Nutrition Therapy

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At Magnolia Creek, we provide holistic treatment by addressing the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of each woman in our care. We believe that “all foods fit”, meaning there are no “bad” foods and there’s room for all foods. Our holistic approach allows us to help our clients redevelop and re-learn to honor their hunger and fullness cues and to understand that all body types were created for a purpose.

Within 48 hours of admission to Magnolia Creek, clients meet with a registered dietitian for their initial nutrition assessment that includes the development of an individualized meal plan tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. After completion of the initial nutrition assessment, clients meet weekly with their dietitian for 30-90 minutes to discuss any nutrition-related topics ranging from education of macro nutrients to discussing the functions of their eating disorder to developing acceptance/tolerance of their current body as it restores weight. As progress is made, clients gain freedom and responsibility related to meal planning, portioning, and preparing meals and snacks.

Meal Guidelines

The Magnolia Creek dietitians create individualized meal plans based on each client’s specific nutritional needs. All clients participate in three meals and three snacks per day, as eating consistently provides several advantages, including, but not limited to blood sugar regulation, appetite regulation, and metabolism restoration.

Magnolia Creek allows each client to maintain some level of flexibility within their meal plan. After clients receive their prescribed meal plan, they can choose what they would prefer to have at breakfast and their three snacks based on their individualized meal plan. This approach helps clients learn to be flexible when it comes to their food choices and allows them to practice choosing to eat what they are craving in the moment.

Regarding lunch and dinner meals, Magnolia Creek honors allergies when medical documentation is provided prior to or upon admission. Once a week, clients can choose to substitute a “lunch-box meal” for one entire meal (clients may not substitute desserts which are offered two to three times per week). A lunch-box meal consists of a peanut butter or almond butter and jelly sandwich, a meat and cheese sandwich, or a grilled cheese sandwich with a fruit and vegetable side. After the dietitian reviews the weekly lunch and dinner menus, clients and other staff members do not make changes to the menus. Each client receives a copy of their approved menu for each week.

Nutrition Therapy Components

All clients participate in a cooking group with our Magnolia Creek chef on Wednesday mornings, where they can suggest meals and desserts they’d like to learn to prepare. During the cooking group, clients learn proper food preparation techniques and have hands-on experience with meal and dessert preparation. As clients move forward in their recovery processes, they also can participate in one-on-one classes with the chef and help with daily lunch and dinner preparation.

Staff members perform blind weigh-ins on clients upon admission and every morning of each client’s stay. The weigh-ins are completed in private on a balanced scale.

Unless otherwise recommended, clients are prescribed to drink 16 ounces of water with meals and eight ounces of water with snacks. Clients may also have up to three additional bottles of water throughout the day if desired. Magnolia Creek’s dieticians may also prescribe milk, soy milk, Ensure, Powerade, or fruit juice for clients to drink in addition to the water requirements.
Each week as part of our daily nutrition groups, clients who are medically approved attend group meal and snack outings with Magnolia Creek’s dieticians and staff counselors. Clients practice dining in public, eating food prepared by unknown people, determining appropriate portions, and ordering challenging foods. Dieticians provide instruction and/or portion size recommendations as needed.
Magnolia Creek’s dieticians and physician work collaboratively to establish an appropriate exercise regimen for each client based on her physical assessment, current nutritional status, and identified treatment needs. We offer a variety of exercise options including yoga, mindful movement, gentle movement, and walking.
Kate Fisch headshot - Magnolia Creek

REVIEWED BY

Kate Fisch, LCSW

Kate Fisch is the AVP of Clinical Operations for Odyssey’s Eating Disorder Network. With 17 years of clinical leadership and direct client care experience in the eating disorders field, she has a history of innovation, clinical training, and resource development in a variety of eating disorder treatment settings supporting families, clients, and clinicians.

If you’d like to learn more about nutrition therapy or our other treatment offerings, our caring staff is ready to help. Call us or fill out the form to get started today.

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