The Other Side Of The Plate – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Episode 003

What to Tell Family and Friends About Your Loved One's Eating Disorder

In this episode of The Other Side of the Plate, hosts Jenni and Laura discuss the complex topic of how to inform family and friends about a loved one’s eating disorder diagnosis. Drawing from their personal experiences, they outline the pros and cons of sharing the diagnosis, setting boundaries, and managing privacy versus support needs. The hosts also provide practical suggestions for navigating these conversations and emphasize the importance of finding supportive communities. They conclude by reminding listeners that eating disorders are treatable and that they are not alone in this journey.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:05 Navigating the Diagnosis: What to Tell Family and Friends

03:50 Pros and Cons of Sharing the Diagnosis

06:58 Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned

09:49 Setting Boundaries and Asking for Support

21:56 Cultural Considerations and Finding Support

26:01 Returning to School: Preparing Your Child

28:17 Final Thoughts and Resources

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST 30 Days - F.E.A.S.T.

ATDTfb - Eating Disorder Family and Carer Support | Facebook

F.E.A.S.T's Around The Dinner Table forum

Caregiver & Sibling Support Group - F.E.A.S.T.

Men of FEAST - F.E.A.S.T.

Episode 002

Food is Medicine in Eating Disorder Recovery

In this episode of The Other Side of the Plate, hosts Jenni and Laura delve into the crucial role of nutrition in the recovery from eating disorders. As caregivers with lived experience, they highlight the importance of viewing food as literal medicine for those in recovery. They address common misconceptions, the need for high calorie intake, the impact of starvation on the brain, and how caregivers can support their loved ones. The episode also explores how to communicate effectively with loved ones about food and the significance of stopping other activities until proper eating is established.

00:00 Introduction

01:06 Episode Topic: Food Is Medicine

01:48 Understanding the Food as Medicine Concept in Recovery

02:48 Challenges and Misconceptions About Nutrition

07:14 The Importance of All Foods in Recovery

15:05 Practical Tips for Caregivers

24:49 Life Stops Until You Eat

29:28 Personal Experiences and Final Thoughts

34:14 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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We Only Eat Healthy Foods In Our House - F.E.A.S.T.

FEAST 30 Days - F.E.A.S.T.

Getting Started with Refeeding: A Guide to Moving Forward When You’re Not Sure What Comes Next

Up to the Plate: A FEAST Family Guide to the Importance of Nutrition for Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders

001 - Where to Start: Recognizing and Responding to Your Child’s Eating Disorder

In this inaugural episode of The Other Side of the Plate, hosts Jenni and Laura introduce the new F.E.A.S.T. podcast aimed at helping parents and caregivers navigate the complex and often overwhelming world of eating disorder caregiving. Both hosts share their personal experiences as mothers who supported their children through eating disorders; they discuss recognizing the signs of eating disorders, the importance of early intervention, and the initial steps parents can take once they suspect their child may have an eating disorder. The episode stresses the importance of trusting parental instincts, seeking proper medical assessment, and obtaining reliable information and support from trusted resources like F.E.A.S.T. The discussion also touches on the crucial role of nutrition in treatment, how to deal with the shock of diagnosis, and the vital importance of parent involvement in the treatment process.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

01:03 Meet the Hosts: Jenni and Laura

02:26 Recognizing the Signs of an Eating Disorder

04:17 Personal Stories and Early Signs

14:30 Medical Advice and Pediatrician Visits

21:38 Emergency Situations and Resources

22:47 Importance of Medical Assessments

28:13 Key Questions for Parents

29:29 Understanding Safe School Attendance

30:49 Balancing Physical Activity and Eating Disorders

33:13 The Emotional Impact of Eating Disorders

36:20 Recognizing the Signs of an Eating Disorder

44:56 The Importance of Nutritional Rehabilitation

48:36 The Role of Parents in Treatment

52:58 Final Thoughts and Resources

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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AED’s Guide to Medical Care of Eating Disorders  

AED’s Emergency Room Guide 

FEAST 30 Days

What Constitutes Good Medical Care for Pediatric Eating Disorders?  (FEAST Webinar July 2025) 

What Does Good Medical Care Look LIke? A Guide for Parents of Children with Eating Disorders (FEAST Webinar Slides July 2025) 

Around the Dinner Table Forum

Around the Dinner Table-Facebook group 

► Learn more on the F.E.A.S.T. website:

https://feast-ed.org 

► Connect with our supportive parent community forum:

https://feast-ed.org/forum/

► Follow F.E.A.S.T. on Social Media:

https://feast–ed.org/linkinbio/

Episode 006

Handling the Holidays with a Loved One in Eating Disorder Recovery

In this episode of The Other Side of the Plate, hosts Laura Cohen and Jenny Gaines discuss managing the holidays when a loved one is not in residential or in-patient treatment and is able to be with their family at home (or able to travel with family for the holidays). They share strategies for caregivers to support their loved ones and the importance of self-care for caregivers, and the episode concludes with a look ahead to their next guest, Kevin Dunn, who will discuss the role of male caregivers in eating disorder recovery.

