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Food Labels: Calories VS Energy

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:20:00 GMT

I recently traveled abroad to Europe. And as with all of my travels, the culinary and food world influenced my itinerary. Discovering the traditions and palate of the region is always one of the highlights of my explorations. But while I was traveling this time, I couldn’t help but take a look at their version of the food label. In case you haven't noticed, their food labels don't contain the word "calories." Instead, they use the word "energy." Every time I see that it brings a smile to face.

In my opinion, the word calorie seems to possess a laundry list of negative associations.

Count your calories
Cut your calories
Burn your calories
Choose your calories wisely

To me, it’s a really good example of how American culture has turned the joy of eating into something that feels wrong, undeserving of pleasure, and requiring repentance. To me, the word “energy” conveys a much more positive message; fuel to keep you energized! So the next time you find yourself glancing at a food label, try swapping the word “calorie” for “energy.” And you can try asking yourself the following questions:

How much energy do I need right now?
Will this be enough energy to carry me?
Will this type of energy leave me feeling energized and satisfied?

So, if you had the chance to change the word calorie to something else, what word would you choose?

Product Showcase: Frozen Edamame

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:55:00 GMT

I absolutely love edamame. It's inexpensive and stays well frozen for weeks at a time. It's full of protein and healthy fats. Edamame in the pod can be thrown in boiling water for a couple of minutes or zapped in the microwave for a quick and yummy snack. Or you can buy the shelled kind and toss it in just about any recipe- salads, soups, stir-fries, etc. Just type the word "edamame" in the search box of this blog and you'll get a handful of tasty recipes. But just for good measure, I have a delightful new dip to share with you. And just in time for warmer weather. Enjoy!

Edamame Ginger Dip

Ingredients

8 ounces frozen shelled edamame
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon tahini
1 clove garlic
1/8 teaspoon salt
Hot pepper sauce to taste

Directions

1. Cook edamame according to package directions.
2. Puree the cooked edamame, water, soy sauce, ginger, vinegar, tahini, garlic, salt and hot sauce in a food processor until smooth. Chill for 1 hour before serving.
*This dip may be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days.

*You may want to be conservative with some of the stronger ingredients like ginger, tahini, and garlic. It's much easier to add more than the other way around!

Recipe & Picture Source: Eating Well

Do you have any hummus or dip recipes that you love? Please share!

Summer Diet Plans?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:59:00 GMT

As the temperatures warm up, you might be considering a new diet plan to get yourself "beach body ready." If that's the case, check this article and think again.

*Note: a version of this article originally appeared in the Summer 2011 issue of The Massachusetts Dietetic Association Newsletter.

As the weather grows warmer and people begin shedding layers, it’s common for body dissatisfaction and anxiety to grow. A recent Glamour magazine psychologist-designed poll¹ states that 97% of women experience “I hate my body” thoughts on a daily basis, with an average of 13 negative thoughts each day. With these statistics, it’s no surprise that, according to a 2008 collaborative survey between Self Magazine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 67% of women aged 25 to 45 (excluding those with eating disorders) are attempting to lose weight.² How? 37% of women regularly skip meals, 26% cut out entire food groups, and 16% have consumed 1,000 or fewer calories per day in an attempt to lose weight. According to a September 2010 Experian Simmons DataStream, the percentage of women from ages 25 to 54 who are dieting peaks in the early to middle summer.³

Drastic attempts at weight loss continue despite research demonstrating that these types of dieting measures are ineffective. A 2007 review⁴ analyzing the long-term outcomes of 31 calorie-restricting diet studies concluded that one-third to two-thirds of dieters regain more weight than they lost on their diets. Another study in 2006⁵ focusing on college students found that a history of weight loss through dieting predicted greater weight gain during the freshman year of college. Research on nearly 17,000 kids ages 9-14 years old concluded, "...in the long term, dieting to control weight is not only ineffective, it may actually promote weight gain."⁶

So the next time you're considering a new diet plan to shed pounds quickly, you want to remember this article and reconsider.

¹ Glamour 2011

² The Chapel Hill News

³ http://www.experian.com/blogs/marketing-forward/2010/09/02/women-dieting-more-but-need-that-seasonal-break

⁴ Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Westling E, Lew AM, Samuels B, Chatman J. Medicare's search for effective obesity treatments: diets are not the answer. Am Psychol. 2007 Apr;62(3):220-33.

