Real Nutrition Information Minus the Shame with Claire Chewning RDN
Are you team strict diet or team intuitive eating?
Or maybe, the team thing is kind of ridiculous. When it comes to nutrition, it often feels like we're stuck between two opposing camps: those who are all about strict diets and scientific nutrition, and those who advocate for intuitive eating. It’s like there’s an invisible line, and folks tend to stick to their side, often mocking the other without really engaging in meaningful dialogue.
Listen to the Episode Now
If this post resonates with you or makes you feel something, share it with a friend! My hope is that we can keep this important conversation going long after the post is over.
But reality isn’t that black and white. It’s not just about choosing between nutrition science and having a peaceful relationship with food. Nutrition science sometimes gets a bad rap because it’s often associated with restrictive diets. But not all of it is like that.
In this episode, I had the opportunity to chat with Claire Chewnig. In our conversation, she dives into nutrition science in a way that’s rooted in evidence but free from the constraints of restrictive dieting. We explored what "healthy" really means, shared practical tips for meal planning without restrictions, and discussed the basics of nutrition science.
So a bit about Claire. Claire Chewnig is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor who's not on board with restrictive diets. She’s the owner and founder of Yours Chewly Nutrition, a virtual private practice where she helps individuals heal from chronic dieting and disordered eating so that they can discover more peace, satisfaction, and trust in their relationships with food + body. Claire is also the RD Advisor for Health-Ade Kombucha where she educates both employees and consumers on all things gut health from an evidence-based, non-diet lens. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her either taking a walk on the beach near her house or glued to her Kindle reading a fiction novel.
In this episode, we’re talking about:
The dichotomy between nutrition science and intuitive eating camps.
The need to move beyond strict categorization and engage with different perspectives.
How nutrition science is not based on restrictive diets but on evidence.
The basics of nutrition science, defining "healthy," and practical meal planning tips.
A balanced approach to nutrition, including foods for enjoyment and satisfaction.
Addressing skepticism about "healthy" food choices and individualized nutritional needs.
The concept of macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) and their roles.
The "idea of threes" for meal and snack planning, focusing on food groups.
Viewing meal planning as a self-care practice to meet nutritional needs and reduce stress.
Meal planning should focus on nourishment, enjoyment, and satisfaction rather than strict rules or restrictions.
Also as a little note - we have a new fun way for you to interact with the podcast! You now have the option to send us audio recordings! Just scroll down in the show notes to find the link. Tell us what you love, and what you hate, or just introduce yourself. Your voice goes straight to me, and hey, if you're up for it, we might even share it with the world.
Tweetable Quotes
"A lot of times when we talk about either nutrition science or intuitive eating or relationship with food, it seems to be boiled down into two camps." - Rachelle Heinemann
"There's the nutrition science world and, you know, the science world. And then there's like this [concept of] intuitive eating, woo woo, spiritual, whatever you want to call it, like free for all going on on the other side. They're two separate worlds. " - Rachelle Heinemann
“The most basic thing that we have to make sure we're doing is eating enough and eating regularly throughout the day. Because if we're not doing that, then focusing on any like specific nutritional concept isn't really going to matter because our body's energy needs have to be met.” - Claire Chewning
“The bottom line is, if you're not getting enough food or your food with your relationship with food is chaotic like this restrict binge situation going on, like we haven't even gone the first step. And so going to step 10 is just kind of out of order and doesn't work.” - Rachelle Heinemann
"It is about so much more than the specific food choices that you're making." - Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
Connect with Claire on Instagram - @clairechewning
Connect with Claire on TikTok - @clairechewning
For additional information about how to work with Claire 1:1, join her monthly membership program, or enroll in one of her self-paced online courses, please visit www.clairechewning.com.
Grab the replay of my Basics of Assessment and Early Treatment of Eating Disorder Webinar
Related Episodes
Episode 114. What Every Therapist Wished Psychiatrists Knew About Eating Disorders
Episode 111. How To Eat When You Don’t Feel Like It
Episode 94. Unraveling the Truth: It's Not About the Food
Episode 87. Ultra Processed Food, Food Addiction and Eating Disorders with Dr. David Wiss
Episode 81. What Do I Do About My Emotional Eating?
Newsletter update: If you’re not already signed up for my newsletter, then I’m not sure what you’re waiting for! I’m ✨obsessed ✨ with it. In an effort to keep things fun and fresh, we’re going to monthly newsletters rather than weekly. If you have any feedback on what you want to see in the newsletters, reply back to one or send me a message!
Grab my FREEBIE!: As you navigate recovery, you may be feeling like something is missing. You're doing a lot of work challenging yourself with the food, your body, and exercise. You're probably working on lots of other things at the same time, like stuff at work or relationship issues.
But, still, something doesn't feel like you're getting to the bottom of it. Grab my free journal prompts below and begin to work through the emotions of healing.
More From Rachelle
Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
I believe in the power of deep work and its positive impact on your life in the long term. Learn more about how we can work together here.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter for even more!
You can connect with me on Instagram, through my website or email me directly clicking the links below.
Subscribe & Leave A Review!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can show your support by leaving a review, subscribing, or sharing with someone who may need help. Click here to open this show in iTunes and leave a five star rating and review.