatment team including physicians, mental health professionals and dietitians.
Here at NourishRX we also offer services that compliment our 1:1 sessions such as: Intuitive Eating Course, Flexible Meal Planning, Movement PATH, Eating Disorder PATH and Jumpstart Course for Parents and Caregivers. Wherever you are on your journey to healing your relationship with food and body - we've got your back.
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