Virtual Community Meal Support Group

When:

  • Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 pm ET, for 6 consecutive weeks

  • Anticipated start date is March 14, 2023

Where:

  • Virtual, via Zoom

Facilitated by:

  • Molly Root, MS, RD, CD

Cost:

  • $120 for series (series is 6 sessions)

 

Description

Join Molly Root for six weeks of supported meals and find community and connection with others who are also in eating disorder recovery.

Molly is a registered dietitian who since 2019, has been dedicated to helping individuals struggling with eating disorders heal their relationship with food and their bodies. She practices from a non-diet, weight-inclusive approach, is a proponent of Health At Every Size (HAES®) and Intuitive Eating, and has experience working at several different levels of care including PHP, IOP, and outpatient. 

Each week participants will meet to share a meal and conversation during the virtual meal support group. Molly will guide group members on setting meal intentions and will facilitate check ins at the start and end of the meal. Participants are encouraged to seek support from the facilitator and community at any point during the meal, and to connect with one another as you might if you were sitting across the table from each other. At the end, there will be a time for reflection on the meal experience which may be shared openly with others, if desired. 

(We do not collect payment information at pre-registration. Payment will be due once the start date has been confirmed.)

This group is a good fit for you if…

  • You are mostly stable in your eating disorder recovery but could benefit from increased accountability, connection, and support at meal times.

  • You would benefit from setting meal intentions and deepening your awareness of your meal experience to gain insight into how thoughts and physical sensations influence your behaviors.

  • You’re completing 90-100% of the meal plan recommended by your treatment team, and are not skipping meals and snacks frequently.

  • With the support of your treatment team, you are working on honoring your hunger and fullness when eating.

  • You enjoy and feel comfortable socializing with others at meal times.

This group is probably not the best fit for individuals who…

  • Are not stable in their eating disorder recovery and are engaging in behaviors on a frequent basis.

  • Are struggling to complete meals that are appropriate for their individual needs, or are not completing their meal plans (if following one) as recommended by their treatment team.

  • Rely heavily on food rituals to get through a meal or snack.

Meal Support FAQs

What to expect during the virtual support meal:

Please come with your meal prepared and ready to eat! Before the meal starts, the facilitator will briefly review group guidelines for any new members and everyone will be given several minutes to prepare for the meal to start. During this preparation time we’ll ask you to set an intention for your meal (with the option of sharing with the group), and offer techniques you can use to gently bring yourself to the present and feel more grounded at the start of the meal. 

Meals will last for 1 hour. Once you are finished eating, you can choose to stay on if you find it helpful to remain in the supported environment or if you are just enjoying the conversation. If you need to go, you can log off before the hour is up.

What are the differences between a support meal and a therapeutic meal?

There are a few things that make a support meal (what we offer) different from a therapeutic meal or group. Individualized guidance on what or how much to eat, or any other specific dietary interventions are not offered by the facilitator in a support meal. We also won’t be processing in detail any eating disorder behaviors that occurred during the meal. What we do offer is:

  • An environment in which individuals who are working on healing their relationship with food are encouraged to eat a meal that is appropriate for their individual needs

  • Support from the facilitator and community if you are struggling with a part of the meal, or with continuing to work towards your meal intention 

  • Time for reflection on your meal experience, which may be shared with others if you choose

  • A space to focus on one main goal: nourishing your body

Who can participate in this virtual meal support group?

Individuals 18+, all gender identities welcome. All participants must be established with a treatment team that consists at minimum of a therapist and registered dietitian, unless otherwise discussed with the facilitator.

Things that may come up during the meal:

>> What if I finish my meal and am still hungry?

Then by all means, get more food! We encourage checking in with hunger and fullness cues, your meal intention, and any other goals you have for yourself or with your treatment team when it comes to navigating what to have for a meal. If after you’ve finished what you’ve plated, you notice you are still hungry or are unsatisfied, you can decide if you’d like to add more to your meal. 

>> What if I don’t finish my meal?

If you don’t finish a meal, we encourage you to get curious as to why this is and let your treatment team know. If you are struggling to complete meals each week, the facilitator will reach out to discuss whether continuing with the meal support group is appropriate at that time. If you are working with your team on individual goals that may lead to not finishing a meal or meals, please let the facilitator know this ahead of time. 

>> What if I finish eating quickly, or take longer than 1 hour to finish my meal?

When it comes to eating, there is no one “right” pace that everyone should follow. Whether it takes you 20 minutes or 40 minutes to eat a meal, if you are checking in with and responding to your hunger and fullness cues, and tuning into the experience of what it is like to eat that particular food (the taste, texture, etc) you are practicing being more attuned with your body’s needs. How much time it takes you to complete a meal may also vary based on how hungry or full you are going in, how the food is prepared, where you are having it, who you are having it with, what kind of day you had, etc. If you notice that you are consistently trying to get through meals as quickly as possible, or have them take as long as possible, we encourage you to speak with your treatment team about why this may be.

>>Can I leave my video off while I’m eating?

While we understand it may feel funny to eat a meal on camera we ask that all participants leave their video cameras on (and that they themselves are visible) during support meals. This is to foster connection amongst meal participants and mimic (to the extent possible) being seated together around a table sharing a meal and conversation with a group of people. 

>> I could use support at meals but eating in a group feels too overwhelming, do you offer individual meal support?

If you are interested in eating a meal in a supported environment but are uncertain about the group setting, the clinicians at ThrivInspired Nutrition offer one-on-one therapeutic meal support as part of nutrition counseling services. Contact us to learn more about this service.

What if I have a question that was not addressed here?

Contact us! We are happy to answer any additional questions you have via email.

The Fine Print:

  • This is not a treatment group. It does not constitute mental health, medical, or nutrition counseling or advice.

  • Participation in this group does not constitute a provider-patient relationship.

  • This service is not reimbursable by insurance.

  • This group is a place for community, connection, conversation, personal exploration, and reprieve from the diet culture we are inundated with in most other areas of life.  

  • Must be 18 or older to participate.

  • All payments are final.