The People Who Are Afraid of Food
Book Report
My editor has given me strict instructions to STOP OBSESSING over the manuscript — because we've already sent out dozens of advance copies to early readers and folks in the media. (There's my intern drooling on everything hard at work, above.) So really, I need to stop trying to change everything. But I've still got to read it one last time... I am, however, starting to hear what other people think and it's unbelievably exciting to realize that lots of other people will be reading it soon. (And you can pre-order your copy now from Amazon, Indiebound or wherever you buy books.)
Families Belong Together
One day, during my daughter’s last hospital stay, she needed an MRI. She couldn’t be fully sedated for the procedure, but the doctors and nurses assured my husband and I that we could go with her, to help keep her calm. This was important because she was two years old and living through months of extreme medical trauma. She was terrified of anyone who wasn’t us. But when we got to the radiology lab, the rules — abruptly and inexplicably — changed. Our daughter was whisked into the procedure room on a gurney, and before I could slip in behind her, the door slammed in my face. We stood on the other side of that locked door for twenty minutes, listening to her scream for me.
I knew then, and I know now: It was only twenty minutes. Our daughter was, of course, returned to us. And because we are white, educated, and speak English, someone at the hospital had to listen to us and apologize for the confusion. We were able to kiss her and talk to her through her tears. The long imprint of that summer on our lives was likely not made much better or worse by that one incident.
But now I know something else: I was lucky that day. Because I could stay on the other side of the door. Because I got to hear her scream. Like everyone, I've been horrified by the Trump administration's policy to separate children from their parents at the border, and now to detain families together (but not always and not for the families they've already pulled apart). We've been donating and calling and are attending a local protest this afternoon. I've collected a list of ways to help here, if you're still looking to get involved.
The People Who Are Afraid of Food
Medium asked me to write about ARFID and orthorexia (two new eating disorders that I cover extensively in the book) for their new themed digital magazine, Trust Issues. On the surface, these two conditions sound really different; ARFID patients tend to restrict their eating only to the safest, blandest, most comforting of foods (think: French fries, mac and cheese, pancakes), while folks with orthorexia avoid anything they deem unhealthy or toxic. But both of these issues are fueled by our clean eating-obsessed food culture. Read my story to find out why.
PS. You can also follow me on Medium.
More Food Things To Read
Is Body Positivity a threat to public health?
Save Your Girls From Instagram
The FDA just broadened its definition of "fiber." Food manufacturers are excited about it.
PS. I really want to make this sunny creamy lemon tahini pasta salad.
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