Director of Outpatient Nutrition and Private Practice RD, Becky Mehr

What is your current position? 

  • Director of Outpatient Nutrition for the Renfrew Centers
  • Private Practice at Mehr Nutrition providing supervision for those seeking iaedp certification.

How did you get started in your career? 

I went into college majoring in Pre-Med.  This meant that I was taking Animal Biology and Plant Biology – and had to learn the Krebs Cycle.  The Krebs Cycle was tough and made no sense to me in the context of plants. Then a friend introduced me to the field of nutrition. I shadowed a dietitian over the summer. When I took my first nutrition class and it just clicked. I really loved studying about how the body works; the Kreb Cycle made sense (still didn’t get out of learning that).  It was in college where I really became interested in field of eating disorders after hearing from a local dietitian working in the field. It seemed like such a rewarding area that involved the science, psychology/counseling and connecting with others.

My first job after my internship was in the clinical setting as the only dietitian at small community hospital. This position really helped to form my communication within a team and collaborate with others; all skills I use now. It also helped form a solid understanding of the disease states impacted by nutrition that I learned about in school and internship. Being the only dietitian, led to doing some outpatient work and having a few eating disorder clients; which, I loved and looked for an opportunity to do more!

What advice would you give to someone new to the eating disorder field? 

Network and build connections with those that are in the field/area you want to work in; you never know what opportunities will come. Continue learning and growing in your practice regardless of the work you do as there is so many complex cases regardless of what field you are in.

 

Unworthy Weight: Reclaiming Your Worth from a Number on the Scale and Finding True Identity in Christ

By Kristin Williams, RDN, LD, CEDRD

Reviewed for IFEDD by Anna Marie Oglesbee, MS, RD, LD

 

Unworthy Weight: Reclaiming Your Worth from a Number on the Scale and Finding True Identity in Christ is an excellent book for anyone who is a Christian in eating disorder recovery. This book is structured as a memoir where Kristin unpacks identity truths through her own personal experiences, as well as using Biblical encouragement to help the reader discover what the Bible has to say about our bodies and food.

 

Kristin has a thorough knowledge of eating disorders both through lived experience and through working in the field and this book showcases this. She walks the reader through behaviors that are normalized in society but are actually contradictory to what the Bible says. Kristin is a CEDRD, and her expertise in the field is evident through her writing. It is also clear that she is a Christian and is able to thoughtfully combine eating disorder knowledge, as well as knowledge of the Bible and how a strong relationship with Christ can be such an important part of recovery.

 

A book like this has been needed in the field for a long time! It reads as a letter from a friend sharing her own personal experiences. This friend is someone full of care and compassion for the reader. There are very few resources specifically for Christians in recovery from an eating disorder. This book really dives into food freedom from a Christian perspective. Often, it can be easy to believe the lie that we are “honoring our bodies” for the Lord through dieting or restrictive eating. Kristin discusses Biblical truths, such as the fact that “Jesus ate carbs” (in fact, Jesus even refers to Himself as the “bread of life”). She also talks about moralizing food (i.e. labeling it as “good” and “bad”) and how this directly contradicts where our moral value should be found.

 

Overall, the book is very well organized and is also a quick read. It is such a valuable addition to the field because it is short and sweet and is appropriate for all levels of recovery. I highly recommend this book for anyone in eating disorder recovery who is a Christian. This book would be a great addition to the shelves of dietitians who are well-versed in eating disorders, but don’t identify as Christian themselves. By recommending this book for clients, a new perspective can be seen, and clients can have more support in their recovery, even if their dietitian does not identify as a Christian. As a dietitian who is a Christian, I plan on adding this book to my shelf and recommending it to clients, as well as using some of the knowledge I gained from this book with my Christian clients during session.

 

https://www.wonderfullymadenutritioncounseling.com/shop/stay-tuned-for-my-book

 

The Body Positivity Card Deck

By Judith Matz, LCSW, ACSW and Amy Pershing, LMSW, ACSW, CCTP-II

Reviewed for IFEED by Janice Baker, MBA, RDN, CDE, CNSC, BC-ADM

As a creative and unique tool for both patients and clinicians, this card deck provides supportive and practical healing strategies for those struggling with body image and helps to counter the ever-present messages of diet and beauty culture.

