Thank you for this analysis! I like the idea of strategic hating! It’s going to be rough in these next few years, but I’m glad there is a group of dietitians that my values align with and I’m not alone!
You're absolutely not alone! Stay loud about what you care about and know that you have influence in your circle. I'm fully stepping into my "strategic hater" era and using my values as a North Star towards change. Thanks for reading!
Thank you Cara! Excellent, yet obviously disappointing, read! As a mom of a daughter with ADHD who was diagnosed as an adult herself with ADHD I am forever grateful for stimulants. They’ve given my daughter the ability to focus in school and actually work on skills. Without them, it’s difficult to have the body and brain regulation to work on finding ways to manage ADHD symptoms. I just wish I had these options when I was younger. Think of all the adults, especially women who are greatly under diagnosed with ADHD, that could have benefited, myself included! I believe one reason these numbers appear so large is because of awareness and the work that’s been done to help designate medication as a tool, not a magic fix.
Such a good point about awareness. Like yes, it’s true more people (adults and kids) are being diagnosed. I’m not here to dispute that. But when that is misconstrued as a means to justify this hostile takedown of public health protections, that’s when stories like yours matter more than ever. It doesn’t look the same for everyone, and meds shouldn’t be stigmatized. Thank you for sharing so candidly, and taking the time to read this piece!
Excellent work Cara. “Because what I think this is moving towards is an even more concentrated effort to frame food as the cure to all ills, rather than acknowledging that food can’t be and won’t be a replacement for medical treatment…” THAT part particularly.
Thanks Dawn, I appreciate you taking the time to read. The MAHA movement is seeping into the broader wellness landscape, including the Food Is Medicine space. Plenty of people already distrustful of modern medicine (some, rightfully so since we know this system can harm as much as it heals), and turning to food can feel like a powerful way to regain control. I'm still sorting out my thoughts on this, but it might be a topic for a future article!
I agree with you that food and health is absolutely political. I come from an agricultural background and the food politics thing was learned early. As someone in academia, mentions of DEIA will definitely be removed from curriculum and competencies, if they have not been already. It’ll be hard to train dietitians when our accreditation is stripped and our programs are shuttered due to this administrations unethical actions. We are all so worried and upset.
It's deeply concerning. Future dietitians have enough hurdles to cross as it is, but with the field remaining as homogenous as it is (80+% white women) it's not a place that feels safe for a lot of people of color or other marginalized identities.
Cara, I so appreciate your doing this. I am holding my concern for the next several years and it is heavy. Thank you for working toward food and body freedom for every person, especially the most marginalized in our communities.
Thank you Amanda, I so appreciate you taking the time to read. It helps when I see my values reflected back and shared with others in the field and beyond. It is heavy, but we are not alone and I'll keep doing what I can!
Thank you for this analysis! I like the idea of strategic hating! It’s going to be rough in these next few years, but I’m glad there is a group of dietitians that my values align with and I’m not alone!
You're absolutely not alone! Stay loud about what you care about and know that you have influence in your circle. I'm fully stepping into my "strategic hater" era and using my values as a North Star towards change. Thanks for reading!
Thank you Cara! Excellent, yet obviously disappointing, read! As a mom of a daughter with ADHD who was diagnosed as an adult herself with ADHD I am forever grateful for stimulants. They’ve given my daughter the ability to focus in school and actually work on skills. Without them, it’s difficult to have the body and brain regulation to work on finding ways to manage ADHD symptoms. I just wish I had these options when I was younger. Think of all the adults, especially women who are greatly under diagnosed with ADHD, that could have benefited, myself included! I believe one reason these numbers appear so large is because of awareness and the work that’s been done to help designate medication as a tool, not a magic fix.
Such a good point about awareness. Like yes, it’s true more people (adults and kids) are being diagnosed. I’m not here to dispute that. But when that is misconstrued as a means to justify this hostile takedown of public health protections, that’s when stories like yours matter more than ever. It doesn’t look the same for everyone, and meds shouldn’t be stigmatized. Thank you for sharing so candidly, and taking the time to read this piece!
Excellent work Cara. “Because what I think this is moving towards is an even more concentrated effort to frame food as the cure to all ills, rather than acknowledging that food can’t be and won’t be a replacement for medical treatment…” THAT part particularly.
Thanks Dawn, I appreciate you taking the time to read. The MAHA movement is seeping into the broader wellness landscape, including the Food Is Medicine space. Plenty of people already distrustful of modern medicine (some, rightfully so since we know this system can harm as much as it heals), and turning to food can feel like a powerful way to regain control. I'm still sorting out my thoughts on this, but it might be a topic for a future article!
I agree with you that food and health is absolutely political. I come from an agricultural background and the food politics thing was learned early. As someone in academia, mentions of DEIA will definitely be removed from curriculum and competencies, if they have not been already. It’ll be hard to train dietitians when our accreditation is stripped and our programs are shuttered due to this administrations unethical actions. We are all so worried and upset.
It's deeply concerning. Future dietitians have enough hurdles to cross as it is, but with the field remaining as homogenous as it is (80+% white women) it's not a place that feels safe for a lot of people of color or other marginalized identities.
Cara, I so appreciate your doing this. I am holding my concern for the next several years and it is heavy. Thank you for working toward food and body freedom for every person, especially the most marginalized in our communities.
-Amanda
Thank you Amanda, I so appreciate you taking the time to read. It helps when I see my values reflected back and shared with others in the field and beyond. It is heavy, but we are not alone and I'll keep doing what I can!