⁵ Lowe MR, Annunziato RA, Markowitz JT, Didie E, Bellace DL, Riddell L, Maille C, McKinney S, Stice E. Multiple types of dieting prospectively predict weight gain during the freshman year of college. Appetite. 2006 Jul;47(1):83-90.

⁶ Field AE et al. Relation between dieting and weight change among preadolescents and adolescents. Pediatrics, 2003 112:900-906.

Picture Source

Considering Kitniyot

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:53:00 GMT

Below is a special blog post for Passover written by guest blogger Rachel. If you are interested in reading more about eating disorder recovery from a Jewish perspective her blog is an absolute must read.

Picture Source

Oh, Pesach. So many food rules, so many opportunities for obsessive thinking. Now, I love the holiday's theme of liberation and take seriously the idea of "freeing myself from my own personal Egypt." However, I do think there's an element of irony involved: this holiday, which focuses so much on freedom, also plays right into the food restrictions and regulations that enslave so many people with eating disorders.

For me, nowhere is this struggle more pronounced than around the question of kitniyot. Every year I revisit the same question: Do I eat them, or not? Here are the particulars: I am Ashkenazi; I'm a vegetarian; I'm also fiercely protective of my recovery from almost a decade of anorexia. Each time Pesach rolls around, I have to decide which takes precedence: an ancestral custom that is hundreds of years old, or my internal wisdom that the severely limited diet of a kitniyot-free Pesach might inadvertently reawaken the food-restrictive mentality that I've worked so hard to put to bed.

Aside from the very real halachic issues involved, this dilemma also cuts to the heart of my perfectionist tendencies. If I were to eat kitniyot, would I be doing a "good enough" job of keeping Pesach? Would people find reason to look down on my lenience and criticize my choice? I believe the answer to both questions is yes. Undoubtedly, the norm among observant Ashkenazi Jews is to avoid eating kitniyot on Pesach. The decision to break with this custom would likely meet with some resistance from many members of the observant community. However, there is also the case to be made that where health is involved, the ban on kitniyot is not as stringent as the ban on chametz, and so people are permitted to eat kitniyot if their health requires it. Furthermore, there are Orthodox rabbis who have ruled that Ashkenazi Jews within the land of Israel are allowed to eat kitniyot because the custom of eliminating those foods was unique to Europe and therefore is not binding in the Middle East. Conservative Rabbi David Golinkin takes it a step further in his respons, which clearly argues that all Jews may consume kitniyot during Pesach "without fear of transgressing any prohibition." Again, I fully recognize that these opinions run counter to the prevailing custom among the observant Ashkenazi community. However, their arguments seem valid, especially when recovery is at stake. I would encourage Ashkenazi Jews who are trying to recover from any type of eating disorder to consider giving themselves permission to eat kitniyot on Pesach. I would also suggest that if a person DOES choose to eat kitniyot as a means of safeguarding his/her recovery during Pesach, that family members attempt to view this decision not as a rebellion or transgression, but rather as a way to protect that which is most precious: health and life.

If you do plan to incorporate kitniyot into your Pesach food repertoire, here are some recipes to get you started! It's possible to find KP versions of all the needed ingredients. Both feature quinoa...because, as a vegetarian, I am always looking for new ways to use quinoa on Pesach! The first comes courtesy of fabulous nutritionist Marci Anderson; the second, from Mark Bittman, author of one of my favorite cookbooks (How To Cook Everything Vegetarian...in case you were wondering.)

Bean Salad with Quinoa

Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad (when I make this, I add a 15 oz. can of garbanzo beans for a little added protein)

The Miracle of Mindfulness

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:00:00 GMT

By Elizabeth Jarrard RD

"Aha!" moments strike me at odd times. Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise that I had a big "AHA!" moment about "mindfulness" during a yoga class (my first in far too long!). My teacher spoke to how hard it was to just move. To just go through the vinyasa flow, because our brain always wants to know what's comkng next. It is constantly processing, analyzing and determine your next move. The act of just being in the moment, whether during a yoga class, a conversation with a friend, reading a book-anything, is remarkably hard!

found on pinterest

Turning off your brain is impossible (we don't want you to die!) but a big part of mindfulness practice is becoming aware of what it is constantly churning and processing, and begin to tone down those thoughts-especially those of judgement. You begin to view the present as it is, without judgement of it being good or bad. Reality is just that-real. Mindfulness is not learned overnight, but is instead a practice that does not numb you of present emotions, rather brings you to a state of awareness, so that you can experience life to its fullness.

