Food Psych #227: The Food Environment, Intuitive Eating in Communities of Color, and Diet Culture's Oppressive Roots with Ayana Habtemariam
Fellow anti-diet dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor Ayana Habtemariam joins us to discuss how she’s bringing intuitive eating to marginalized communities, whether food environments influence health, the oppressive roots of diet culture, paternalistic nutrition policies, and so much more. Plus, Christy answers a listener question about how to deal with worries about your partner’s health.
Ayana is a nutrition therapist, certified intuitive eating counselor, and macro social worker. She is the founder of Truly Real Nutrition, LLC, a private nutrition practice where she empowers clients to give up dieting in exchange for trusting their bodies and breaking free from food rules that result in feelings of failure and shame. She encourages her clients to embrace the beauty, power, and connection that their food traditions, personal experiences, and values add to their lives. Ayana is committed to increasing awareness of intuitive eating and weight inclusive philosophies in black communities. She believes that weight-centric approaches to health and wellness only serve to exacerbate body image issues, stress, and anxiety which contribute to increased rates of chronic diseases often seen in black and other communities of color.
Ayana has 10+ years of experience educating the public on the relationship between the nutrition environment and health outcomes. Prior to transitioning to private practice, she worked with community leaders and local politicians as a nutrition policy advocate and community nutrition educator, in the healthcare field as a clinical dietitian at Mercy Philadelphia Hospital, and as an award-winning, top performing account manager at a Fortune 500 company. Find her online at TrulyRealNutrition.com.
This episode is brought to you by ThredUP, the world’s largest online consignment and thrift store. Sell your old clothes and get new-to-you pieces at up to 90% off retail prices. Visit thredup.com/FOODPSYCH for 30% off your first purchase. Terms apply.
We Discuss:
How Ayana’s family helped her to nurture a positive relationship with food growing up
How racism affected her relationship with her body
The external judgments that contributed to her disordered eating
How studying dietetics fueled both Ayana and Christy’s dieting
What led Ayana to pursue a career in nutrition, and then a degree in social work
Systemic oppression and its effects on health, compared to individual choices
Ayana and Christy’s experiences working in public health and nutrition policy
How paternalistic nutrition policies may be contributing to a scarcity mindset
The lack of community consultation on many public health initiatives
Whether the food environment influences health
The oppressive roots of diet culture
How the food industry overlaps with the diet industry and capitalizes on deprivation
How Ayana learned about intuitive eating
Her mission to bring intuitive eating to marginalized people and communities
The nuances of introducing intuitive eating to people of color
Her experience with the Honeymoon Phase and habituation
Resources Mentioned
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Submit your questions for a chance to have them answered on the podcast!
My online course, Intuitive Eating Fundamentals
My book, Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating
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Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings
This episode is brought to you by ThredUP, the world’s largest online consignment and thrift store. Sell your old clothes and get new-to-you pieces at up to 90% off retail prices. Visit thredup.com/FOODPSYCH for 30% off your first purchase. Terms apply.
Listener Question of the Week
What can a person do to manage their concerns about their partner’s health? How can a person overcome their internalized weight stigma and healthism? Why is the concept of intent versus impact important? Why is “eat less, move more” bad advice to give to someone? What are some examples of body-positive, plus-size men to follow on social media?
Resources Mentioned: