Are you in search of an eating disorder dietitian in Orange County, California? Finding the right support during eating disorder recovery is important. At Yébo Nutrition, we believe that nutrition counseling should be compassionate, individualized, and empowering. Located in Orange County, our practice provides one-on-one nutrition counseling for adults, teens, and children of all ages. We treat a variety of different eating disorders including Binge Eating Disorder (BED), Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), Orthorexia, and more. In this post, we’re answering common questions about what to expect when working with an eating disorder dietitian and how to find the right support.
What Does an Eating Disorder Dietitian Do?
An eating disorder dietitian is a registered dietitian who helps address the nutritional and mealtime aspects of eating disorder recovery. One’s relationship with food can become complicated when eating is influenced by fear, guilt, rigid rules, body dissatisfaction, anxiety, trauma history, or a desire to control weight or shape. Nutrition counseling can provide a space to explore and understand these patterns while working toward more consistent and adequate nourishment with caring support from a nutrition expert who meets you where you are.
Depending on your individual needs, nutrition counseling may address:
- Establishing more consistent eating patterns
- Reducing fear and anxiety around food
- Weight restoration
- Improving digestion
- Challenging rigid food rules
- Supporting adequate nutrition
- Exploring the connection between food and body image
- Addressing restrictive eating patterns
- Navigating the intersection between food and ethics during recovery (i.e. vegan, vegetarian, kosher, halal considerations).
- Building greater flexibility and confidence around food
Why Choose Yébo Nutrition for Eating Disorder Support?
A weight-inclusive approach
Weight-inclusive care recognizes that health and well-being cannot be determined by body size alone. Folks in larger bodies experience significant weight stigma, even in the eating disorder space. At Yébo Nutrition, weight stigma is viewed as a barrier to healthcare, and our practice is committed to creating an environment where people of different body sizes are treated with respect.
An intuitive eating perspective
Intuitive eating can be an important part of rebuilding trust with food and rejecting the diet mentality. Rather than labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” this approach can help you develop greater awareness of hunger, fullness, satisfaction, preferences, and your body’s nutritional needs.
For someone recovering from an eating disorder, however, intuitive eating isn’t necessarily about simply “eating whatever you want.” Recovery often requires structured nutrition and individualized support. Your dietitian can help determine what approach is appropriate for where you are in your recovery.
Care team collaboration
One of the most important things to look for when choosing an eating disorder dietitian is a willingness to collaborate with other members of your healthcare team. Eating disorders can involve both physical and mental health concerns. A collaborative approach helps ensure that nutrition counseling is part of a broader recovery plan rather than being treated as the only piece of treatment.
What To Expect From an Initial Session
An initial session may include discussion of your:
- Medical and nutrition history
- Bloodwork review
- Eating patterns
- Relationship with food
- Movement and exercise
- Digestion
- Body image
- Ethical considerations
- Current concerns
- Goals for nutrition counseling
From there, you and your dietitian will create an individualized plan and adjust it as your needs change. We recommend beginning with weekly sessions and then gradually spacing appointments further apart as appropriate.
How to Find The Right Dietitian for You
When looking for an eating disorder dietitian, consider:
- Does their approach make you feel heard, comfortable, and safe?
- Eating disorder treatment requires vulnerability. You should feel respected, heard, safe, and comfortable sharing your experiences with your providers.
- Do they truly understand your specific concerns?
- Eating disorder recovery looks different for everyone. ARFID, restrictive eating, binge eating, body image concerns, and eating disorders in children or teens can require different considerations.
- Will they collaborate with your healthcare team?
- Nutrition is one component of eating disorder treatment. Communication between your dietitian, therapist, physician, and other providers may be an important part of care.
- Do they work with your individual values and lifestyle?
- Your cultural background, dietary preferences, living situation, and relationship with movement can all influence nutrition care.
Ready to Find Support?
If you’re looking for an eating disorder dietitian in Orange County, our registered dietitians here at Yébo Nutrition are here to support you with compassionate, evidence-based care.
We offer in person sessions at our Orange County office as well as secure Telehealth appointments for clients in eligible states. Apply to work with us today!