Diet Culture Dropout

In this episode Atheana interviews dietitian Sarah MacIsaac, a new member of the Peacefully Nourished team, about how dietetics intersects with diet culture and the harm that can result from weight-centric, rigid, or prescriptive nutrition care. Sarah shares her 15-year career trajectory, including early exposure to Health at Every Size and the shift from what she was taught to what she saw clients actually needed. They discuss why people may feel anxious or distrustful of dietitians based on past experiences, how “well-intended” nutrition advice can be harmful without context, and the profession’s unethical research history involving marginalized and Indigenous people. They also challenge the “nutrition expert” hierarchy, emphasizing client autonomy, flexibility, curiosity over judgment, and weight-inclusive, person-centered care while acknowledging ongoing bias and the need for continued learning.

Resources Mentioned:

Dietitians of Canada Truth and Reconciliation Resources

Dietitians of Canada  Indigenous Nutritional Knowledge Information Network
Diabetes Training 101 INC: The Residential SchoolsLegacy of Hunger
Dietitians of Canada: Cultural Safety, Foodways andHealing

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with the Peacefully Nourished team today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠⁠

This episode of Diet Culture Dropout dives into Weight Stigma Awareness Week (September 8th onward), unpacking the deep-seated anti-fat bias embedded in our culture and its real-world consequences. Did you know weight stigma has actually increased by 60% in North America since the 2000s, even as other forms of bias have declined?The conversation covers how weight stigma shows up everywhere: in healthcare dismissals, workplace "wellness challenges," school bullying (where weight-based teasing ranks as the most common form), and media tropes that reduce fat characters to punchlines. The host shares personal reflections from a parent council survey, TikTok discourse, and years of clinical experience as a weight-inclusive, HAES-aligned practitioner.Listeners are given practical tools: Harvard's free Implicit Association Test (IAT) to explore their own automatic biases, the documentary Your Fat Friend by Aubrey Gordon (now streaming on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube, and CBC Gem) as a powerful firsthand look at living in a fat body, and free virtual events from the Body Equity Alliance and Within Health. The episode closes with a compassionate reminder: awareness is the starting point, not the endpoint — and if weight stigma has affected your relationship with food, body, or healthcare, you deserve support from providers who see you as a whole person.

Resources Mentioned:

Weight Stigma Awareness Week

Harvard Implicit Association Test – Weight ('Fat–Thin') IAT:​
​​A movie to add to your watch list: Aubrey Gordon's documentary, Your Fat Friend.

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with the Peacefully Nourished team today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠⁠

Protein is everywhere. From protein coffee and cereal to bars, popcorn and even cocktails, we've become obsessed with maximizing one nutrient. But do we actually need more protein—or have we forgotten about carbohydrates, fibre, fats and enough overall food?

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with the Peacefully Nourished team today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠⁠

In this episode I interview Bhavin, a rare male registereddietitian based in Waterloo, Ontario. Bhavin shares his non-linear journey to becoming a dietitian and dives into the cultural and societal pressures men face regarding diet and body image. Exploring Eurocentric norms and diet culture on South Asian diets. Bhavin also addresses common myths about South Asian diets and the carnivore diet. He highlights the importance of seeking credible sources for health information and emphasizes setting boundaries around harmful dietary comments within cultural contexts.

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with the Peacefully Nourished team today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠

Connect with Bhavin:

Instagram

Linked In

Tik Tok

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition or therapy support? Book a⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with our team at Peacefully Nourished. We help support you in your definition of health and wellbeing without diet culture.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠⁠

In this episode we explore the reality that healing our relationship with food is rarely just about food. Together, we discuss how eating struggles are often intertwined with stress, perfectionism, anxiety, identity, trauma, burnout, and our relationships with ourselves and others.

Throughout the conversation, we unpack:

• Why food behaviours often serve a protective purpose
• How dieting and wellness culture can disconnect us from ourselves
• The emotional and relational layers underneath eating struggles
• The overlap between nutrition counselling and psychotherapy
• How body image, shame, and self-worth often become deeply intertwined
• What compassionate, collaborative care can look like
• Why healing is less about “fixing yourself” and more about building self-understanding and self-trust

We also discuss the importance of trauma-informed and weight-inclusive care, and the growing need for accessible eating disorder and body image support within our community.

