Peace Meal

The Emily Program

Peace Meal covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking.

  1. 1D AGO

    Between Bites with Jillian Lampert: Mental Health Awareness Month

    Episode description: Many people are surprised to learn that eating disorders are mental health conditions. Media coverage tends to focus on the visible markers of these illnesses—weight changes, what someone eats or doesn't eat—and stops there. In this episode, Dr. Lampert breaks down the thoughts, feelings, and neurobiology beneath those physical and behavioral components, and why understanding eating disorders as a mental health condition matters for advocacy, recognition, and getting more people connected to care. We cover: How eating disorders affect both mental health and physical health Why eating disorders require specialized treatment and support Why medication approaches differ for eating disorders How to show up for someone who's struggling with their mental health About Dr. Jillian Lampert: Dr. Lampert (she/her), PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED, is the Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs for The Emily Program. She completed her doctorate degree in Nutrition and Epidemiology and Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition at the University of Vermont and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She has an expansive range of policy, clinical, research, education, teaching, and program development experience in the area of eating disorders. Learn more about The Emily Program online or by calling 1-888-364-5977.  Have a topic on your mind? We want Between Bites to speak to what matters most to you. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode, let us know! Your questions and ideas help shape the conversation. Email podcast@emilyprogram.com or send us a message on social. About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. Between Bites is a Peace Meal series of short, focused episodes hosted by Dr. Jillian Lampert and designed to offer quick insights and meaningful support for eating disorder recovery. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. You can also watch the podcast on YouTube. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    12 min

  2. APR 24

    Episode 104: What Every Parent Should Know About Body Image with Charlotte Markey

    Episode description: In this episode of Peace Meal, we welcome back Dr. Charlotte Markey to discuss the newly released second edition of her book, The Body Image Book for Girls, and what the latest body image research means for the young people in our lives. Charlotte reflects on how much has changed since the first edition, including the pandemic’s lasting impact on young people's mental health and a social media landscape that’s evolving faster than most adults can track—and what parents, caregivers, and clinicians can actually do to help amid it all. Central to that, says Charlotte, is being willing to examine your own relationship with food and bodies first. She and Jillian also explore what it looks like to help kids build a relationship with their bodies grounded in function and appreciation, and why it’s worth starting that conversation early. About Charlotte: Charlotte Markey, Ph.D., is a world-leading expert in body image research, having studied body image and eating behavior for nearly three decades. She is passionate about understanding what makes us feel good about our bodies and helping people to develop a healthy body image and relationship with food. Charlotte is an experienced book author, research scientist, clinician, speaker, and psychology professor at Rutgers University-Camden. Charlotte loves to talk with tweens, teens, parents, and educators about body image—and how to improve it. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Dan, and their dogs, Lexi and Zoe. For fun, she likes to run, travel, and read, and tries to visit with her son, Charlie, and her daughter, Grace, who are away at college living their best lives. We cover: What body image research has revealed since 2020 Why and how body image concerns affect people across all genders How parents can model a healthier relationship with their bodies How to talk about food at home without inadvertently moralizing it How to help kids think critically about influencers and curated online content In Charlotte’s words: On body image intergenerational transmission: “One of the best reasons I can think of for parents to work on their own body image is so that they don't pass down any of their own body image concerns to their kids. We do not need more intergenerational transmission of this stuff. So, what can parents do? Parents can be really thoughtful in terms of how they approach food in their household…[and] it’s so important that we’re not disparaging our own bodies. We want our kids to not internalize the inner monologue some of us have going on.” On moralizing food: “Parents will often say to me, 'Well, I don't want my kid just to eat, quote unquote junk. And I'll say, ‘Well, do you have to call it junk?’ Do we have to moralize food? Can food just be food? Can we just talk about food as a source of pleasure, a source of nourishment, a source of connection?” On the myth of the endlessly modifiable body: “So much of how we appear and our bodies look, and for that matter, how they function, is genetically determined. We are talking at least 50%, and there are some estimates that [say] weight is as much as 80% genetically determined. There are so many influences in the media and even just in our families that often suggest to us that we can change our bodies, we can do all these things. And you know, a lot of that is kind of deceptive, because a lot of how we are going to look is in our genetic blueprint. So this idea that we're sort of endlessly modifiable objects is really unfortunate.” Additional Resources: Listen to Charlotte’s previous Peace Meal episode. You can learn more about and purchase Charlotte’s body image books online. Find more of Charlotte’s writing on The Emily Program’s blog and on her Substack. You can also follow Charlotte on Instagram (@char_markey) and Facebook. About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    36 min

