When we struggle in our relationship with food it can greatly impact our quality of life. Individuals often experience restriction, compulsions, avoidance, checking and  engaging in safety behaviors because of having a fear around a certain food, or food aversion. Food fears and food avoidance are often significant components of eating disorders, OCD and phobias.

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Food fears and food avoidance can be the result of:

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• Having had a previous negative experience with food

• An adverse reaction to the experience of eating itself

• Concerns around the possible consequences of eating

• Negative sensory experiences such as the feel of textures, the taste, and smells of food, the sound of eating or the sight of food

• Strict rules around the experience of eating

• Concerns with the impact that food can have on the body

 

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an evidence-based treatment for the treatment of food fears and food avoidance. Through food exposure we are able to teach the brain new information by having the individual confront feared stimuli without engaging in compulsive behaviors. By engaging in response prevention, individuals can develop confidence in their ability to tolerate discomfort and uncertainty. Challenging your food fears and healing your relationship with food, will help you reconnect with your values and aspirations improving your quality of life.

 

The Benefits of Working with an OCD and Eating Disorders Dietitian Nutritionist

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• Optimize your energy, mood, and sleep by learning to enjoy all foods that you love without depriving yourself.

• Cultivate awareness, curiosity and compassion for yourself, behaviors, patterns, and thoughts regarding food choices and amounts.

• Develop a personalized and flexible nutrition plan to optimize your overall well-being. This may include meal and snack timing and suggestions, hunger and fullness awareness, how to increase satisfaction and pleasure from food, gentle nutrition information that can be used as a guideline for making food decisions, how to cultivate a positive relationship with food and your body.