"Mindfulness is the miracle by which we can call back in a flash our dispersed mind and restore it to wholeness so that we can live each minute of life." Thich Nhat Hanh, The Miricle of Mindfulness

Want to learn more? Take a glance at these articles:

10 ways to become more mindful today

Mindfulness: The art and science of changing your brain

9 Essential Qualities of Mindfulness

Recipe: Spiced Balsamic-Beet Compote

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:56:00 GMT

I recently attended a bridal shower where this spiced balsamic beet compote was served. And it is truly amazing. Delicious served with crusty sourdough bread as a delicious appetizer. Plus the gorgeous jewel-colored beets are a beautiful addition to any table.

Do you have any appetizer recipes you can't live without? Please share!

Recipe and Picture Source

Spiced Balsamic-Beet Compote: Serves 6

Ingredient List
1/2 cup golden raisins
2 large beets, peeled and finely diced (3 cups)
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. garam masala or curry powder
2 shallots, halved and thinly sliced (1/2 cup)
2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt

Directions
1. Cover raisins with boiling water, and let stand 30 minutes. Drain.

2. Meanwhile, cook beets in large pot of boiling water 10 minutes, or until just tender. Drain, and set aside.

3. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add garam masala, and cook 20 seconds, or until fragrant. Add shallots, and sauté 2 minutes. Stir in beets, raisins, vinegar, sugar, salt, and 1/2 cup water. Cover, and simmer 20 minutes, or until compote is thickened. Cool.

You are What you Eat...Really?!?

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:25:00 GMT

We live in a society that moralizes food. Don't believe me?

Good carbs, bad carbs
Clean eating: I hate this term because it somehow carries the connotation that you are dirty if you aren't eating "clean."
Michael Pollan: ok, ok, I have an entire blog post brewing about Mr. Pollan. I appreciate that he focuses on sustainable farming practices, eating local, eating less processed food. My issue is that when food becomes such a moral decision people mistakenly believe that their food choices are a reflection of WHO THEY ARE AS PEOPLE. And this isn't helpful.
"I've been so bad today...." said by just about every living human being

The trouble with a moralistic tone to eating is that it invokes judgment. And judgment invokes guilt and shame. And guilt and shame typically lead to unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.

If we look at our timeline as a country, we have dedicated that last 150 years to good/bad eating and look where it has gotten us! I believe that we'd be a lot farther along if we focused on how our bodies feel when we eat certain foods. Throw out the judgement (YOU AS A PERSON ARE CERTAINLY NOT WHAT YOU EAT) and focus on the experience and see where that lands you.

I want to hear your opinions! Do you agree or disagree? Are you what you eat?

I got this quote from a friend and colleague Leslie Schilling. She's another rock star dietitian in Memphis. I highly recommend you check out her blog and follow her on Twitter.

Product Showcase: Desert Pepper Corn and Black Bean Salsa

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:54:00 GMT

This product showcase post is brought to you by Lauren Fowler, dietetic intern.

On my weekly grocery trip, I decided to try a new-to-me salsa brand and flavor. Salsa is one of my staples because it goes well with so many foods, like eggs, black bean burgers, or just tortilla chips!

I picked up the Desert Pepper corn and black bean salsa, which is also labeled “medium” in spiciness. I tried it out with plain tortilla chips when I got home, and I declared it a winner. It is a nice chunky salsa, which makes scooping easy, and there are plenty of corn and black beans spread throughout the salsa. It fits the medium spice label because there was a kick to it, but it wasn’t overpowering to my taste buds. The flavors of the tomatoes, corn, and black beans were all apparent and stood out.

So far, I’ve tried it with tortilla chips, on eggs, and on tacos. My roommate and I finished it up on taco night, but I’m definitely going to pick up another jar at the store soon. I highly recommend it!

Are there any condiments you can't live without?

"I'm No Longer Trying to be Airbrushed in Real Life"... So take THAT Shape Magazine

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:50:00 GMT

Blast

Burn

Sculpt

Flatten

Tone

Tighten

Shrink

Change

Drop

Lose

Banish

Zap

Kick

Firm

Better

Perfect

I did a google image search for Shape magazine. And the words above grace the cover. Read through the list. Think of those words being directed at you and your body. Think of those words being directed at your friend and her body. How do you feel?