  3. APR 10

    Between Bites with Jillian Lampert: Co-Occurrence of SUDs & EDs

    Episode description: Research suggests that up to half of people with eating disorders also struggle with substance misuse, and about 35% of people with substance use disorder also have an eating disorder. In this episode, Jillian breaks down why these conditions so often overlap, what’s happening inside the brain when they do, and why treating them as separate issues can work against recovery. If you or someone you care about is navigating both an eating disorder and a substance use disorder, this episode is a useful place to start. As Jillian affirms, “It is never too late, and it is never too early to reach out for help.” We cover: Why SUDs and EDs co-occur as frequently as they do The role of shame in driving and maintaining these cycles How treatment is typically sequenced, and why that order matters Why going at it alone makes healing harder About Dr. Jillian Lampert: Dr. Lampert (she/her), PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED, is the Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs for The Emily Program. She completed her doctorate degree in Nutrition and Epidemiology and Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition at the University of Vermont and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She has an expansive range of policy, clinical, research, education, teaching, and program development experience in the area of eating disorders. Learn more about The Emily Program online or by calling 1-888-364-5977.  Have a topic on your mind? We want Between Bites to speak to what matters most to you. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode, let us know! Your questions and ideas help shape the conversation. Email podcast@emilyprogram.com or send us a message on social. About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. Between Bites is a Peace Meal series of short, focused episodes hosted by Dr. Jillian Lampert and designed to offer quick insights and meaningful support for eating disorder recovery. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. You can also watch the podcast on YouTube. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    9 min

  4. MAR 27

    Episode 103: Rethinking Nutrition in Recovery with Shena Washburn

    Episode description: Shena Washburn, Senior Director of Clinical Nutrition and Culinary Services at The Emily Program, joins us for a timely conversation about the newly released Food Guide Pyramid—what it says, what it doesn't, and what it means in the context of eating disorder recovery. Together, Shena and Jillian explore how public nutrition messaging can reinforce the kind of food hierarchies and moral judgments that make recovery harder, how eating disorder treatment approaches nutrition differently, and what the role of a dietitian in eating disorder care looks like. About Shena: Shena Washburn is the Senior Director of Clinical Nutrition and Culinary Services at The Emily Program, with over 15 years of experience in nutrition, mental health, and eating disorders. As a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Consultant (CEDS-C) through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP), Shena leads efforts to advance the integration of nutrition and culinary services within eating disorder care. Her clinical interests include sports nutrition, digestive health, nutrition-focused physical exam, mindfulness-based approaches, and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). In addition to her leadership role, Shena is passionate about supporting individuals in developing a balanced and sustainable relationship with food, movement, and their bodies. She is equally dedicated to fostering collaborative, multidisciplinary care, with a strong focus on mentoring professionals, improving systems, and cultivating leadership within her teams. Outside of work, Shena enjoys dancing, gardening, and spending time with her two young children. We cover: How and why nutrition messaging has shifted from the 1990s Food Guide Pyramid to today's inverted triangle The moral weight our culture places on food, and how that complicates recovery What “all foods fit” means in eating disorder treatment Why the work of an eating disorder dietitian is similar to that of an archaeologist What Shena would change about cultural nutrition messaging In Shena’s words: On why she became an eating disorder dietitian: "I sought out eating disorder care as a dietitian because I don't like to tell people what not to eat… We're here to help you repair the relationship with food and get curious about messaging and curious about your body's needs.” On what public nutrition messaging can't capture: "These public guidelines are population-level tools. They don't know you, they don't know me… This is where that 'all foods fit' comes in...It doesn't mean nutrition doesn't matter. It means food shouldn't be governed by fear and by morality." On approaching nutrition in eating disorder care: "The focus is more on restoring nutritional adequacy, consistent eating patterns, metabolic stability, and flexibility with food… We work to deconstruct a lot of the morality that gets assigned to food and eating." About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    36 min

