Dietetics Beyond the Meal Plan: A Trauma-Informed Nutritional Approach to Eating Disorder Recovery & Gut Health with Sarah Elder

In this episode of the Full of Beans Podcast, Han is joined by Sarah Elder, a registered eating disorder dietitian and advanced clinical practitioner, to explore the real role of dietitians in eating disorder recovery.Together, we unpack what it means to offer trauma-informed, compassionate, and culturally appropriate nutritional care, far beyond simply providing meal plans. Sarah also shares her mission to make ED nutrition education more accessible and effective for all professionals working in the field.Key Takeaways:Why eating disorder dietitians do so much more than write meal plansThe difference between nutrition education and psychoeducationWhat trauma-informed nutritional care looks like in practiceThe impact of GI issues in recovery and how dietitians can helpWhy collaborative, values-based support is essential for long-term healingThe importance of cultural and personal context in meal planningWhy Sarah believes “real food” must reflect real people’s livesTimestamps:04:30 – Why trauma-informed, accessible ED nutrition training matters 08:00 – Psychoeducation vs. nutrition education in recovery 13:00 – GI issues during recovery & how to approach them 16:45 – What trauma-informed care means in practice 23:40 – Challenges of restrictive diets & misunderstood advice 27:00 – Collaborating with therapy & OT teams in care 29:00 – Dismantling the fear of seeing a dietitian 32:10 – Standard meal plans vs. individualised support 36:30 – Cultural food practices and integration in recovery Trigger warning: This episode discusses eating disorders and gastrointestinal distress.Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereConnect with Sarah:Sarah's Website Sarah's Instagram (@saraheldernutrition)Read our latest blog hereFurther Resources: First Steps EDThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