Claire St John, MPH RD Cedrd-s

04/14/2026

If only.

04/07/2026

Food deserts, unequal access to care, and environmental exposure, don’t feature prominently in that story, and neither does the question of who gets to decide what counts as healthy in the first place.

Personal responsibility is a much tidier answer than any of that, which is why it keeps showing up in places like toxic wellness culture, in federal health policy, in a movement that cuts cancer research and Medicaid in the same breath it tells you to drink raw milk.

The people harmed by those cuts are living in a system that asks them to optimize their way out of circumstances it created.

04/05/2026

Your weight will change throughout the day based on shifts in fluids alone. It will change throughout your life as your body composition changes, as your bones densify and then start to weaken, as your muscles fluctuate to accommodate your different needs and life stages. We really are shifting chimeras, our bodies in a constant flux of breaking down and building, and the number on the scale gives you information that is only valid in that small moment.

Scales aren’t even generally accurate, and can only give you an approximation of gravity’s effect on your body.

The scale is able to tell us very little about our health, who we are or where we’re going.

04/03/2026

I hope you're proud of you, too.

03/31/2026

When we tell ourselves the same story thousands of times it becomes entrenched, even if it's inaccurate. That's the part of the eating disorder that makes you question yourself, and question others when they try to present an alternative.

It takes a lot of work to reshape those thoughts. Please know that it's possible, and its worth the effort.

03/28/2026

This post is about mental health stigma.

03/26/2026

We are swimming in diet culture, and we are asking people to recover into diet culture. Eating disorders also often (usually) co-occur with things like anxiety and trauma.

Figuring out how to eat is HARD. Figuring out how to eat while managing anxiety or PTSD symptoms is SUPER HARD. You deserve to work with providers who can meet you with compassion and patience as you navigate this.

03/21/2026

Hyperfocus is common in neurodivergent folks. When there's a co-occurring eating disorder, there can be double the disconnect from the bodies signals.

The good news is, there are skill and strategies that you can integrate into your routine to help mitigate these gaps! Timers, notes, and calendar alerts are a few that I like to suggest clients try out. What other techniques have others found that work?

03/17/2026

Slowing down and simplifying things can help ground your nervous system in times of distress. And when the distress is fueled in part (or in totality) by the state of the world and current events, that’s a hard thing to reconcile with values that tell you to be an activist or an advocate.

One way to look at it is the oxygen mask metaphor. In an emergency, you put your own mask on before helping others. If your stress leads to an increase in eating disorder behaviors—and the subsequent decrease in functioning that usually accompanies that—how helpful can you be to others?

There are ways to slow down and care for yourself that don’t require complete disengagement… just a little simplicity.

03/15/2026

Wrapping up these musings on metabolism with a little science fun fact that almost sounds like science fiction.

The role food plays in our bodies and lives is complex, beautiful, essential, and fascinating. And yet for many people who struggle with eating disorders it is a fraught relationship—yet still essential. As a provider and as a human being, my hope is shine a little light on its beauty, dilute some of the fear, and help create connection.

If the thought of working with an RD who is a science nerd is appealing, I have openings in my private practice and work with people throughout the state of California. I’d love to hear from you.

03/12/2026

If you are looking for a way to celebrate, ask your company to offer a donation to the local food bank in honor of the staff RDNs!

(Gifts and cards are always welcome too.)

03/05/2026

My previous post about metabolism was rooted in some fun science. Today… a fun metaphor! If you’ve never thought about your metabolism as an ocean, take a listen and give it a try!