In my opinion, media is our culture's most powerful medium for shaping womens' views and expectations of themselves. Media is the measuring stick that facilitates self-criticism and hurtful comparisons with one another. We are reduced to a litany of BARBARIC terms (excuse me- burn, blast, and banish?!) and hate ourselves for never getting it right. We begin to see ourselves as a body, something for looking at. And as a result our minds become limited, our creativity stunted, and capacities under-utilized because we are so busy counting calories and hating ourselves. Ladies, THIS. IS. CRAZY.

This post was inspired by a client who said to me yesterday "I'm no longer trying to be air brushed in real life." How's that for a declaration?

I want to hear yours! It could sound like....

I'm human, I'm meant to get hungry.
I'm not flawed if a 1200 calorie diet plan leaves me hungry and unsatisfied.
My energy is precious and cannot be depleted by self-hate.
I can't be happy if I'm pursuing something I am not.

What is your declaration?

Recipe: Butternut Squash Stew

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:30:00 GMT

This blog post is brought to you buy Lauren Fowler, dietetic student. Enjoy!

Over the past few weeks, I thought spring had come early because of the lack of snow and cold temperatures. I woke up to a surprise snowstorm last week, and this soup was the perfect recipe to warm me up after walking home from campus in the snow. It’s hearty from the squash, chickpeas, and lentils, and the garam masala and jalapeno both add a little kick to it. To spice it up even more, I used fire roasted canned tomatoes rather than plain diced canned tomatoes.

The original recipe is from the blog, Eat Live Run, but I made a few adjustments to make it without the crockpot.

Ingredients:

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

1 large carrot, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 jalapeno, minced

2-3 tsp garam masala

1 medium butternut squash, peeled and chopped

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes (fire roasted is great!)

2 cups vegetable broth

2 cups water

1 cup red lentils

2 15 oz cans chickpeas

1 tsp salt

Roast the chopped butternut squash for 35 minutes at 375 F. While the squash is roasting, chop the rest of the ingredients. Heat the oil over medium high heat, then sauté the carrot, onion, and jalapeno for 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic and garam masala and sauté for 30 more seconds, making sure to stir the spice continuously. Add the water and vegetable broth and red lentils and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low-medium, and add the chickpeas, squash, and diced tomatoes. Let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes, then enjoy!

I had plenty of leftovers, which were perfect heated up and topped with a dollop of greek yogurt.

The Weight of Weight Stigma

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:25:00 GMT

The following post was written by Elizabeth Jarrard, RD.

Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me. Right? Words like “fat” “obese” get tossed around a lot in our society. Unfortunately they are often also associated with words like “gross” or “lazy.” These words do hurt. The stigma of weight hurts not only the person at which they are directed, but our society in general.

What exactly is weight stigma? According to BEDA “Weight stigma is bullying, teasing, negative body language, harsh comments, discrimination, or prejudice based upon a person’s body size.”

Weight stigma and bias can be verbal (insults, teasing, stereotypes, or derogatory names) or physical-bullying.

We now see that discrimination based upon weight is more prevalent than race discrimination-with a 66% increase over the past decade. “There’s an atmosphere now where it’s O.K. to blame everything on weight,” said Dr. Linda Bacon, a nutrition researcher. Research suggests images in news media of obesity extremely negative, biased, & stigmatizing- which creates prejudice. In some cases stigma results in employment discrimination where an obese employee is denied a position because of their appearance regardless of their qualifications. This isn’t just a few people-43% of overweight people report weight stigma by employers or supervisors.

Recent research has highlighted just how deeply weight stigma runs-and it’s not just in job interviews or promotions. According to Huizinga et al The higher a patient’s body mass, the less respect doctors express for that patient. Weight stigma is a significant risk factor for depression, low self esteem and body dissatisfaction. Victims of weight stigma have increased levels of stress (seen explicitly in cortisol levels and increased blood pressure), decreased desire to exercise. This creates a negative life environment that may perpetuate cycles of overeating and underexercising-creating an unhealthy lifestyle.

So what can we do?

No matter what size he or she might be it’s important that you talk to your child about weight stigma and foster within them a positive self esteem.

Help us all to create school environments that are conducive to learning-by reducing weight stigma.
Are you a health provider? Talk to your patients without weight stigma. Yale Rudd Center is a fantastic resource for all providers.
As an employer-make sure you are not perpetuating weight stigma.
Just because someone is overweight doesn’t mean they don’t exercise, they don’t eat healthfully or they are lazy. Stop those you see using weight stigma and bias. Change the stereotypes within your own mind.

