As summer approaches, diet culture messaging often gets louder. Friends, family, and social media may push the idea that our bodies need to change to be “summer ready.” For those struggling with eating disorders, these messages can be especially harmful and may reinforce thoughts that recovery is working to challenge. A reminder that your body does not need fixing. It deserves care, nourishment, and respect. You deserve a summer filled with laughter, connection, food, and making memories. Do not let your eating disorder take away the moments you deserve this summer.

Something I hear often from clients is, “If I just lose a little more weight or reach this number, my eating disorder voice won’t be so loud.” What I remind them of is that this is the dangling carrot that the eating disorder uses to keep them feeling trapped.  It convinces them that once they reach a certain goal, they’ll be free from the food rules and negative self-talk and finally able to relax. But when they get there, the goalpost moves again… and again! If you have been on this rollercoaster before or are currently on it, you know how exhausting it is.

Our owner, Maggie Stenson, MCN, RD, LD, CEDS-C, had the pleasure of attending the Empowered Treatment Open House yesterday. Empowered is a locally owned eating disorder intensive outpatient program created to serve adults seeking a more intimate, clinician-designed treatment model. Their program focuses not only on healing behaviors around food but also addressing the underlying factors that contribute to those behaviors. We’re honored to spotlight organizations making a meaningful impact in our community.

At ATX Nutritional Counseling, we are passionate about the work we do, from individual nutritional counseling to public speaking and professional collaboration. Our goal is to provide thoughtful, high-quality care to every person and organization we work with. We are incredibly grateful for the clients and professionals who trust us to walk alongside them in their journey toward healing, growth, and a more peaceful relationship with food.

Our owner, Maggie Stenson MCN, RD, LD, CEDS-C was recently featured in the January edition of Georgetown Neighbors magazine. Georgetown Neighbors is a local publication of Best Version Media whose mission is to connect people to local families, trusted businesses, and upcoming events, so they never miss what’s happening in their community. Each month, the magazine is delivered to homes across Georgetown and highlights the people, stories, and places that make this community so special.

This past Friday, Dr. Lutter spoke at the CTEDS Monthly Meeting about the role genetic mutations can play in increasing the risk of developing an eating disorder. Dr. Lutter is the owner of Precision Psychiatry in Dallas, where he is doing incredible work using genetic sequencing to better understand and support individuals with eating disorders. Dr. Lutter and Maggie worked together at Eating Recovery Center in Dallas from 2017 to 2019, so it was especially nice to reconnect and hear more about the impactful work he’s doing.

As we start a new month, we are looking back at some of our favorite meals we have made over the month of February. We know meal planning isn’t always easy. Balancing different taste preferences, ever-changing schedules, and plain old decision fatigue can take the joy out of figuring out what’s for dinner. Our hope is that these ideas spark a little inspiration and help make planning your meals feel simpler and more doable this week.

February is Eating Disorder Awareness Month (EDAM), a time dedicated to shining a light on the profound impact eating disorders have on individuals of all ages and backgrounds. EDAM exists to promote early intervention, expand access to compassionate, evidence-based care, and remind those who are struggling that recovery is possible. As this month comes to a close, we want to reflect on the broader picture by looking at a few statistics that highlight just how deeply eating disorders affect our communities.

If you live in Austin or really any major city in Texas, chances are an H-E-B isn’t far away. It’s where I buy most of our groceries, and over time I’ve discovered several convenience food items that have become true staples in our kitchen. Convenience foods often get a bad reputation. But in real life, they can be incredibly supportive. They expand access to a wider variety of foods, save a ton of time, and reduce the mental load of figuring out how to prep meals for yourself or your family.  Here are a few of my favorite options for veggie, protein, and carb sources!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, so in honor of this day that celebrates love and connection, we want to take some time to talk about cultivating self-love through promoting positive body image. As you navigate social media, diet talk amongst friends and family, and a myriad of other triggers, it can feel difficult to maintain a state of positivity around body image. To help counter this, here are 3 tips to help you cultivate a more positive relationship with your body and some self-love this Valentine’s Day!