Love you, love your food
Let the sun rise on inclusive, anti-diet culture fun and support
Bonus post here: I’m constantly harping on the damage the wellness and entertainment industries do to all of us, so here’s a list of suggested social media accounts and books to help counteract all those people harshing your self-love buzz. I’ll try to add to it from time to time. Oh, and you can always follow me of course, on Instagram and Threads.
Some caveats:
I have not reviewed all posts or writings by these accounts and authors, and I can’t vouch for everything they say — they’re just things I follow and at least often agree with as of the last time I viewed them. You always need to default to your own medical team for any health and wellness advice specific to you.
Also, all of these accounts may talk about food, body image, mental health struggles, and disordered eating or exercising. Although following this kind of account can help normalize being a regular person (imagine that!) and assist in or maintain recovery, they can also be tough to look at even if the process pays off in time, and that’s why they can’t constitute your only plan. Seek appropriate mental and physical health care, reach out to friends and family you trust, and if you are in crisis, see some of the urgent resources at the bottom of the list.
The joy of food:
Black Forager / Alexis Nicole
Pasta Grannies, finding and filming making fresh pasta by hand using a bajillion unique techniques
Golden Hive Mead, Experiments in fermentation
Grace Elkus, beautiful, super fun and only mostly reasonable vegetarian food
America’s Test Kitchen always, always knows the best recipe for that.
King Arthur Baking always, always knows the best way to bake that, even if it’s gluten-free.
Chef Joshua McFadden, author of the stellar Six Seasons of Vegetables
The Snackolator, always the latest on snack foods far and wide
Doug Mack’s SnackStack, with the history and context of foods you didn’t even know you wanted to know about, but definitely, definitely do.
Non-diet nutrition accounts:
The Fat Nutritionist / Michelle Allison
Your Latina Dietitian, Dalina Soto, RD, LDN, anti-diet dietitian
Christy Harrison, MPH, RD, CDN, author of The Wellness Trap, and Anti-Diet
Fiona Sutherland, The Mindful Dietitian, trauma informed care
The Nutrition Tea, Shana Minei Spence, MS, RDN, CDN, non-diet, Black RD
Body neutrality and body positivity:
Anna Przy / Keep it up, Cutie
Healing Crayons (anti-diet art)
The Fat Athlete / Mia Braithwaite, size inclusive fitness
Sass and Cellulite / Kaitlyn, Confidence Coach
Suzanne Vinnik, size inclusive fashion design
Diets Don’t Work (HAES) / Debbie Lesko
Cool people being their weird selves so you can feel free to be your weird self, too:
Selina Smedsvik — art yarn homages to literature, offers a size-inclusive discount on project yarn
Elyse Meyers is probably my favorite person in the world, at least among people I don’t actually know.
Tanya Tarr, behavioral scientist, crochet toy enthusiast, Muay Thai badass
Who doesn’t love Hank Green and John Green?
Mexakitsch makes the most amazing resin Jell-O Mold sculptures.
Books:
If You Can’t Take the Heat: Tales of Food, Feminism, and Fury by Geraldine DeRuiter (see also her blog, The Everywhereist)
If you are in crisis, you deserve help.
There are people trained to listen without judgement to meet immediate needs, and connect you with resources going forward.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is 24/7 – Dial or text 988 if you or someone you know is in mental health crisis. There are resources for specific concerns and a chat function on their website.
Crisis Text Line is 24/7– Text HOME to 741-741. You can also chat or WhatsApp, links on the website.
The Trevor Project supports LGBTQ+ concerns 24/7– Call 866-488-7386 or Text START to 678-678 or access the chat function here.
ANAD’s Eating Disorder Helpline is open 9am-9pm CST, 1 (888)-375-7767, and you can email hello@anad.org