Also, the upcoming Weekend Workshop on November 22 will include discussion about handling the holidays when your loved one is in the hospital or in a residential treatment center and unable to be home. 

00:00  Introduction to the Podcast

01:14  The Emotional Complexity of Holidays with an Eating Disorder

04:13  Personal Stories: Spending Holidays Differently

05:01  Preparing Ahead: Planning Meals, Routines, and Responses

08:52  Navigating Challenging Family Conversations

15:30  Setting Boundaries and Creating "Escape Plans"

19:35  Religious Considerations and Creating New Traditions

25:45  Giving Yourself Permission: This Is Temporary

30:12  Practical Tips: Holiday Outfits and Being Flexible

33:58  Closing and Preview of Next Episode

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

FEAST flyer:

https://feast-ed.org/programs-and-services/

Resources:

Episode 3 - The Other Side Of The Plate Podcast

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/4fe0267f-7008-4717-b9bb-f1e3f9d07e11/

Laura and Jenni both recommend going back to listen to this episode for guidance on whether/how to tell family members about the eating disorder.

FEAST Weekend Workshops - F.E.A.S.T.  

There’s still time to register for Workshop 6, Handling the Holidays, as part of FEAST’s Weekend Workshop series:

Saturday – November 22, 2025 at 12:00 Noon Eastern US / 5:00 PM UK

Led by Kate Craigen, PhD and Judy Krasna, F.E.A.S.T. Executive Director

Other resources:

• Navigating Ramadan with an Eating Disorder - F.E.A.S.T. webinar
• The Challenge of Holidays - F.E.A.S.T. blog post by Judy Krasna

Episode 005

The Heart of FEAST: A Conversation with Judy Krasna

In this episode of The Other Side of the Plate, hosts Jenni and Laura sit down with a very special guest: Judy Krasna, the Executive Director of FEAST. Judy shares her powerful personal journey from finding FEAST as a parent in Israel to leading FEAST as a global organization. She discusses the core mission of FEAST—parents helping parents—and what makes its community so unique. 

The episode covers the vital role of volunteers, key resources for new families like 'FEAST 30 Days' and the 'Caregiver Skills Toolkit,' and a message of hope that recovery is possible and parents are not to blame.

00:10  Introduction to the Podcast

01:02  Welcoming Judy Krasna, Executive Director of FEAST

01:41  Judy's Personal Journey: From Parent to Executive Director

03:42  The Mission and Values of FEAST: Parents Helping Parents

05:23  What Makes the FEAST Community Special?

07:05  Clarifying Misconceptions about FEAST: All Ages and Treatment Types

08:53  The Heart and Soul of FEAST: The Volunteers

11:10  Where to Start: FEAST 30 Days & The Caregiver Skills Toolkit

15:07  Judy's Biggest Hope for Families: Feeling Less Alone

16:44  Key Advice for New Parents: A Marathon, Not a Sprint

19:13  Common Threads: The Universal Caregiver Experience

22:34  The Reality of Caregiver Self-Care

25:25  The Future of FEAST: Opportunities and Challenges

28:31  How Listeners Can Support FEAST's Mission

30:44  A Personal Story Illustrating the Heart of the Community

33:35  Final Message: Hope, Recovery, and You Are Not to Blame

35:53  Conclusion and How to Get Involved

BIO - JUDY KRASNA

Judy Krasna has been involved in the eating disorders space as a parent advocate and an expert by experience for over 15 years. She was an active volunteer in the Academy for Eating Disorders and is a staunch advocate for incorporating lived experience into research and treatment. After serving on the F.E.A.S.T. Board of Directors and taking on multiple volunteer roles within the organization, Judy stepped into the position of F.E.A.S.T. Executive Director in early 2021. Judy is passionate about helping families of people with eating disorders, especially after her daughter Gavriella took her own life after a fierce and prolonged battle with anorexia.

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

FEAST flyer:

https://feast-ed.org/programs-and-services/

Resources:

FEAST 30 Days  

FEAST Caregiver Skills Toolkit

Around the Dinner Table Forum

Around the Dinner Table-Facebook group

Become a Parent Support Volunteer at F.E.A.S.T.

Donate to F.E.A.S.T.