Many of my patients struggle with the thought of reading books, regardless of literacy. Even the most supportive and helpful books can be frightening to even open, as many fear change and a disruption to normalized thought patterns ingrained for so many years.  This card deck offers a good option – “sound bites” of reassurance and support that can open the door to further curiosity about restoring a healthful relationship to food, eating and self-acceptance/care. Reading only 1 of the cards per day may be just enough to help one start a journey towards better self-care and chip away at ingrained guilt and shame. Each card has suggested “action items” to apply the messages into realistic small steps that can give the reader a sense of accomplishment aside from the reading.

I recommend this card deck for both treatment providers and patients.  As an RDN, this tool will help me counter the damaging and condescending messages my patients have continuously received as part of our culture. I’m keeping this card deck handy by my computer for use during my classes and telehealth sessions.

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Positivity-Card-Deck-Appreciation/dp/1683732944/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1A38LAEY7CLO3&dchild=1&keywords=the+body+positivity+card+deck&qid=1606685365&sprefix=the+body+positivity%2Caps%2C211&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFZM01DMVVPOExEMEImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTFRSjcwOFlSSEdWNkEmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDQ4MzAwNFVYMThPVkFVQ1VQOSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

The Eating Disorder Trap

By IFEED Member Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD-S

Reviewed for IFEED by Janice Baker

 

The Eating Disorder Trap is a guide for clinicians and the loved ones of those with eating disorders and disordered eating. It is a reference and resource for clarifying the many facets, complications, and considerations in supporting those struggling across the lifespan.

In my 37 years of practice as an RDN, this is a book that I wish was part of my early undergraduate curriculum, and would have been a great influence in how I have practiced. However, since research and awareness of eating disorders were very sparse and under recognized, I’ve been reading and learning from respected colleagues and professionals in this area for the past 16 years. The Eating Disorder Trap is a valuable addition to my library on this topic.  In fact, while recently working with a patient who was quite ill with a 30  year history of AN with misdiagnoses and in the past year medically stabilized and in  excellent recovery, I read parts of the book to her to address her MDs concern about how her hypercholesterolemia is putting her at risk of relapse (specifically pages 94 and 120).   This is just one example why I will be keeping The Eating Disorder Trap very handy as a resource.

Robyn Goldberg, RND, CEDRD-S has an impressive background. Her qualifications for writing this book include working in cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, working in private practice in Beverly Hills, California specializing in eating disorders treatment and Health at Every Size, credentialing as a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian and Supervisor from IAEDP and Certified Intuitive Eating Disorder Counselor, and several publications and media appearances.

Specific parts of this book that resonated with me are a review of the perspective of our eating disorder patients and the absolute need for compassion, reflection, and understanding. Page 18, which I have marked as an essential component of working with all of my patients, even outside of those with eating disorders, helps to respectfully uncover our patients’ goals and values. This is a stark contrast to what many people have been exposed to in the typical “wellness and diet” culture.

The Eating Disorder Trap is well organized. It is physically small and compact enough that I can have this by my side to review and reference for my practice. The tone of the book is factual, supportive, and straightforward.  Explanations of nutrition science concepts are clear and useful for those with a variety of educational backgrounds.  This will be an excellent educational addition to an undergraduate college program in health sciences including nutrition science & dietetics, nursing, kinesiology and exercise science, and physiology.  I will be recommending The Eating Disorder Trapto the faculty and internship coordinators at my alma mater, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I have been a guest speaker for the nutrition science department for several years.

The recommendations for eating disorder practitioners are grounded and helpful.  Having read many other publications and books in this area, it is consistent and complementary with the guidelines and strategies for eating disorder treatments.

I highly recommend The Eating Disorder Trap. Once I started reading, it was hard to put down, as I found it engaging and helpful.  As not only an RDN, but Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, and Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management, my patients have complex medical issues often in the setting of disordered eating and eating disorders, who are confused by layers of nutrition and health misinformation from a variety of sources.  As I work on my new goal of becoming a CEDRD (always a student!), I will keep in mind the excellent and helpful insights that Robyn has provided and I congratulate her on her noteworthy accomplishment.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Eating-Disorder-Trap-Guide-Clinicians-ebook/dp/B085JN3S6B/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1BIDKSHV2RXV5&dchild=1&keywords=the+eating+disorder+trap&qid=1587249195&sprefix=the+eating%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-2

Recover: Finding Freedom with Food Again

By Sunny Yingling, MS, RDN, CSSD

Reviewed for IFEDD by Janice Baker

 

Recover: Finding Freedom with Food Again is an easy to read, practical, and useful book that I have already shared with several of my patients both with and without an eating disorder and disordered eating.  Sunny’s book breaks down and normalizes much of the prevalent confusion surrounding food, nutrition, and weight obsession that magnifies the underlying stressors in how people choose to eat and care for themselves.

