What are some helpful eating disorder recovery books?

Rachel Dodson RD, LDN

We live in a world that is full of information. The constant bombarding of information is not only overwhelming but also confusing. I always tell my clients in our first session that there is no one-size-fits-all all in eating disorder recovery, meaning:

• The length of your recovery will look different than someone else’s 

• The changes you will experience in your body will look different than someone else’s 

• The health journey you are on will look different than someone else’s 

• Nothing is a set-back, just a learning opportunity 

I found in my own recovery that comparison was never helpful, but reading about others’ experiences in their own recoveries (usually on the Real Life RD blog or Immaeatthat’s blog) was deeply helpful to me. Where am I going with this?

One of my favorite trends that I see at coffee shops is the “staff picks” menu, where all of the baristas’ favorite drink recommendations are listed for customers to order! So today I want to share with you Recovered and Restored's “staff picks” menu of books that either we ourselves have found helpful in recovery or that our clients have found to be supportive in their own recovery! 

Body Image & Debunking Diet Culture:

• The Inside Scoop by Jennifer Rollin and Colleen Reichmann (Gabby’s pick) - This is an incredible resource written by 2 eating disorder therapists who have personally recovered themselves. The authors explain dieting vs. eating disorders, break down the stages of recovery, and address popular topics such as orthorexia, fat positivity, and exercising in recovery. At the end of each chapter, you’ll find tangible exercises with advice and tips on how to thrive in each stage of recovery.

• More than a Body (Gabby, Claudia, and Leslie Ann’s pick) - Written by a twin sister duo who both have their PhDs in body image (how cool?!), offer us an alternative vision to our beauty-obsessed world - a vision that reconnects you with your whole self and frees you from the constraints of self-objectification. The authors’ goal is body resilience and acknowledge how feelings of body shame can actually become a catalyst for personal growth.

• Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison by Christy Harrison (Leslie Ann’s pick) - This book got Leslie Ann fired up by putting into perspective all of the nonsense we are fed through the diet industry. The author reveals the truth about what diet culture steals from us and  offers us radical alternatives to life beyond diet culture. 

A Little Extra Support from Science: 

• Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch - this book is the go-to for rebuilding healthy body image and restoring peace with food. It’s full of case studies and research studies that really back up the principles, making it easier to integrate them into your everyday life! 

• Sick Enough by Jennifer Gaudiani - this book is a deep dive into the medical complications of eating disorders. The book contains case studies and extremely helpful language, recognizing that anyone struggling with an eating disorder is sick enough to seek help. 

• Gentle Nutrition by Rachel Hartley - this book focuses on a non-diet approach to eating. Not only is it full of helpful nutrition education that focuses on nourishment instead of deprivation, but this book also contains beautiful recipes to guide you on your journey with gentle nutrition! 

Nutrition Support for Yourself & Your Family: 

• How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder by Wendy Sterling and Casey Crosbie - this is an excellent resource that can aid parents in plating food for their children struggling with an eating disorder. Written by registered dietitians, they advocate for the Plate-by-Plate approach using family-based treatment. If you aren’t sure if your child or teen is struggling with an ED or not, check out R+R’s blogs here and here! 

• How to Nourish Yourself Through an Eating Disorder by Wendy Sterling and Casey Crosbie - the Plate-by-Plate approach is “a no-numbers, visual method that teaches readers how to restore their relationship with food using only a ten-inch plate.” The goal of this approach is to learn how to eat flexibly, plate without measuring or counting and heal from all disordered eating behaviors and patterns. 

Christian Faith-Based:

• Breaking Free from Body Shame by Jess Connolly (Rachel’s pick) - this is Rachel’s favorite book to recommend to clients who are longing to know what the bible says is true about our bodies. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions, and the author challenges readers to adopt a “kingdom body mindset” and embrace the freedom that we are offered in Christ. Rachel also references this book in many of her blogs!

• It’s not supposed to be this way by Lysa TerKeurst (Bree’s pick) - This book radically changed Bree’s life. While this book isn’t directly eating disorder-related, it talks a lot about acceptance, grieving, and healing. It includes journal prompts, reflective insights, and practical tools to take into your everyday life! If you like this resource, you’ll also love the Therapy & Theology podcast! 

Is there a book that has been encouraging or maybe even transformative in your recovery? We’d love to hear from you!

Other Mental Health Services Offered in PA, NJ, DE, SC, MD, CT, VT, and FL

We offer a wide variety of services related to eating disorder recovery including trauma therapy!  We offer Weekly Support Groups, Nutrition Services,  and Family and Parent Therapy as well as Coaching, all tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. We offer our services for Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating, and Orthorexia as well as Maternal Mental Health, and eating disorder therapy for athletes online in New Jersey, Delaware, South Carolina, Maryland, Florida, Vermont, and Connecticut! We are here to offer our support and understanding in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

We have immediate openings right now for eating disorder therapy in:

Delaware, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland South Carolina, Connecticut, Vermont, and Pennsylvania.

And recovery coaching worldwide.

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Recovered and Restored is an eating disorder therapy center founded by Gabrielle Morreale, LPC. We specialize in helping teens and young women heal from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia, and binge eating disorder and treat disordered eating, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. We provide eating disorder therapy in the towns of Horsham, Upper Gwynedd, Lower Gwynedd, North Wales, Lansdale, Hatfield, Blue Bell, Doylestown, and nearby towns with eating disorder therapy. Also providing virtual eating disorder therapy in New Jersey, Delaware, and Florida. Some towns served virtually but are not limited to Pittsburg, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Center City, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Mount Laurel, Cape May, Avalon, Brick, Dover, New Castle, Bethany Beach, Marydel, and Oceanview