  5. MAR 13

    Between Bites with Jillian Lampert: National Nutrition Month

    Episode description: March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is "Discover the Power of Nutrition." For folks struggling with an eating disorder or navigating recovery, the word "nutrition" can feel powerfully loaded. Eating disorders disrupt your ability to nourish yourself—to eat consistently, to eat enough, to eat with variety and flexibility. Diet culture makes that even harder, reinforcing the idea that food is something to earn or control. In this episode, Jillian talks about what it looks like to reclaim nutrition in recovery, and how the work of nutritional rehabilitation, as hard as it is, can ultimately move you toward a more peaceful and empowering relationship with food. We cover: What makes nutritional rehabilitation so difficult How diet culture can keep people stuck The role of an eating disorder dietitian in recovery About Dr. Jillian Lampert: Dr. Lampert (she/her), PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED, is the Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs for The Emily Program. She completed her doctorate degree in Nutrition and Epidemiology and Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition at the University of Vermont and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She has an expansive range of policy, clinical, research, education, teaching, and program development experience in the area of eating disorders. Learn more about The Emily Program online or by calling 1-888-364-5977.  Have a topic on your mind? We want Between Bites to speak to what matters most to you. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode, let us know! Your questions and ideas help shape the conversation. Email podcast@emilyprogram.com or send us a message on social. About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. Between Bites is a Peace Meal series of short, focused episodes hosted by Dr. Jillian Lampert and designed to offer quick insights and meaningful support for eating disorder recovery. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. You can also watch the podcast on YouTube. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    10 min

  6. FEB 27

    Episode 102: Learning Self-Love in Recovery with Jason Peterson

    Episode description: In this episode of Peace Meal, Jason shares his story of recovering from an eating disorder as a male, including why, after more than 25 years of recovery, he felt called to share his story publicly. Jason traces the roots of his eating disorder back to the weight-cutting culture of competitive wrestling in high school, where restrictive and binge eating cycles were normalized and even encouraged by coaching staff. Those patterns followed him into college, where isolation and stress deepened his struggles. Without many resources or relatable voices to turn to, Jason navigated much of his recovery on his own. Today, Jason channels the wisdom of his journey into raising his two young daughters with open conversations about feelings, balanced approaches to food, and a foundation of unconditional love. His message to anyone still fighting in silence: you are loved, you are enough, and recovery is possible. About Jason: Jason Peterson is an advocate for eating disorder awareness—especially among males. He is passionate about sailing, meditation, and gratitude. If you are interested in connecting with Jason, you can send him an email at Jasgooday@gmail.com. Read Jason’s previous guest blog for The Emily Program: A Letter To Those Fighting in Silence. We cover: The role of competitive sports culture in the development of eating disorders The unique challenges males face in seeking help and feeling seen How self-affirmation practices can support recovery The importance of modeling emotional openness and a balanced relationship with food for kids In Jason’s words: On the impact of his self-affirmation practice: "I started to put sticky notes up and around my dorm room, literally like, 'you are loved.' Honestly, it was those notes that helped me truly [feel] like, ‘okay, I’m going to make it through one more day’ and ‘let’s just take it one day at a time.’” On promoting self-worth and self-love with his daughters: “Having open conversations, really of just sharing your feelings, you can cry, you can have all these different emotions, helping you regulate emotions…that is what I've been doing for them. Having that [kind of] support at four, five, six, seven, it’s instrumental. My oldest is in competitive dance, and it’s really important to know that it’s not about winning the competition. It’s about loving yourself, and just doing your best every day and having fun, you know, bringing joy. It's a gift that you're able to even do this…That's the attitude that we're taking and that she embraces.” On the possibility of recovery and moving forward: "I have compassion for [anyone who feels like recovery isn’t possible], because I went through that. I was in that chair where I didn’t know how to get up. We tell ourselves these things that are limiting beliefs. [Try to] catch that and replace it with an empowering belief that ‘it is possible.’ Even if it feels like a lie…yes, I have the possibility to no longer have [the eating disorder] be a part of my life and to have more connection, more peace, more calm. Have grace for yourself, one day at a time, one hour at a time, and just keep repeating it.” About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    26 min

  7. FEB 13

    Between Bites with Jillian Lampert: Why Recover?

    Episode description: Recovery is hard work. Eating disorders are tenacious illnesses that fight to stick around, convincing you they’re keeping you safe even as they chip away at your joy, health, and freedom. When you’re in the thick of your healing work, it’s natural to ask yourself, “Why am I doing this again?” In this episode, Jillian validates the natural ebb and flow of recovery motivation while exploring the many reasons to keep going. You'll find practical tools for the tough moments, and hear why people who’ve walked this path say it’s both the hardest and the best thing they’ve ever done. We cover: Why eating disorders can feel protective Why your reasons for recovery are uniquely yours (and allowed to shift) Strategies you can return to when recovery ambivalence shows up About Dr. Jillian Lampert: Dr. Lampert (she/her), PhD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED, is the Vice President of Strategy and Public Affairs for The Emily Program. She completed her doctorate degree in Nutrition and Epidemiology and Master of Public Health degree in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Minnesota. She earned a Master of Science degree in Nutrition at the University of Vermont and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. She has an expansive range of policy, clinical, research, education, teaching, and program development experience in the area of eating disorders. Learn more about The Emily Program online or by calling 1-888-364-5977.  Have a topic on your mind? We want Between Bites to speak to what matters most to you. If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode, let us know! Your questions and ideas help shape the conversation. Email podcast@emilyprogram.com or send us a message on social. About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. Between Bites is a Peace Meal series of short, focused episodes hosted by Dr. Jillian Lampert and designed to offer quick insights and meaningful support for eating disorder recovery. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. You can also watch the podcast on YouTube. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    9 min

