#55: "Mom, I'm a vegan now"
with Julie Nowak, MEd
In this episode we discuss…
a listener question from a parent concerned about her college-aged daughter’s new veganism and its connection to her body image
Leslie and Zoë’s perspective as clinicians on seeking a professional evaluation
why veganism/vegetarianism can sometimes (not always) overlap with an eating disorder
Julie’s background and work on food justice and body positivity
the broad range of work encompassed by the “food justice movement”
how the food justice movement and the Health at every size/ body positivity movements intersect
how they have at times critiqued each other
the value of dialogue and each integrating the perspective of the other
why the “obesity epidemic” isn’t the only reason we need food justice
environmental concerns and food justice in orthorexia
judgment and hierarchies within the vegan movement
incorporating an intersectional social justice lens in veganism
suggestions for having an open, nonjudgmental dialogue about veganism
why it’s problematic to believe that your diet is the most important thing you can do
individual choices vs. collective/systemic change
why there is nothing wrong with making ethical choices about food — and why there are dangers to black-and-white thinking and rigidity around food
julie’s answer to the million dollar question
Activist and educator Julie Nowak joins us to discuss food justice and body positivity. She helps us respond to a question from a listener concerned about her daughter’s new veganism and its possible connection to body image concerns. We explore the intersection between food/environmental activism and body positivity — and where there is room for both movements to incorporate the ideas of the other. We also discuss warning signs for orthorexia and Julie’s advice for parents about engaging your kids in conversations about intersectional food justice.
Julie Nowak (M.Ed.) is an educator, activist, writer, and consultant who is dedicated to shifting our broken food system and promoting body liberation within an intersectional social justice framework. She has a background in education, community development, public health, and the local food movement, and is also the founder of "The Seasonal Body" - a project exploring the intersection of nature connection, food justice, body positivity and disability. This focus was inspired by Julie's personal experience of finding healing from disordered eating through therapeutic farming, as well as living as a disabled person with multiple chronic illnesses after traumatic brain injury. Julie is based near Toronto, Canada, and offers her educational services elsewhere remotely.
Connect with Julie on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.
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