We must learn to take a Health at Every Size approach and treat all individuals the same-whether they are our clients, our friends or just people we meet on the street. Weight is a number, and you can not tell someone’s entire life or health history from judging their outward appearance.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Client Spotlight

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:28:00 GMT

I thought long and hard about what I wanted to share on my blog for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. And I didn't think there could be anything more powerful than sharing a story of recovery from one of my clients. Enjoy.

Committing to recovery was a difficult decision to make. Not because I didn’t want recovery, but because it required of me a gigantic leap of faith that if I pushed myself through all the physical and emotional discomfort, the rewards would be worth the pain. I am not a risk-taker, and I have never felt comfortable staring down “the unknown.” In my ambivalence, I came face to face with the recovery paradox: I didn’t want to commit to recovery unless I had some reassurance that I would actually be happier. But, the only way to have access to the feelings of happiness was to honestly try out recovery…and to eat.

Food and hunger had been my enemies for close to a decade. How, I wondered, could they ever help me? The answer lay rooted in biology: if I ate enough, I gained weight. If I gained weight, I thought more clearly. If I thought more clearly, I could examine the real issues (because we know that eating disorders are never just about food!). And, dealing with the real issues often led to genuine feelings of confidence and competence as I realized I could actually handle life. Food was no longer what led me to my eating disorder—it was my ticket out of it.

As I ate and became physically healthy, I did some digging around what I felt were my key issues. Chief among them was my social anxiety: I had always felt out of step with my peers, somehow just a little bit different in a way I couldn’t name. I had been completely overwhelmed by the sexually charged social atmosphere in college, and my solution was to retreat—straight into the arms of anorexia. This was an amazingly effective short-term solution, as it took me right out of the social and sexual games. After all, nothing screams, “Hands off!” more than a starving female body. The downside was that when I was sick, I had no brainpower left to examine the roots of my social discomfort. This was work that could only be done at a healthy weight in recovery. Eating allowed me to reach a point at which I could think complex thoughts and truly unpack this issue, and what I found was that I didn’t have a “problem,” after all…I just hadn’t allowed myself to realize the truth: that I was a lesbian. This realization was a major turning point for me. Although it was challenging to process, having this understanding about myself opened the doors for me to begin living a more self-accepting, authentic life.

Today, recovery means being honest about my appetites—my hungers for intimacy, spirituality, professional fulfillment, and—yes—for food. I’ve discovered that although I am the quintessential introvert, I also have a deep desire to feel positively connected to other people. As I’m growing more comfortable with my sexuality, I’ve been experiencing for the first time what it feels like to be attracted to other people in a way that is exciting and energizing. Sometimes, all this intimacy business can get overwhelming, and I remember why I retreated from this aspect of life so long ago. But even when I feel that old fear tugging at me, I have never once regretted my decision to trade in my eating disorder in favor of fully engaging in the business of living.

I will not sit here and tell you that recovery is easy. But, I will tell you with conviction that recovery is worth it. In retrospect, I know I have gone through a lot of struggle to get where I am today. I also know that I would never want to give back what I have gained through this process. I used to go to sleep every night feeling as though it would have been a blessing not to wake up in the morning. Now, when I wake up each day, I know that the true blessing is to have another chance to participate in the human experience—the joyous parts for sure, but also the tough parts…because even having negative feelings is better than having no feelings at all.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2012: #endED Twitter Chat Re-Cap

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:50:00 GMT

Thank you to all that joined February’s #endED twitter chat with National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) before Eating Disorders Awareness Week. NEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Elizabeth Saviteer ( @NEDAStaff )and Marci Anderson ( @MarciRD ) lead the chat and some wonderful comments were heard! Here’s a recap of some of the highlights

Q1. Eating Disorders have been getting more media attention, has this been harmful/helpful/both?
• @MissDEIntl2012 more helpful! It reduces the stigma associated with ED and has opened a dialogue
• @ScritchfieldRD helpful because it opens a dialogue, silence is the most harmful of all. We cant heal what we dont see/say.
• @NEDAstaff Media can be a great way to increase awareness, decreasing stigma, if presented in a responsible way

Q2. A risk factor for developing an ED is poor body image, how can we promote positive body image in children and teens?
• @jessicaclaytonm: Take the focus off appearance. Teach children to value their minds, passions, opinions rather than weight.
• @MarshaHudnall Kathy Kater has some good materials to help kids build healthy body images bodyimagehealth.org
• @NEDAstaff One way to promote positive body image in kids is to be a good role model for them as a parent, teacher or mentor

Q3. How do you deal with people in your life who are dieting or weight-focused? @MauveDinosaur My confidence is growing. Fat-talk is so normalized, people look at you like you have 2-heads when u dont join in.
• @ScritchfieldRD: I will tell them that #diets are disordered eating and that eating disorders start as weight focused goals
• @EDNMaryland By remembering to focus on YOUR issues and healthy lifestyle not anyone elses.