Episode 004

A Roadmap to Key F.E.A.S.T. Resources

In this episode of 'The Other Side of the Plate,' host Jenni Gaines provides an in-depth look at crucial resources offered by FEAST, an organization dedicated to supporting families dealing with eating disorders. The episode covers educational programs such as the 'FEAST 30 Days' program, the 'FEAST Caregiver Skills Toolkit,' and the 'Family Guide series,' which provide vital information on managing eating disorders. Jenni also highlights peer support options like caregiver and sibling support groups as well as the 'Men of FEASTt' community for male caregivers. The episode aims to offer caregivers actionable insights, emotional support, and a sense of community, emphasizing that they are not alone in their journey.

00:00 Introduction

01:02 Jenny's Personal Journey and Key Resources

03:16 FEAST 30 Days Program

08:20 Caregiver Skills Toolkit

12:57 Family Guide Series

15:21 Peer Support Resources

18:57 Online Communities and Email Support

22:59 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

Resources:

FEAST 30 Days  

FEAST 30 Days - Spanish

FEAST Caregiver Skills Toolkit 

Using Leverage: A Guide To Promoting Compliance And Striking A Balance Between Compassion And Limits In Eating Disorder Treatment

Getting Started with Refeeding: A Guide to Moving Forward When You’re Not Sure What Comes Next

Caregiver & Sibling Support Group - F.E.A.S.T.

Men of FEAST

Around the Dinner Table Forum

Around the Dinner Table-Facebook group

Email Support:

parentsupport@feast-ed.org

Episode 013

Title: Voices of Hope: A Mother and Daughter Reflect on Their Eating Disorder Journey (with Alexa Cohen)

This episode is part of our Voices of Hope series. In these conversations, you’ll hear from individuals who have walked through an eating disorder and come out on the other side. Our intention is to highlight that recovery is possible, relationships can survive, and even during the most challenging moments, hope is real.

In this episode, Laura Cohen sits down with her daughter, Alexa Cohen, to talk openly about Alexa's eating disorder diagnosis at 16, the hard road through family-based treatment and higher levels of care, and what their relationship looks like on the other side. Alexa, now 22 and working in inpatient eating disorder care, shares her perspective from both sides of recovery.

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer

01:02 Guest Introduction: Alexa Cohen

04:06 Life Before the Diagnosis: Ages 13–16

06:49 The Role of Lockdown, Social Media, and the ED Voice

10:02 How Laura First Learned Something Was Wrong

11:44 Starting FBT: Refeeding at Home During COVID

16:17 What FBT Felt Like from Alexa's Perspective

19:11 Why Giving In Was Never an Option

20:44 Finding the Right Treatment Team (and How Long It Took)

25:26 Deciding to Pursue a Higher Level of Care

32:00 College, Contracts, and Choosing Recovery

37:18 Alexa's Work in Eating Disorder Care Today

40:12 Advice for Caregivers Whose Kids Are in Treatment

45:49 What Alexa Would Tell Her 13-Year-Old Self

47:26 Advice to Caregivers: It Won't Ruin the Relationship

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

FEAST flyer:

https://feast-ed.org/programs-and-services/

In this episode, Jenni Gaines and Laura Cohen sit down with Nathalia Trees, a certified eating disorder Registered Dietitian, to unpack ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), a diagnosis that often gets mistaken for simple picky eating. Nathalia breaks down the three presentations of ARFID, explains why a malnourished brain makes food trials nearly impossible without nutritional rehabilitation first, and offers a realistic picture of what success actually looks like in treatment. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of when to raise a red flag with their pediatrician, who should be on their child's treatment team, and how to manage the anxiety and fatigue that come with supporting a loved one through recovery.

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer

01:11 Guest Introduction: Nathalia Trees

03:20 What Is ARFID? The Three Presentations

05:20 How ARFID Differs from Anorexia, Bulimia, and Anxiety Disorders

07:30 Motivation vs. Anxiety in ARFID Treatment

09:10 Picky Eating vs. ARFID: Where's the Line?

11:20 First Steps for Caregivers: Advocating with Your Pediatrician

15:06 What Does ARFID Treatment Look Like?

16:20 Why Nutrition Rehabilitation Comes Before Food Trials

18:15 Weight Gain Goals and Growth Curve Realities

19:55 The Malnourished Brain: Why Food Trials Can't Come First

23:26 What Does Success Actually Look Like?

25:45 Tracking Progress and Celebrating Small Wins

26:00 Common Setbacks: Travel, Illness, and Food Fatigue

29:40 Building Your Treatment Team: Who Does What

33:15 Caregiver Anxiety and Distress Tolerance at the Table

36:01 Is There a Timeline for ARFID Recovery?

