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Taking Care of Ourselves & Each Other

Health & Well-Being

How is Life Tree(ting) You?: Building a Healthy Relationship with Food

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Food and eating are an essential part of living, but it can be challenging and charged. As students, it can be difficult to balance studies, social lives, health, etc.. However, in order to maintain both physical and emotional health, it is necessary to consider your relationship with food first. Read on for pointers to get you going.

 

How to Build a Healthy Relationship with Food

  1. Listen to your wants and needs: Being curious rather than judgmental or critical can bring us closer to understanding what our wants and needs are. Though we may have positive, negative, or neutral associations, paying attention to hunger, fullness, satisfaction, or our emotional cues can help us recenter ourselves
  2. Practice mindful eating: Before reflexively multitasking while you eat, take the time to savor your food and enjoy the experience. Mindful eating can help you appreciate your meals and shift into a proactive mindset.
  3. Eat a balanced diet: Aim to eat a variety of foods from all the food groups, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function at its best.
  4. Normalize different nutritional needs: It's important to remember that everyone's bodies are unique, and we all have different nutritional needs. It's okay to eat differently from others, and we should respect and support each other's choices.
  5. Seek help if needed: If you're struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder, it's crucial to seek help from a professional. Vaden Health Services offers care management to link students struggling with eating disorders or disordered eating to specialized care such as individual therapy and group support.
  6. Support a loved one/friend with an eating disorder: If you know someone who is struggling with an eating disorder, it's essential to offer support and empathy. Listen to their feelings without judgment, and encourage them to seek professional help. You can also offer to attend appointments with them and help them find resources.

Written by: Edward Tran, Class of 2023 and Bryan Lian, Well-Being Coach and Campus Nutritionist, Vaden Health Services

Resources

Stanford Resources

  • Eating and Body Concerns: Vaden Health Services shares information and resources to support you as you navigate your relationship with food. 
  • Nutrition Counseling: Meet with an RD/RDN (Registered dietitian/nutritionist) to understand and explore your unique nutritional needs. An appointment can address your nutrition-related concerns such as health management, disordered eating or eating disorders, high blood cholesterol, and digestive problems. 
  • Counseling and Psychological Services: Offers specialized Care Management support to connect students with eating concerns to the most effective level of psychological support and care. CAPS also offers brief therapy, medication management, and groups. 
  • Stanford University Eating Disorders Program: A specialty program that provides time-limited, evidence-based, outpatient treatment to patients with disordered eating behaviors that impact their health and quality of life.