Ask a Registered Dietitian: An Interview with Maria @vitamin_ri
- Eleanor Wohl
- May 14, 2022
- 5 min read
One of the most fraught topics in the United States is food. There's external pressures ("Billie Eilish is vegan, so should I be too?!") and internal ones ("I have to eat X, so I can be Y"). Throw in a multi-billion dollar industry that profits off of your self doubt ( 👀 👀, Diet Industry) and it's a lot to navigate!
I was lucky enough to sit down with local RD (Registered Dietitian) Maria Sylvester Terry to talk about the relationship between nutrition and mental health.
Even more exciting news to share: Maria will be at Self Love Club! That's right, Maria will be joining the panel on self-love to talk about nutrition, self-care, and all things health. Read on to get a preview and come on down to Self Love Club on June 4 to meet her in person!
Hello! Let’s start with introductions: what’s your name and what do you do?
My name is Maria Sylvester Terry; you can call me Ri! I am a registered dietitian in New Orleans and run my own private practice for local and virtual clients. I work with folks who are looking to improve their relationship with food after periods of chronic dieting or years of hearing harmful diet culture messaging.
Many of my clients are looking to unlearn the habits that are not serving their physical or mental health and learn how they can implement nutritional changes in a positive, non-diet way.
My goal is to make nutrition stress-free so you can live your most energetic life.
It’s pretty well known that there’s a connection between eating disorders and nutrition, but I think people don’t necessarily think about how much mental health can impact nutrition in other ways. How do you see things like depression, anxiety, and ADHD impacting a client’s nutrition?
This is so true! Nutrition can become easily complicated for any one of us, even more so when we are struggling with any of the situations you mentioned. Most notably, having a routine can feel difficult to start or stick with.
Many of my clients struggle with maintaining a routine that fits their needs; they're often juggling old food rules, diet plans, and exercise routines that require an all-or-nothing approach. These approaches can feel good because they provide a sense of control, but they often lead us feeling more lost than when we started.
Taking care of yourself through nutrition can feel overwhelming. You may find yourself navigating endless questions like "What can I make that's easy?" "What do I have?" "How long will this take?" "Do I even want this?" "What if it's not enough, or doesn't taste good?" "Should I just order out?" When these questions stir up frustration or anxiety, it can feel easier to simply skip a meal instead.
We can experience appetite changes alongside mood and stress levels, as well as with different medications we may be taking to help us feel better.
For clients with ADHD, there are a few common experiences: not hungry on medication but starving when it wears off, focused on work and forgetting to eat, and feeling disinterested in cooking meals especially later in the day.
Clients with anxiety and depression may find that they use food as a coping mechanism more than other coping tools. Emotional eating is a normal experience for many people [we eat when we're happy! when we're sad! this is part of life], but it can feel troubling when emotional eating feels like it takes over our relationship with food. This can get wrapped up in feelings of guilt, which also feels heavy.
What are some tips for someone who is too anxious or too depressed to eat and can only eat one meal a day?
This is a struggle for many! My clients call it "snake meal" -- eating one big meal, once per day because it's sometimes all they have time for, all they can fathom preparing, or all they remember to eat. There are many ways to work with or beyond a snake meal, and working with a dietitian can help you work through this.
One meal per day is likely not enough to meet your energy needs, but if it's the only meal you can fathom eating, it's important to ensure it contains foods rich in carbohydrates, protein, and fat. It's okay to include comfort foods on long, hard days. That could look like a satiating bowl of pasta with your favorite sauce and a protein of your choice.
Another tip is to remove the 'rules' around meals. Sometimes we set the bar so high for what a meal needs to be.
Identify the rules you may set for a meal that could be barriers to you eating consistently. Many of my clients are shocked when I recommend eating a sandwich for dinner! Breakfast does not have to contain traditional 'breakfast' foods like eggs or toast, if that doesn't interest you.
Lastly, ask yourself what you're willing to try or willing to eat. That word is very powerful. Check in with yourself to see what you have the energy for -- PB+J? Takeout? An egg sandwich? A yogurt bowl? Cereal? Start with where you are and with what you are willing to try eating. Give yourself the chance to try it and release any guilt you may be carrying around needing to eat perfectly. There is no such thing as perfect eating.
A lot of people who have anxiety also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or related stomach problems. What are some things they can do to make daily life more comfortable?
The gut-brain axis is real! I recommend to my clients with IBS and related stomach problems to focus on these gut health pillars:
- stress management - keep 'safe foods' for your IBS symptoms in your pantry, freezer, and/or fridge for when you need them!
- movement that feels good to you, that doesn't overdo it
- adequate hydration [especially in these upcoming hot months]
- slow down. take deep breaths, chew and eat slowly, and create more buffers for time when feasible. that 'rushing around' energy can be hard on our heads and our guts!
What’s one thing you wish people knew about nutrition? We really do need carbs. Great things happen when we start giving our body the energy it needs! I know this can be scary for folks to try, but wow, it goes a long way.
Other than work- what are your favorite things to do?
I love weight lifting, taking long walks with my dogs, and dancing! I love reading and am working toward making more time for that in my life. I also love a good picnic at the Fly.
If people want to learn more, how can they get in touch with you?
I would love to chat! Please feel free to reach out by email at hello@mariaterrynutrition.com. You can also learn more about my nutrition philosophy and ways to break away from a dieting mindset by following me on Instagram, @vitamin_ri.
Thanks so much, Ri! If you want to learn more from Ri, she will be speaking at Self Love Club. SLC is a one-day wellness retreat designed to help you feel confident, relaxed, and ready to take on the world. Say good-bye to self doubt & doom-scrolling and hello to new friends and leases on life!
It includes:
-A one hour all-levels yoga class from NOLA Yoga Loft
-A panel on self love and self care with Eleanor Hamilton-Wohl, LCSW; Maria Sylvester Terry, RD; and Dr. Alisha Reed
-Lunch from Saba
-A fun, easy art activity with registered art therapist, Jena Shellito, ART
-Free gifts and surprises!
-New friends
Click below for more info!
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