As an RDN of 37 years, I’ve witnessed the surge of diet and weight loss approaches, along with eating disorders increasing at a seemingly exponential rate. I continue to work with patients across the age span who hang on to fatphobic food rules, and, recently, a fear of carbohydrates, leading to risks of malnutrition and a depletion of joyful eating.

This book succinctly explains the roles of macro and micro nutrients in an easy to understand manner. It also emphasizes the importance of not only nourishing our body, but the soul. I particularly enjoyed the easy to prepare and creative recipes at the end of each chapter, thinking while reading “I want to make that!”. Dining out is addressed, which is important, as this can be both a source of pleasure and anxiety for those struggling with eating issues, especially with the required calorie labeling on many menus.  Physical activity as a health benefit for the body and mind versus a way to “earn food” or as a way to dangerously purge calories is also carefully and thoughtfully reviewed.

Sunny is a registered dietitian and Director of Nutrition with Plan Health and Fitness in Fresno, California. She provides outpatient nutrition counseling and specializes in eating disorders, sports nutrition, and weight management. Sunny has taught nutrition at Clovis Community College and was the dietitian for the Summit Eating Disorder IOP program.

A specific part of Recover: Finding Freedom with Food Again that resonated with me is each chapters’ encouraging context to experiment with cooking delicious and enjoyable dishes, adding to the practical and multidimensional value of this book.  Even those of us who have been cooking for many years, for family or other reasons, may develop “cooking fatigue” or lack of interest due to a variety of reasons, and this book provides a gentle and compassionate approach to providing or restoring “kitchen confidence”.

Recover: Finding Freedom with Food Again is well organized, and physically small and compact enough that I can bring it along with me to my various classes and clinics for my patients to review.  Explanations of nutrition science concepts were clear and useful for those with a variety of educational backgrounds.  This is especially helpful to patients and clients who have been subjected to fear-based nutrition advice (most of my patients!) and are wary to start including “real” versions of foods such as bread, rice, and pasta into their eating plans. I feel this would be an excellent addition especially to an undergraduate college program in health sciences including nutrition science & dietetics, nursing, kinesiology and exercise science, and physiology, as a resource in how to educate on nutrition topics.  I will be recommending this book to friends and family members as a reliable nutrition resource.

As an RDN, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, and Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management, my patients have complex medical issues often in conjunction with disordered eating, eating disorders, whom are confused by layers of nutrition and health misinformation from a variety of sources. Most have not had any formal education in nutrition or health sciences, and regularly ask for recommended books. I will be sure to include Recover: Finding Freedom with Food Again on my list of books to consider.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Recover-Finding-Freedom-Food-Again/dp/1733295208/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AUBYJ97P072Q&dchild=1&keywords=recover+finding+freedom+with+food+again&qid=1588099698&sprefix=recover+findin%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1

Loving Someone with an Eating Disorder

By Dana Harron, PsyD

Reviewed for IFEDD by Robyn Goldberg

 

Loving Someone with an Eating Disorder is a book written by Dana Harron, PsyD. Dana has written a fantastic book that is well referenced and includes hands on exercises to help a family member or loved one be able to understand what a person is challenged with who has an eating disorder.

Dana has her book broken down into various sections including: loving someone with an eating disorder, myths and realities, how your partner’s eating disorder impacts you, learning how to respond to real life food situations, learning how to respond in your sex life and fertility, pregnancy, and keeping your kids safe. She provides information on these topics and more, which tend to not be discussed in other eating disorder books. This is helpful, because all these scenarios can and do happen.

This book is a must read for all clinicians and individuals who are affected by a loved one with an eating disorder. I really appreciated the exercise on identifying your feelings and how these feelings are often caused by the individual who is struggling with an eating disorder. I also liked how Dana uses mindfulness, discusses mindful sex, and the exercise on a mindful body scan.

Dana reminds the reader to be able to acknowledge your feelings that arise and to avoid blaming the identified patient, especially when difficulty in conceiving can occur. She reminds the reader about triggers that our loved one may experience and provides many examples to help the reader put themselves in the shoes of the person struggling with an eating disorder.

I am glad to have had the chance to read this book and will certainly recommend it.

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Loving-Someone-Eating-Disorder-Understanding/dp/1684032555/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=loving+someone+with+an+eating+disorder&qid=1600187153&sr=8-3