Whether you’re navigating your own relationship with food and body, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about therapy and healing work, we hope this conversation offers reassurance, reflection, and a gentler perspective.

If you’ve been wondering whether therapy could be supportive for you, Rae offers a warm, non-judgmental space to begin exploring that curiosity at your own pace.

We’re so grateful to have Rae joining the Peacefully Nourished team and cannot wait for you to get to know her.

Resources:

NEDIC

Body Brave

Virgina Sole Smith Book Fat Talk

Nalgona Positivity Pride Poster

Learn More About Rae:

About her work

Connecting with Rae

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition or therapy support? Book a⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with our team at Peacefully Nourished. We help support you in your definition of health and wellbeing without diet culture.

➡️ You can also join the quarterly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠⁠

In this episode of Diet Culture Dropout, we welcome areturning guest Jessica Curran. A registered psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counselor from Madoc, Ontario. We chat all things about how to find a therapist who is a good fit while considering how weight bias can enter therapy andhealthcare spaces. We explore why many therapists aren’t trained in eating disorders, body image, or weight stigma, and offer practical tips for searching for one.

Resources Mentioned:

Kid book suggestions:

a) Fat talk Book by Virginia Sole-Smith

b) Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder

c) BIG by Vashti Harrison

Connect with Jess by her website

Info about her Supervision + Consultation is here

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition or therapy support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with our team at Peacefully Nourished. We help support you in your definition of health and wellbeing without diet culture.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠⁠

In this episode of Diet Culture Dropout, we are joined by renowned dietitian Julie Duffy Dillon. The discussion revolves around managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) without the influence of diet culture. Julie shares her journey from traditional dietetics to becoming a weight-inclusive and Health at Every Size (HAES) practitioner, especially in the treatment of PCOS. She details her experiences and strategies for helping clients manage PCOS through intuitive eating and non-diet approaches. The episode covers key PCOS myths, common misconceptions, the relationship between PCOS and eating disorders, and practical, non-diet nutritional recommendations for those affected by PCOS.

Connect with Julie by:

Website

Podcast

Her Book

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with Atheana Brown today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keepyourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠

In this compelling episode of Diet Culture Dropout, we welcome Larissa Ends, a dietitian and certified diabetes educator based in Edmonton, Alberta. Together, we delve into the topic of GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, exploring their uses, side effects, and real-world implications. Larissa shares her insights from clinical research trials and discusses the complex interplay between these medications and weight management, diabetes control, and overall well-being. We also touch on the societal impact of diet culture and the importance of informed consent when considering these medications. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a patient, or someone interested in the topic, this episode provides valuable perspectives on GLP-1 medications.

Connect with Larissa by:

Email [email protected]

Website

Instagram @the_nourishco

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with Atheana Brown today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keepyourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠

In this episode of Diet Culture Dropout, I welcome back Jennifer Neale, a registered dietician and certified intuitive eating counselor, to discuss the current social media trend of dieticians sharing honest advice without sugarcoating. We dive into various misconceptions around dieting, body image, and health, emphasizing the importance of considering social determinants of health, moving away from restrictive eating, and being critical of health information from social media. We also highlight the crucial role of fiber, the benefits of community support, and the emotional components linked with food and body image. The latter half of the discussion focuses on the impact of clothing, the importance of capturing family moments regardless of body size, and practical advice for protecting children from diet culture.

Connect with Jennifer by:

Website

Instagram

Her Podcast

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with Atheana Brown today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keepyourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠

If you’ve ever asked, “But how do I know if it’sworking?” when moving away from dieting, this one’s for you.
We’ll explore what growth really looks like when your goals aren’t about weight loss — from reclaiming peace at mealtime, to reconnecting with hunger cues, to feeling at home in your body again.

✨Do you need personalized and inclusive nutrition support? Book a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠free 20 minute discovery call ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠with Atheana Brown today to get supported on healing your relationship with food + body.

➡️ You can also join the monthly newsletter to keep yourself updated on the latest podcast episodes, freebies, workshops and food freedom tips. You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join the community here!⁠