Do you feel the pressure to eat "good" all the time? Are you in a role where you are expected to be healthy and eat in a way to prove it? Those who study or are in dietetics, medicine, nursing, and other health related fields will easily relate yet just about everyone will relate to the pressure. Listen as we sift through ways to get through with guest expert Kimmie Singh.

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This episode is brought to you by my courses: PCOS and Food Peace and Dietitians PCOS and Food Peace. You CAN make peace with food even with PCOS and I want to show you how.

This episode's Dear Food letter:

Dear Food, 

I am writing this email as I am on my own personal journey with food peace and body acceptance. I am a dietetics student well into my studies academically and have had some observations as well as personal growth along the way. About a year ago, I began going to therapy and there it was revealed that I undoubtable struggle with orthorexic and disordered eating behaviors. This was, in a sense, such a relief to hear. It put a label to what I was going through and allowed me to set the path of self-improvement within my life. 

Although, actually putting in the work and committing to recovery was something that I could not have prepared myself for. This is something that I am still working towards today. At any rate, this brings me to what I want to talk about, which is how isolating this struggle can be in my major. I am surrounded by people, mostly women, who are expected to have a perfect relationship with food. However, I have a sinking suspicion that this is far from the case. I am living in a world surrounded by well-meaning individuals who are smart, inspiring, and dedicated. And obsessed with food. 

At the time, I felt extremely alone in my struggle. I felt as though no one else knew what I was going through because dietetics students are held to the highest of all standards. We are expected to have everything together, including our relationship with food. Now, a year into my recovery journey, I am becoming more and more concerned that the discussion of eating disorders is missing from our education. I think as people who are so enveloped in the study of food, we need to be allowed room to heal our relationship with the societal expectation that we should be “perfect.” Furthermore, we need room as individuals to heal our relationships with our own bodies, as well as our knowledge of fat stigma and shaming. We need to be allowed to un-learn commonly held beliefs surrounding weight and health. 

Unfortunately, everything mentioned above is missing from the dietetic curriculum, at least at my school. As I continue on in my own food peace journey, I am left confused and frustrated that we, as future professionals within the field, are left out of the discussion on eating disorders. As a result, we are entering the field with an oversimplified and possibly harmful outlook on people’s relationship with food. 

Sincerely, 

Captivated & Concerned 

Show Notes:

• Julie Dillon RD blog
• Link to subscribe to the Love Food’s Food Peace Syllabus.
• Kimmie Singh's website: BodyPositiveDietitian.com
• Kimmie Singh's IG: Instagram.com/BodyPositive_Dietitian
• The Body Love Project with Kimmie Singh
• The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Dietetic Internship with a HAES Rotation
• Find Eating Disorder Dietitians near you.

Do you have a complicated relationship with food? I want to help! Send your Dear Food letter to LoveFoodPodcast@gmail.com. 

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