Feeding the Feed

By Audrey Dombrowski

You do it, your friends do it, and the lucky ones get paid for it. Why is everyone snapping pictures of their dinner plates and posting it on social media? “Are they actually eating that?” “They eat so healthy…” (or vice versa), “I should eat like them.” These thoughts, or judgements, have exploded within platforms such as Instagram or Snapchat and there may be some reasoning behind it.  

First and foremost, there are the professionals. “Foodies” or Influencers on the gram “often get invited and sometimes paid by restaurants, bars and food and liquor brands to eat (complimentary) juicy burgers or drink crisp cucumber gimlets, and share them to their massive followings,” says Bon Appétit. Restaurants then ravish in the publicity leading to hopes of a featured Buzzfeed story and hour-long lines with a special news segment. These raw pictures lead to a more honest approach to the restaurant fare and atmosphere, over a very static and non-visual website. And it’s the type of food people crave to see on other’s feeds. It’s the “food porn,” trendy, and artfully created pictures people crave. The truth is, influencers call this “bait” food; an enticing way to capture followers. Influencer, Gebel of @NoLeftovers says she only “sprinkles her feed with shots of healthier fare, like frozen yogurt or grain bowls.” And to add to the matter, restaurants are starting to cater to the media; décor, lighting and wall art become especially important for picture perfect shots.

{ “I’ll take the special entrée, especially garnished, with a side of chic silverware and dimmed lighting for effect please.” }

On the other hand, there are the amateurs. The non-verified with a blue check mark, amateurs, like us, who post our great meals for the pleasure of it. To maybe show off our cooking talents or expose the latest restaurant in town that took a reservation made too far in advance to get into. It is us, common folk, who are trying to keep up with the hype. Feeding our feeds for what purpose exactly? Psychologically, we often want to project the best versions of ourselves, and social media is our outlet. A writer for the Daily Mail, Laura Freeman, found herself starting to cook her meals with a little more frill to gain more “likes.” As she reports, “This is not how I eat most of time. For every beetroot, feta and za’atar dip I make, there are ten meals of something-with-pasta…I have yet to find how to make sardines on toast look pretty.” This is the concern. As Freeman perfectly states, “It is not enough that we should feel anxious about what we eat, now there is the disappointment of our insufficiently camera-ready meals…”

Take a moment to reread the first part of her quote, “…anxious about what we eat.”

{Homemade}

{Not Homemade}



Here is the dilemma. In a world that is focused on the portrayal of what we are eating, is the person taking the picture actually consuming that? Or is that picture perfectly placed for one to assume they are? From an amateur stand point, this could be heavily affecting the individuals that already have an altered perception of food. This could be a new way to hide from the truth of their eating disorder, non-intuitive eating pattern or guilt induced meal consumption. Of course, this isn’t the case for everyone. However, it sure puts a new light into the latest craze. Some reports show food pictures can help people eat healthier or, in fact, may help teens battle their eating disorder. An MSN interview found that for people on a diet, social media works as a form of a food diary, such as LoseIt or MyFitnessPal. It kept people honest and offered encouragement from followers to continue to choose healthy choices. In a conjunction piece between Buzzfeed and Spoon University, food Instagrams were used in a way to put a positive affect on food obsession in teenagers through community and promoting creativity. Essentially, no matter the effect on you personally, this food snap trend has an affect GLOBALLY!

Registered Dietitian’s take on the trend has positive and negative inspiration. Dietitian, Eliza Savage, at Middleberg Nutrition in NYC says, Instagram may influence one’s eating habits by “hurting what may seem healthy on screen, but not individually the best choice.” Certain examples like extreme diets or detoxes (face palm), an absurd amount of “healthy” fats and oversize smoothie bowls all prove this. Curious about the specifics? Click the link to read Shape’s article from Jan. 2018.  In contrast, the UPSIDE dietitians find, is that healthy food obsession can be good along with the intuitive eating trend. Satiety cues are important and should be used during all meal or snack times as they say. Health in every size (#HAES) is another positive promotion used when collaborated with food posted pictures. Even the food experts are involved here!

