Nutrition has a big part in not only a healthy body but a healthy mind. What we put into our bodies is very influential on how we feel on the outside and on the inside. For people who have lived with eating disorders, understanding the importance of nutrition is imperative for recovery. This way, food is not looked at as the enemy, but rather, as a medicinal property imperative to keeping both the body and mind in healthy function. Certainly, over time, disordered eating behaviors can develop unhealthy relationships with food. And, it’s not easy to change these relationships and adjust behaviors. But, when people who struggle with disordered eating are open to learning about how nutrition is vital for a healthy recovery and work to unlearn negative beliefs about food, their relationship with food can get better. 

Fortunately, there are certain things individuals in recovery from eating disorders can do to start obtaining a healthy relationship with food. This way, they can begin to enjoy a healthy mind and body fueled by a nutritious diet without the hesitations that negative beliefs and mindsets surrounding food that eating disorders evoke. 

Working Toward a Healthy Relationship With Food

Disordered eating behaviors almost always come with a negative relationship with food. This can include counting calories, omitting certain foods or food groups from diets, skipping meals, and more. So, overcoming and changing negative relationships with food is imperative to successful eating disorder recovery. 

However, adapting to healthy eating doesn’t just happen overnight. And, developing a healthy relationship with food isn’t something that’s easily accessible to everyone. That’s where treatment comes into play – helping individuals learn the truths about food, why it’s important for our overall health, and changing thoughts and behaviors surrounding food in order to gain lasting healing. 

Developing a healthy relationship with food can be challenging as disordered eating behaviors can develop over a timeframe of many years. So, learning to recognize and change thoughts and behaviors that result in disordered eating patterns is a slow-going process. Therefore, seeking professional help from people who understand the value of nutrition is imperative to instilling behavioral changes that are long-lasting. 

Treatment With a Focus on Nutrition

One thing that’s important when seeking help for developing a more healthy relationship with food is to look for a treatment that includes nutrition as a part of the education and therapy process. People who struggle with eating disorders may have nutritional deficits that may need to be addressed immediately. Nutrition plays a major role in getting people who have been living with disordered eating behaviors back to optimal health in order to continue with treatment. 

 Furthermore, understanding the role of nutrition as it relates to a healthy mindset and physical health is necessary for the treatment of eating disorders. This way, individuals can start to shape the way they behave towards food in the future. Choosing a treatment facility that educates individuals about nutrition and allows for the practice of instilling nutrition education into daily life is imperative. 

Treatment that includes nutritional therapy and education involves a process including: 

• educating about the role of nutrition as it relates to both physical and mental health 
• restoring nutrient deficiencies in the first stage of treatment due to past disordered eating behaviors
• introducing healthy and well-nourished foods and meals
• identifying foods that were previously avoided and feared
• helping individuals practice introducing new and nutritious foods into their daily lives

Nutrition-Focused Treatment at Willow Place for Women

Willow Place for Women is a nutrition-based eating disorder treatment approach for women struggling with eating disorders. So, if you’re ready to gain a new and healthy relationship with food, we’re here to help.