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Recovering from an eating disorder is complex, and that’s why having a team of professionals working together is considered the gold standard for treatment.
This includes your primary care provider for medical check-ins, mental health professional (a therapist, counsellor, social worker, or psychologist), and a registered dietitian to guide you with food and nutrition. Each member of the team should have experience in eating disorders to give you the best care possible. Ideally you also have a support person (like a parent, spouse or friend) involved to help you through the day-to-day ups and downs on your journey.
A dietitian can keep the treatment team updated on your progress with meal plans, symptom management, and nutrition challenges. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone is on the same page, avoiding conflicting advice and allowing for a unified, supportive recovery experience.
How a dietitian supports eating disorder recovery
Conducts an assessment to explore your food and health history and understand your unique experiences
Identifies nutrition challenges and specific areas needing support
Works with you to create a plan to support you on your recovery journey
Regularly checks in to monitor progress and support you through challenges as they come up
Provides nutrition education, for example, about the role different nutrients play in the body
Creates tailored meal plans to help you
eat consistently and adequately though the day
increase the variety of foods you eat
get the nutrients your body needs for recovery.
Supports you in interrupting eating disorder symptoms such as restricting and binge eating
Works toward normalized eating without calorie counting, measuring food, or tracking.
Helps you to challenge food rules, let go of obsessive food thoughts, unlearn diet culture beliefs, dispel food myths and rebuild trust with food
Guides you in incorporating fear foods
Develops practical skills like meal planning and meal prep that prioritize flexibility and enjoyment
Helps you shift your focus away from weight loss and toward respecting and caring for your body