Sometimes it IS About Nutrition
Friday was a perfect gathering at VFED to conclude 2025, a year of unpredictably for us all. Emily Rotenberg, RDN, CEDS brought her team from California Virtual Eating Disorder Experts (CVED Experts) to help us answer a very big question- how does one teach nutrition to someone with an eating disordered brain? And the very big answer as usual was, “It depends.
The healing process that we, the professionals, are here for is always co-created- one that involves an intentional and consent-filled and unpredictable journey- different every time.
Emily shared her own tools to check for readiness, and to monitor current emotions. These are essential since it is of no use to go where a client is not ready. Or not interested. Or not really needing by to go.
For isn’t the healing process ultimately about this reparative journey of attunement? And so we assess. And we teach what is wanted. And we slip in what is also necessary. And we do our best to be available for the unexpected moments of opportunity during a treatment- to teach not only the nutrients- but the shopping. And the cooking. And the mindfulness.
And we make it clear that they don’t need to know everything.
And we remember that food preferences are not all ED voices.
Thank you to all who contributed to this heartwarming gathering of CE.
VFED wishes everybody a lovely season, filled with whatever you are needing at this time.
A video of this excellent talk is available online to VFED members.