{ For further resources, find a Registered Dietitian near you. Look for the credentials & get the facts. }

Moral of the story, you do you on social media and let research run its course to find a definitive answer to the food picture taking trend. Be aware of your reasoning for your next food post and own it! Until then…“Omg let’s take a #FoodPic!”

 

Your #1 Food Pic Supporter & Dietetic Intern – Audrey Dombrowski

https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/trends-news/article/rise-of-influencers-ruining-everything

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3237621/What-sort-madwoman-spends-hours-taking-pics-food-weird-posting-food-photos-Instagram-obsession.html

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/foodnews/instagramming-your-food-could-help-you-eat-healthier/ar-BBALhpb

https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/instagramming-food-help-teens-battle-eating-disorders
https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/instagram-food-trends-ruining-diet

11 Reasons to See an RDN

By: Emma Kidd

What I’m realizing more and more as the year goes on is this: People still do not know exactly what a dietitian is, and therefore don’t use them when they could. Even as a dietetic intern, I am getting exposure to the MANY roles a dietitian has in all kinds of settings. It is amazing to see SO MANY how we dietitians can make a difference.

For those that don’t already know, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are “the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. RDNs use their nutrition expertise to help individuals make unique, positive lifestyle changes” (ADA).

So why is it that often the dietitian is the last person we “stumble upon” when we need help with food and nutrition?  Whether one realizes it or not, an RDN can help in so many ways; so save  time and go see one! Here are just a few reasons to do this:

            1. You have an allergy:

Whether you have been diagnosed or not, dietitians can evaluate your diet and reactions to get you the help you need. We aren’t allergists, but we can guide you in the direction that you need to go to help your symptoms.

            2. You want to lose (or gain) weight:

When it comes down to it, there is no “magic pill” or “10-day fix” that will help you reach your goals. A dietitian can ensure your weight loss (or gain) is done in a HEALTHY way, with adequate nutrients and no consequences down the road.

3. You have been diagnosed with a chronic disease:

Whether it is IBD, IBS, Crohn’s, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. a dietitian can help get you the food and nutrition you need to minimize symptoms and prevent further complications. WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO DO THIS. We use evidence based practice to provide the best care and reach the best outcomes.

4. Disease prevention:

While genetics plays a large part in development of disease, adequate nutrition  is helpful to prevent or delay onset of many diseases.  A dietitian can help with this.

5. Your not-so-good relationship with food:

If you are trying to build or rebuild how you feel about food and choosing food, a dietitian can be both a listening ear and help you navigate that relationship with food.

6. You want a better athletic performance:

A great athletic performance can greatly benefit from correct fueling for practice and competition. A dietitian can help you get to where you want to go.

7. Your life just got extra crazy:

Ever heard of meal planning? Dietitians are experts at this one, too: well-balanced recipes, plan/make ahead strategies, or advice on how to make healthy choices when eating out.

8. You have digestion issues:

Bloating, flatulence, bowel movements are all normal processes of the human body. But if you are having issues with these, a dietitian can help you change/modify your diet or lifestyle to help with abnormal symptoms.

9. You want to eat smarter:

How many “eat like me, look like me” posts do you see on a daily basis? Probably more than you’d like. Dietitians can answer a lot of those questions about what healthy lifestyle, meals, etc. would work best for you.

10. You get sick a lot and/or you’re tired all the time:

Diet can play a much bigger role than we think. Too few calories can cause our bodies to be fatigued and our immune systems to not function properly. A dietitian can identify strategies to fix this.

11. Last but not least!...You’re curious about what Dietitians do!:

Whether you are thinking about going into the field or just have a “fact or fad” question about nutrition, RDNs are happy to help and share their expertise. I know for me, as a dietetic intern, I have been especially grateful to be able to ask questions, shadow, converse, and work alongside dietetic professionals.  It has made me grow and learn more than I ever thought I would in the field of nutrition.  I will be one of the “professionals” soon.

To be an RDN, an individual must hold a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and dietetics + 1200 hours of supervised practice (internship) + a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics (as of 2020) and have sat and passed a board exam...AKA they know what they are talking about and how to help you with your needs!

SO: If you are looking for an RDN in your area, visit www.eatright.org and click on Find an Expert.