Links + Thoughts
Another edition of things I've read and thoughts I've had that you might enjoy reading about, too
Links:
For a moment of hope and an honest reflection of the power we have in this political climate, read this.
A high school tutor discovers the ways she has quieted her own intelligence and power over the years to appease others. She empowers herself and her students to trust in their intelligence and worthiness as impactful members of society.
Intuitive cooking is a lost skill for the average person - too many of us didn’t have that knowledge passed down from older generations. It makes intuitive eating really difficult! I have a love for cooking due to its balance of science and art. Making a really incredible meal takes talent, a deep knowledge of skills and flavors, and an ability to use your resources to make something delicious. I love it when my clients feel open to taking a cooking class, a knife skill course, or just start practicing new recipes. It opens so many doors to being confident in the kitchen and to be better able to support yourself.
An older article, but in the midst of MAHA I think we could all use some grounding on the realities of what it looks like to prioritize your wellbeing. We don’t need to shame people for eating the foods accessible to them, we need better access to health promoting behaviors across communities. In the words of Michael Scott, “Keep it Simple Stupid”.
More and more research is being done on the intersection of shame, self-compassion, and eating disorder development/recovery. I will continue to remind you of this, but you can’t hate your body enough that someday you’ll love it. We have to build in compassion and reduce shame in our bodies and ourselves in order to get to a place where we effectively appreciate our bodies.
While reading this piece, all I could think about was that stifling of research topics related to gender, trauma, disability, discrimination, and more is quite the crazy move considering we have already lacked research on issues that primarily impact women, people of color, and people with disabilities. We haven’t been looking at mental health, or other disabilities, or menstruation, or the impacts of trauma and discrimination. We already lack data about conditions and experiences that are more likely to impact people other than cis men. Avoiding doing or publishing this research will have serious impacts on our ability to properly care for and support all human beings.
Thoughts:
People I’ve appreciated following especially since January 20th:
Dr. Jessica Knurick - she’s not fully HAES aligned, but does a great job of explaining food policy, risk, and nuance in the health field.
Here’s me, sharing my thoughts about this post that made my dietitian self feel a smidge frustrated.
My dogs ran out of dog food today and I had to figure out a plan to feed them without it. I may have had way too much fun playing dog dietitian and making a spreadsheet to calculate their nutrient balance and ensure they meet their energy needs. AKA, I have been procrastinating finishing this post. If my newsletter suddenly disappears it’s because I’ve abandoned this life and taken a job at Purina.
Happy Monday, everyone! Take care of yourselves. Eat yummy food. You deserve all the good things.
Gretchen