Monthly Insights
Understanding Sjögren’s Syndrome (July 2025)
I remember when I was a dietetics student, and my professor and mentor Dr. Christine Hamilton Smith lectured on Sjögren’s Syndrome. I also remember seeing questions about this condition when I was studying for and taking the RD examination. Some 28 years later, I’m not only reflecting on the number of patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome […]
Who is the “Food Police”? – Part 2 (July 2021)
You have heard questions and statements like these time and time again: “You’re eating what?” “How much are you eating?” “Don’t eat dessert unless you want to gain weight.” These words can run in a constant loop in our heads, like a tape recording. This “recording” is the food police, the critical voice we develop […]
What is a Weight Inclusive Approach (June 2021)
It seems that every day a new client, or a current client, shares with me that they are interested in “losing weight.” I let them know that I don’t provide diets, but that I can help them develop a healthier, more positive relationship with food and their body. There’s usually a pause, then they ask […]
Understanding Intuitive Eating – Part I (May 2021)
Many people ask me “what is intuitive eating”? As the popularity of this term has increased in helping clients break away from diet culture, the curiosity of the topic has increased. As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, I like to help people find pleasure in eating, get rid of their fear of food, and learn […]
One Year Anniversary of the Book (April 2021)
Hello Colleagues, Friends, and Clients! Welcome to my monthly insight. This month I wanted to share with you that March 31, 2020 was the one-year anniversary that my book The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones came out. Due to the pandemic my book tour was cancelled, and I pivoted with […]
Child Nutrition: How Healthy Eating For Kids Starts With You (March 2021)
Permission to repost this article has been given by my colleague Crystal C. Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC who is a maternal health and child feeding specialist at Crystal Karges Nutrition in San Diego, CA. “What are the main things I should focus on to help my kids have a healthy relationship with food?” This is […]
Grocery Shopping with Clients Who Have Eating Disorders (February 2021)
Some people find grocery shopping to be a stressful, anxiety provoking experience. For example, those struggling with an eating disorder report that the market can often bring up feelings of confusion about what to buy and how much to buy, feelings of being out of control, and anxiety. When an individual is in treatment for […]
Body Image in Men (December 2020)
There is quite a bit of press speaking about body image challenges that exist in cisgender women, cisgender men, the LGBTQ+ Community and the transgender community. People seem to be surprised when I share with them that my clientele is approximately 40% male. Many of the cis-gender men that I see have body image issues, […]
Media Literacy and Eating Disorders (November 2020)
[Margot Rittenhouse, Author] The old saying “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything” is true in many situations. In the realm of eating disorders, if you don’t educate and inform yourself, you’ll fall for a lot as well. There is no limit to the falsehoods, lies, and promises that media will make […]
The Importance of Vitamin B-12 & How Your Medications May Be Impacting It (October 2020)
How often do you take a handful of supplements with your medications together? Many of us do not think twice about separating various supplements or medications or mixing medications and supplements. When I was in school at California State University Northridge (CSUN), my professor and mentor, Dr. Christine Smith, taught a class on drug nutrient […]
Telehealth and Nutrition Therapy (September 2020)
Since the quarantine began March 2020, everyone’s world has been rattled. Many businesses are closed and have gradually been opening based on the state they are in while others have been fortunate to do our jobs virtually. Many of us have seen various appointments on hold until life returns “back to normal.” Sadly, this is […]