Q4 What is some new/exciting research on ED?
1. @KendraTaylor_ more recognition/research out there that EDs affect more than the perceived stereotype.
2. @MarciRD Love #intuitiveeating research: http://tinyurl.com/7v385zk
3. @MarciRD Walter Kaye doing really important research on the #brain and EDs: http://vimeo.com/1678383
4. @NEDAstaff Regarding prevention more research on how screening tools help in early detection and treatment outcomes

Q5 How do you define recovery from an eating disorder?
• @ScritchfieldRD: A5: freedom from the physical and emotional suffering brought on by the eating disorder
• @jessicaclaytonm Trying to embrace that it is a process and perfectionism has no place in recovery
• @EDNMaryland I like Carolyn Costins definition of what true recovery is. NOT being triggered by lifes ups & downs.
• @MarciRD Learning how to manage life without using food

Q6 What are your favorite pro-recovery tools for eating disorder sufferers, family, and friends?
• @YaseminMerwede: For me, family support was instrumental. Feeling safe in my environment to share my thoughts and feelings.
• @MarciRD This article, b/c it lists my favorite positive body and pro-recovery social media friends! http://bit.ly/A8xOgE
• @jessicaclaytonm Listen to your heart and your support system, not the media.

Let your voices be heard for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week! Talk to friends, wear purple, write a blog post! Find out more here: Eating Disorders Awareness Week

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and #endED

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:44:00 GMT

We are happy to announce that this month’s #endED twitter chat will be with National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) as we get ready for Eating Disorders Awareness Week. NEDA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. Both #Ended and NEDA share the vision of a world without eating disorders. Join us on February 22nd 8:30-9:30pm EST as we discuss the best ways to prevent eating disorders, how we can increase self-care and how we can promote eating disorder recovery. Elizabeth Saviteer ( @NEDAStaff )and Marci Anderson ( @MarciRD )will be leading the chat.

If you're new to Twitter, here's a primer on how to participate. It's simple, go to www.tweetchat.com and enter the keyword "#endED" and it will appear as if you're in a chat room. Watch the tweets stream live and join in on the conversation. Be sure to follow @NEDAStaff and @MarciRD

RSVP on Facebook today!

Below are the questions we'll be chatting about on Wednesday.

1. Eating Disorders have been getting more media attention, has this been harmful/helpful/both?

2. A risk factor for developing an ED is poor body image, how can we promote positive body image in children and teens?

3. How do you deal with people in your life who are dieting or weight-focused?

4a. What is some new/exciting research on ED?

4b. Eating disorders receive very little funding for research. What specifically needs more research?
5. How do you define recovery from an eating disorder?
6. What are your favorite pro-recovery tools for eating disorder sufferers, family, and friends?

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:49:00 GMT

During my sophomore year of college I learned about Maslow's hierarchy of needs. At the time, it didn’t interest me all that much. In fact, the whole theory seemed like a no-brainer to me. And as for that whole notion of “self-actualization”… let’s just say it didn’t really speak to my 20 year old self.

But little did I know that Mr. Maslowin’s theory would come back to serve an important perspective in the way that I work and how I teach my clients about food and eating. For those of you not familiar with the theory it teaches us that we have a variety of needs for healthy and appropriate development. They are depicted hierarchically in pyramid fashion with the most fundamental and important needs at the bottom. Maslow's theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will focus energy or desire for higher level needs. So if his theory holds true, it’s more important to secure food and shelter before forming relationships and sexual intimacy.

With this theory in mind, I have some questions for you to ponder.

1. What shall we do with cultural messages that tell us we need to “earn our food” through extreme exercise in order to have permission to eat? According to Maslow it's not earned but a right as humans.

2. What happens to our self-esteem if our minds are perpetually stuck in obsessing about food (which is considered a lower level need)?
3. Can we form healthy relationships if we are denying ourselves our basic rights (such as food) through dieting?

I believe that forming a healthy, balanced, secure relationship to food and your body is imperative. Living at war with food and your body can disrupt your ability to meet your higher level needs like healthy self-esteem, creative thinking, and forming relationships. Now THAT is a pretty big deal. . What do you think?