A Realistic, Inclusive, Joyful Approach to Eating with Pediatric Dietitian Jessica Rosecrance

<p>Hey SweetSmarties, I got to interview pediatric dietitian Jessica Rosecrance this month! It was honestly so fun, and you’ll hear plenty of delightful giggles in this episode! :D</p><p><br></p><p>I really appreciate her relaxed approach to food and eating, and I love how honest and accessible she is! We agree that it’s so important to be truthful, and it helps tremendously to share an authentic perspective about topics that are often glamorized or highly curated. We connected this idea to social media, which can foster comparison, and we reminded everyone that most people are very intentional about what they chose to show, which is usually the highlights of their lives, so it’s important to keep in mind that we’re only seeing a small fraction of their experiences.</p><p><br></p><p>She started in geriatric care, and then quickly moved to pediatric, which caused me to comment on the circularity of our lives: the beginning and end have a lot of similarities, which was very relevant to her dietitian work, and elicited our first bout of chuckles, followed by many more!</p><p><br></p><p>I asked her how she helps people develop a healthy relationship with food, eating, and their bodies, which matters immensely to me! We spoke about practical strategies, and were always very understanding and compassionate, which is essential when navigating something so challenging, vulnerable, and complex.</p><p><br></p><p>We discussed a lot of the language we’ve learned to speak about this inclusively, like the phrases “all foods fit,” “fed is best,” and “health at every size.” She focuses on adding foods, rather than taking them away, and I mentioned the potential harm of a restrictive mentality, as well as how much stress and anxiety can hurt us, so I was so glad to hear about this additive approach!</p><p><br></p><p>I also mentioned my two main guiding principles of balance and variety, and how helpful and healthy it is to be more laid back about our food choices, acknowledging the exceptions of medical conditions, allergies, and other necessary adjustments. </p><p><br></p><p>We talked about the social and cultural elements of eating, delving into how food is much more than just nutrition! I brought up my Crohn’s disease, which I’ve had since I was 8 years old, and how being intravenously fed at various points of my life really emphasized that to me. We also discussed her learning her mom’s Korean recipes, and I asked her how to help people find joy in eating.</p><p><br></