Feed Yourself with Leslie Schilling
Episode 61: Show Notes
In this episode of Intuitive Eating for Christian Women our guest Leslie Schilling shares about her latest book Feed Yourself and explains why we should step away from the lies of diet culture and into our divine design.
In this thought-provoking conversation, Leslie unpacks the influence of diet culture in the church and helps us navigate it with truth and compassion.
In this Episode we cover:
- How Leslie moved from weight-centered training to a weight-neutral intuitive eating approach in her career
- The God story behind her book Feed Yourself
- Seeing diet culture as a bigger system of oppression and having compassion for people who don’t see it yet
- Facilitating conversations about diet culture without confrontation & the power of the question “Could I offer you another perspective?”
- Unearned privilege and social determinants of health
- Diet culture’s favorite Bible verse to twist
- The Daniel Fast and harms of church fasts
- How there are no guarantees in health
- The lifelong learning and unlearning process
Connect with our guest Leslie Schilling
Leslie Schilling is a registered dietitian, sports nutritionist, and nutrition therapist. She owns a coaching practice specializing in nutrition counseling for families, people with disordered eating concerns, professional athletes, and performers. In addition to running her practice, Leslie has served as a performance nutrition consultant for Cirque du Soleil® and as an expert contributor to U.S. News & World Report, sharing advice on parenting and health.
Leslie has been featured in media outlets like Health, Women’s Health, Self, Pregnancy Magazine, the Yoga Journal, the Huffington Post, and on HGTV. When she’s not spending time with her family, you can find her sharing anti-diet messages through media and on speaking platforms across the nation. Leslie is the creator of the Born To Eat® approach and coauthor of the award-winning book Born to Eat: A Baby-Led Weaning Guide That Supports Intuitive Eating for the Whole Family. She and her family live in Las Vegas, NV.
- Website: https://schillingnutrition.com/
- Feed Yourself Book (Amazon Link from Leslie’s site): Feed Yourself
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslieschilling/
Navigating Diet Culture in the Church
In our latest podcast episode, Erin and Char-Lee engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Leslie Schilling, discussing the impact of privilege, diet culture, and faith-based teachings on our relationships with food and body. Leslie candidly shares her experiences and insights, shedding light on the challenges of confronting diet culture within safe spaces like churches, and the need for empathy and understanding in our discussions.
One of the key takeaways from the episode is Leslie’s emphasis on the importance of consistently nourishing our bodies to foster connections with ourselves and others. She encourages us to feed ourselves not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and mentally as well. Drawing from her book, Leslie invites divine assistance in opening hearts to nourishment and wisdom.
The conversation also delves into the influence of diet culture on interpretations of scripture, underlining the need to challenge prevailing beliefs and interpretations that may be influenced by societal norms rather than the true message of the gospel. The shared perspectives are a reminder to approach these discussions with grace, compassion, and an open heart.
Furthermore, Leslie’s journey as an author and advocate for intuitive eating and challenging diet culture echoes the necessity of presenting alternative perspectives within our communities. Her commitment to offering a different narrative and facilitating discussions without confrontation is a source of inspiration for us all.
In a world where diet culture and societal norms often prevail, Leslie’s steadfastness in presenting an alternative perspective and encouraging empathy in conversations not only challenges ingrained beliefs but also offers hope for positive change. The episode served as a reminder that unlearning harmful practices and viewpoints is a crucial part of personal growth and healing, and it reinforced the idea that embracing intuitive eating is not just about nourishing our bodies, but also about nurturing our souls and connecting with others.
As the podcast continues to spark vital conversations around intuitive eating, faith, and cultural influences, Leslie Schilling’s episode stands as a beacon of wisdom and compassion, urging us to reevaluate our beliefs, challenge societal norms, and embrace a more holistic and Christ-centered approach to health.
Quotes & Questions
Your temple is fine. The Holy Spirit is already there.
If it’s not available to everyone, does God really require it?
Empathy and Communication: “Can I offer you another perspective?”
Diet Culture and the Bible: “Diet culture is the lens in which we view the Bible unless we are very purposeful at removing it.”
Featured resource
Want even more questions and ways to go deeper with the podcast content? Check out our Season 1 Podcast Workbook!
More about our Podcast
You will learn how the principles of Intuitive Eating align with Scripture so you can improve your relationship with food, your body, and God and cast out dieting for good.