Episode 103: Rethinking Nutrition in Recovery with Shena Washburn

In Episode 103 of *Peace Meal*, host Jillian Lampert welcomes Shena Washburn, Senior Director of Clinical Nutrition and Culinary Services at Aconto Health and the Emily Program, to unpack the newly released 2026 Food Guide Pyramid. The discussion traces the evolution from the 1990s food pyramid to MyPlate (2011), highlighting how each visual tool reflects cultural and dietary trends rather than immutable scientific truths. Washburn critiques the 2026 inverted pyramid for elevating protein, full-fat dairy, and saturated fats—echoing modern diet culture—while downplaying the practical, non-moralistic approach of the plate. She emphasizes that such visuals can trigger shame and rigidity, especially in eating disorder recovery, where the focus must be on nutritional adequacy, flexibility, and rebuilding trust with food. The conversation shifts to the role of dietitians in treatment, likening them to archaeologists who uncover hidden patterns in eating behaviors, and advocates for public nutrition messaging that prioritizes adequacy, variety, cultural inclusivity, and the 'how' of eating over rigid food hierarchies. Washburn calls for a more nuanced, multidimensional model—like a 3D octagon—that reflects the complexity of human health and relationship with food.