What to Expect in Nutrition Therapy: A Guide for New Clients

Understanding Your Body’s Nutritional Needs

Many clients come to nutrition therapy feeling confused about what and how much food their body needs. Together, we may explore:

• The role of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) in supporting health.

• How to recognize and honor hunger and fullness cues—without guilt or fear.

• The impact of chronic restriction, binging, purging, and chronic dieting on metabolism, digestion, and energy levels.

• The process of reintroducing adequate nourishment after a period of restrictive eating.

Understanding how food fuels and supports your body can be a foundational step in repairing trust with food.

How Food Behaviors Affect Your Body

Eating disorders and disordered eating patterns can have physiological effects that go beyond weight changes. In nutrition therapy, we may discuss:

• Symptoms of malnourishment and refeeding, and what to expect when your body begins to recover.

• The effects of laxative and diuretic use, including dehydration, nutrient loss, and damage to digestive function.

• The relationship between food and metabolism—debunking myths around metabolism “speeding up” or “slowing down” due to certain diets or eating behaviors.

• How restriction, bingeing, and purging influence hydration shifts and fluctuations in body weight, often contributing to distress around the number on the scale.

By understanding how food behaviors affect the body, we can shift away from fear-based eating patterns and work toward sustainable nourishment.

Honoring Hunger, Fullness, and Emotional Needs

Many individuals struggle to differentiate between physical hunger and emotional hunger. In nutrition therapy, we explore:

• How to distinguish between physical and emotional (can also be understood as neurochemical) hunger and the role each plays in your life.

• How to respond to both types of hunger without shame or restriction.

• Ways to develop greater ease with eating in social settings, reducing anxiety around food choices or judgment.

• The natural set-point weight range and how body weight is regulated beyond just calories in vs. calories out.

The goal is not just to “fix” eating habits, but to create a relationship with food that feels nourishing, flexible, and intuitive.

Bridging Nutrition Therapy and Mental Health Work

Since eating disorders and disordered eating often have deep emotional roots, we work collaboratively with therapists to support healing. Topics that often arise include:

• Exploring how your experiences, identity, and social influences have shaped your relationship with food and body.

• Developing psychological and emotional flexibility with food, reducing rigid thinking around eating.

• Understanding the link between body image distress and food behaviors, and how to cultivate a more neutral or positive body image.

• Addressing how social and cultural systems influence eating disorder development, including diet culture, weight stigma, and unrealistic beauty standards.

Healing involves more than food—it requires addressing beliefs, emotions, and social influences that have shaped how you eat and view your body.

Practical Skills for Everyday Life

For many clients, learning how to navigate real-life food situations is key to recovery. In nutrition therapy, we may cover:

• Meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking skills that make nourishing yourself feel less overwhelming.

• Nutritional supplement needs and how to determine whether they’re beneficial.

• How to build a personalized food and exercise philosophy that supports health and well-being—without rigidity.

We also discuss eating to support movement and exercise in ways that feel energizing rather than punishing. Whether you’re an athlete or simply want to feel good in your body, we can explore how to fuel movement without restriction or rules.

Nutrition Therapy As A Step Toward Healing

At Nurtured Nutrition, our goal is not just to teach nutrition but to help you build a peaceful, sustainable relationship with food and your body. Every session is tailored to your unique needs, whether you’re recovering from an eating disorder, healing from chronic dieting, or simply wanting to feel more at ease with food.

Are You Ready to Take the Next Step?

We’re here to support you with compassionate, individualized care. If you’re ready to start nutrition therapy or want to learn more about how it can support your journey, we’d love to connect.