38:08 When to Consider a Higher Level of Care

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

FEAST flyer:

https://feast-ed.org/programs-and-services/

FEAST Webinar - Feeding Without Fear: Navigating Nutrition in ARFID

Feeding Without Fear: Navigating Nutrition in ARFID - YouTube

FEAST Family Guide - Beyond Picky Eating: Strategies for Navigating ARFID and Supporting Your Loved One (with Nathalia Trees)

https://feast-ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FamilyGuide_BeyondPickyEating_2026_v1.2.pdf

Guest Bio:

Nathalia Trees is a certified eating disorder Registered Dietitian and consultant specializing in the treatment of adults and adolescents with eating disorders. She was granted a Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado and a Master of Science in clinical nutrition from Tufts University. She completed her dietetics internship at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA.

Nathalia’s experience spans over 13 years in medical nutrition therapy, nutrition education, public speaking, and eating disorder related research. Her passion is advocacy, training, and education for current and future dietitians and helping individuals rebuild their relationship with food. Nathalia’s approach focuses on non-diet centered, weight inclusive, and compassionate care. Nathalia’s leadership style focuses on community, connection, and striving for clinical excellence in the field of eating disorders.

Episode 011

Title: Stronger Together: How Caregiver Alignment Supports Recovery

In this episode, Jenni Gaines and Laura Cohen dive into the vital but often overlooked topic of caregiver alignment. They discuss how eating disorders can exploit "cracks" in relationships and the profound impact—both positive and negative—that caregiver unity has on a child’s recovery trajectory. Listeners will gain practical tools for managing disagreements, setting non-negotiable boundaries, and balancing the heavy lifting of treatment with the need to protect their own relationships.

00:00 Introduction and Disclaimer

01:02 Defining Caregiver Alignment

03:09 Why Alignment is Critical for Recovery

07:46 The Consequences of Misalignment

09:10 Common Conflict Areas: Meals, Consequences, and Parenting Styles

11:02 Balancing the Workload: Resentment vs. Appreciating Strengths

16:53 External Alignment: Grandparents, Teachers, and Coaches

20:25 Navigating Co-Parenting and Divorce

24:59 Practical Strategies: Education and the Family Recovery Plan

30:34 Managing Disagreements in Front of Your Loved One

40:03 The Power of the 10-Minute Check-In

42:16 Trusting Yourself When Alignment Isn’t Possible

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

FEAST flyer:

https://feast-ed.org/programs-and-services/

The Other Side of the Plate podcast episode:

The Importance of Male Caregivers in ED Recovery (with Kevin Dunn)

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/19f1d2bb-799e-4111-823d-e0db02f3e6c5

(FEAST Blog Post-Abby Sarrett-Cooper)

Parental Alignment in FBT

(FEAST Blog Post-Judy Krasna)

Parenting and Partnership

(FEAST Blog Post-Sarah)

Not on Board But Weathering the Same Storm

Host Bios

Jenni Gaines and Laura Cohen are caregivers with lived experience who have supported their loved ones through eating disorder treatment. Together, they serve the FEAST community by sharing personal insights and connecting parents with the professional resources necessary to navigate recovery.

Episode 010

A Personal Recovery Journey: Insights for Caregivers (with Hannah Hickinbotham)

In this episode, Jenni speaks with Hannah Hickenbotham, founder of the UK-based "Full of Beans" podcast about eating disorder awareness. Hannah shares her personal journey through atypical anorexia, body dysmorphia, and the late ADHD diagnosis (after 14 years of struggling) that finally unlocked her path to recovery. This conversation offers caregivers rare insight into what recovery looks like from the inside: why resistance happens, what support actually helps, and how to find "glimmers" of hope even in the darkest moments.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

06:19 What Caregivers Can Learn from Lived Experience

10:03 Hannah's Journey: Diet Culture and Feeling Different

15:53 Atypical Anorexia: The Pain of "Not Quite There"

17:22 Eating Disorders as Emotional Regulation

26:33 Advice for Parents: What Helped and What Didn't

34:21 Understanding Resistance: "Facing Your Worst Nightmare"

44:46 Thanking and Releasing the Eating Disorder (EMDR)

47:32 Supporters Who Made a Difference

54:41 Finding Daily Glimmers: Advice for Struggling Families

SUPPORT & RESOURCES

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FEAST website:

https://feast-ed.org/

FEAST flyer:

https://feast-ed.org/programs-and-services/

Hannah’s website:

https://www.wearefullofbeans.com/

Listen to Hannah’s podcast on your favorite app: The Full of Beans Podcast

Guest Bio

Hannah Hickinbotham is the founder of Full of Beans, an eating disorder awareness podcast all about reducing stigma and amplifying lived experience. Through inspiring conversations with people with lived experience of an eating disorder, alongside clinicians and researchers, Hannah creates a space where listeners can feel understood, validated, and a little less alone.

Hannah has lived experience of atypical anorexia, body dysmorphia, and ADHD, and found her path to recovery after finally receiving an ADHD diagnosis 14 years later. Passionate about widening the conversation beyond stereotypes, she reminds people that recovery is possible, even when it doesn’t look how you expected.