  8. JAN 30

    Episode 101: Helping Kids Build a Peaceful Relationship with Food with Gretchen Wallace

    Episode description: In this episode of Peace Meal, dietitian Gretchen Wallace joins us to explore how we can protect the next generation’s relationship with food. Together, we unpack why body image struggles in adolescence shouldn’t be dismissed as a harmless phase—and why the fact that these struggles are common doesn’t mean they’re acceptable or something young people should simply have to endure. Gretchen sheds light on the environmental influences that shape kids’ views of food and bodies, from developmentally inappropriate health class curricula to the highly curated world of social media. She challenges the idea that nutrition should feel like a math problem, offering a more compassionate, body-trusting framework instead. With warmth and wisdom, Gretchen outlines a hopeful, practical roadmap for families—one that emphasizes supportive boundaries, curiosity, and compassion as the foundation for lasting food freedom. About Gretchen: Gretchen Wallace, MS, RD, LD (she/her) has worked in the eating disorder field since 2016, with extensive experience treating adolescents and young adults. She has served in a variety of settings—including college campuses and eating disorder treatment facilities—and has developed early intervention programs. Today, she offers her services through her own private practice in St. Louis, Missouri. Gretchen’s practice style is evidence-based and collaborative, grounded in the belief that her clients know themselves best. Her sessions focus on understanding what each person is experiencing, identifying what they want to change, and partnering with them to work toward those goals. When she’s not with clients, Gretchen enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs (Rita and Barry), trying new restaurants, hiking, camping, or catching up on a favorite TV show. We cover: Why parents and caregivers are “a necessary and vital part” of the treatment team The dangers of normalizing adolescent body dissatisfaction and restrictive eating patterns Why certain health class activities can cause unintended harm What it means to shift from “math-based” nutrition toward internal body trust How to curate your social media feed to support recovery values Why the first step toward recovery doesn’t have to be a “giant swoop” In Gretchen’s words: On the myth that body‑dissatisfaction is just part of growing up: “There is so much…almost pro-eating disorder content all around us…pro-dieting, pro-trying to change your body, hating our bodies, or seeing our bodies as wrong. I've had parents say, ‘Isn't that just what teenagers have? Isn't that just normal?’ And to that I say: normal doesn't mean good. Normal doesn't mean ideal. It is so incredibly normal for teenagers and young adults to struggle with body image, and sometimes we don't just grow out of that. Oftentimes, that can follow us throughout life.” On health class lessons that miss the mark: “I’ve heard health classes talking about making kids calorie count or…calculating their ideal BMI. All of that is building these skills [that] we don’t actually want kids to have. I don’t need kids worrying about their weight and their BMI. I need kids learning to trust their body, learning to understand what feels good and what doesn’t feel good…When we can help kids actually cue into their body, we're giving them these life skills that they can use forever.” On the challenge—and ultimate reward—of recovery: “You’re essentially forging an entirely new path up a mountain...it’s going to feel more difficult than staying with your eating disorder. [But] once that path is forged and you figured out your way to the top without your eating disorder, the next time, it’s not as hard; the trail is there...And after a while, the eating disorder path is going to grow over and be the harder trail to go up.” Additional Resources: Gretchen maintains a regularly updated list of anti-diet, body-inclusive social media accounts and newsletters on her Substack, The Full Life. Explore the list: Anti-Diet Online Resources. About the podcast: Peace Meal is a podcast hosted by The Emily Program that covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking. You can find Peace Meal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube Music. If you enjoy our show, please rate, review, subscribe, and tell your friends! Are you interested in being a guest on Peace Meal? Email podcast@emilyprogram.com for more information.

    37 min
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4.7
out of 5
72 Ratings

About

Peace Meal covers topics related to eating disorders, body image, and how society may influence our thinking.

Information

  • Creator
    The Emily Program
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Peace Meal

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