One of River Chew’s core beliefs about recovery is that healing happens in relationships. By connecting with others and building relationships, River believes we start to gather evidence that it can be safe to trust others. Slowly but surely, we can forge a sense of safety in our lives, so that we no longer need to use food, eating, and exercise to try and feel safe or in control.

It can be hard to know the differences that dictate disordered eating vs eating disorder. While there are some similarities, the two have clear differences that are important to understand.

After many years lost to a disordered relationship with exercise, Ally Rae Pesta found peace on a yoga mat. Now, a yoga teacher, run coach, and recovery coach, Ally helps others ground themselves in five key principles to reclaim their relationship with movement.

When this week’s blog author was struggling with an eating disorder, they didn’t see themself depicted in news stories and movies about other people who were similarly struggling. But as they realize now, their identities don’t fall within the (harmful) SWAG stereotype — skinny, white, affluent girl — that dominates the narrative.

If you’re looking to add some eating disorder books to your queue, here are the ones that came highly recommended by your peers.

As Lexie Manion knows well, you can’t self-love your way out of childhood trauma and its lasting effects (like eating disorders). Physical and emotional safety must come first.

While we love a good TikTok or viral trend, we’re also exhausted. This is especially true for those of us suffering from disordered eating or eating or body image disorders. So, should you delete social media?

With 10+ years of recovery – and 8 years of “loud recovery” – under her belt, Project HEAL Volunteer Blog Manager, Tara Criscuolo, speaks a lot differently about eating disorders, food, movement, and bodies than she used to.

Growing up in a mixed-ethnicity household brought intertwined racist and fatphobic experiences that many of Elizabeth Starbuck’s peers didn’t have to face. Then, when she began dating, the theme of body shame continued as her partner struggled with his relationship with his own body.

As a fat, Black woman who battled the dark depths of Binge Eating Disorder, Leslie Jordan Garcia knows firsthand how important representation is in the healing journey. In this blog, Leslie dives into the stark stats demonstrating the lack of representation, reasons why representation is so important, bits of her personal story and those of her clients, and strategies for moving forward.

After years of yo-yo dieting, negative body image and chronic illness, Ivy Felicia discovered holistic wellness. She met a doctor that actually treated her as a whole person, encouraging Ivy to explore her mental and emotional well-being, sleep, spiritual practices, self-care regimen, and more.

Eating disorder recovery coaches can play an important role in the healing process. Peer support from someone who gets it helps us feel less alone - and helps the coaches find purpose in their struggles by helping others through theirs. Read on from author Olivia Soha to learn more.

Food is not just fuel; it carries cultural, historical, and social significance. Brianne Brathwaite, CEO and Founder of EAT For Success, examines the relationship between food and Black communities, explains the concept of food colonialism, and demonstrates the lasting impact on Black communities.

In fourth grade, most girls are given “the talk.” We’re told that our bodies will start changing soon — and they do! — but what about when they start changing again in our mid-20s? Victoria Brown dives into her experience of “second puberty,” and how she learned to accept her new body with the help of therapy and community.

Alyson Roux is a Co-Founder of Clinician’s Incubator, and with her partnership, we’re able to offer our free Meal Support Program! In this blog, Alyson provides a peek into how meal support sessions work, the benefits of professionally facilitated meal support, and how to apply.

Aniqa Mian learned the hard way that eating disorders don’t discriminate based on race, ethnicity, or religion. Growing up in a South Asian Muslim household, Aniqa’s family didn’t like talking about mental health. But despite the triggering components inherent in her community’s culture, she found the tradition of sharing food to be greatly helpful.

Dr. Erin Knopf, MD, shares her insights to eating disorder recovery around the New Year. With diet-focused resolutions everywhere we look, Dr. Knopf shares practical tips on creating anti-diet new year’s resolutions - and ditching diet culture.

Diet culture — and some people’s eating disorders — have coopted veganism as a diet, but veganism is about ethics, not food restriction. Lindsay Schwartz, RD, provides thoughtful questions to ask yourself if you’re thinking about exploring veganism this Veganuary.