Wondering if it’s okay to help your child lose weight? A dietitian explains why intentional weight loss can be harmful and what to do instead to support your child’s health, growth, and body image.

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time not just for awareness but for acceptance, access, and care that respects the full range of neurodivergent experiences. This month, we're focusing on common barriers to nourishment, such as executive dysfunction, sensory sensitivities, and burnout. We're also highlighting how flexible systems, collaborative care, and autonomy-centered support can make eating more doable and less stressful.

The "Clean Plate Club" is a habit many of us grew up with — being told to finish every bite on our plate, regardless of how full we felt. While this practice was often encouraged with good intentions, it can disconnect us from our natural hunger and fullness cues, making it harder to eat in a way that truly nourishes our bodies.

Does it often feel overwhelming to think about nutrition or food? Is it hard to keep up with the latest health recommendations? Food doesn’t have to be challenging or boring to be “healthy.” In fact, we may be making things worse for ourselves by focusing on the little things with every new suggestion that gets thrown our way.

Eating disorder treatment is not one-size-fits-all — it’s tailored to meet each person’s unique needs. From outpatient care to inpatient hospitalization, understanding the levels of care can help you or a loved one find the right support. Early intervention is key, and you don’t need to meet any threshold of “severity” to seek help. Recovery is possible for everyone, and building a multidisciplinary treatment team — including a doctor, therapist, and dietitian — can make a significant difference.

Living with PCOS can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating hormonal imbalances and the wide range of symptoms they can bring. However, understanding your body and implementing small, intentional changes can create a supportive foundation for managing PCOS and promoting balance.