Breaking the Cycle - How to Talk to Children About Food with Dr. Anna Colton
This week, we're joined by Dr. Anna Colton, a clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist passionate about helping families to prevent passing on food and body image struggles to the next generation. She's the author of How to Talk to Children About Food, recently featured in The Times and ITV’s This Morning.This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating parenting, recovery, or both to learn how we can break the cycle of disordered eating by fostering healthier food narratives for the next generation.Whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is, this conversation is a powerful reminder that healing is possible and essential when raising children.Key Takeaways:How childhood messaging about food and body image influences long-term beliefsSupporting recovery as a parent while protecting your children from harmful narrativesWhy the “good vs. bad food” binary causes harm, especially in schoolsHow to navigate food talk with children if you're struggling yourselfHow to create age-appropriate, inclusive, and curious conversations about nutritionThe reality of recovery: why motivation doesn’t always start with selfThe cultural pressure of “clean eating,” GLP-1 medications, and the impact on childrenTimestamps:02:00 – The story behind Anna's book05:30 – Where food beliefs begin in childhood11:10 – The harms of diet culture in schools17:20 – Healing when you’re still struggling yourself23:00 – Recovery as a form of parenting30:00 – Why disordered eating is often overlooked33:40 – The danger of unregulated weight loss medsTrigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of eating disorders, disordered eating, and weight loss medication, which may be triggering for some listeners.Resources & Links:Book: How to Talk to Children About Food BookConnect with Anna via: Website | InstagramConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
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Exploring the Link Between Disordered Eating and Alcohol Misuse with Orlagh Reid
In this week's episode, Han is joined by Orlagh Reid. Orlagh is a qualified coach, accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with over 20 years' experience in complementary health, psychology and coaching. Orla specialises in women’s health, alcohol freedom, and clinical sexology.Orlagh joins Han to discuss the often-overlooked relationship between alcohol use disorder and disordered eating, exploring the complexities and shared behaviours between the two.This week, we discuss:How alcohol is often used to self-soothe or replace food The cultural normalisation of alcohol and how it affects recovery The similarities between eating disorder and alcohol recovery journeys How neurodivergence and menopause in alcohol misuse The shift toward alcohol freedom, and what that truly meansThe importance of curiosity and awareness in your relationship with alcohol and foodTimestamps: 01:00 – The culture of alcohol in Ireland05:00 – How alcohol became part of Orlagh's work 08:30 – The all-or-nothing mindset in both EDs and alcohol use 13:40 – Neurodivergence, diet neglect, and alcohol patterns 20:00 – Social pressures and the reward cycle 26:00 – Alcohol and menopause 32:00 – Orthorexia, wellness extremes & personal reflectionTrigger Warning: This episode discusses eating disorders, alcohol use disorder, and disordered eating. Please check in with yourself before listening. Support is available via charities such as Beat and First Steps.Resources & Links:Orlagh's websiteTrigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of eating disorders, alcohol use disorder, and disordered eating.Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
This week, Han is joined by Cerian Harries - a former elite swimmer and passionate voice for raising awareness around RED-S, amenorrhea, and fuelling properly in sport. After struggling with amenorrhea and an eating disorder during her swimming career, Cerian now shares her story to help other female athletes understand that health and performance can go hand in hand.This week, we discuss:What is RED-S and how it relates to amenorrheaCerian's experience of RED-S and support from her GP and gynaecologistNormalisation of period loss in female athletesSymptoms of RED-S: fatigue, injury, poor recoveryThe impact of disordered eating in sportRole of supportive coaching in addressing body image and food concernsPrioritising long-term health over short-term performanceFuelling correctly to improve athletic performanceThe role of elite athletes in modelling healthy habitsPerfectionism, obsessionality & rigidity in competitive athletesLetting go of athlete identity and rewriting your story post-sportUsing exercise for recovery vs. navigating exercise compulsionTimestamps:[01:56] What is RED-S?[03:14] Amenorrhea & early dismissal in sport[06:48] Cerian's RED-S experience[13:36] The slippery slope of food rules and "bad foods"[20:09] Getting a diagnosis & seeking medical help[23:36] Identity loss after sport[27:36] Rediscovering joyful movement through CrossFit[30:20] Breaking the reliance on exercise for emotion regulationResources & Links:Cerian's Instagram (@female_athletetriad_awareness)Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of eating disorders, amenorrhea, and RED-S.Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
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Exploring the Relationship Between ADHD and Disordered Eating with Kate Moryoussef
In this week's episode, Han is joined by Kate Moryoussef – host of the award-winning ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast, ADHD lifestyle and wellbeing coach, EFT practitioner, and newly published author of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit.Kate shares her personal journey of receiving an ADHD diagnosis at 40, how it interlinked with her daughter’s diagnosis, and the ripple effects of awareness that changed both their lives. We dive into:Key Takeaways:The emotional impact of late ADHD diagnosisWhy masking, self-criticism, and burnout are common in neurodivergent womenThe nuanced connection between ADHD and disordered eatingEmotional regulation, perfectionism, and self-soothing behavioursThe role of screening and neurodivergent-informed support in eating disorder treatmentHow ADHD affects women uniquely across the lifespan, including hormonal healthKate’s holistic wellbeing tools for managing ADHDTimestamps: 00:47 – Kate's journey to diagnosis & supporting her daughter 04:00 – ADHD traits in women & the power of community 10:00 – Masking, friendships & self-acceptance 17:00 – Disordered eating & ADHD: what Kate has learned from hosting the podcast25:00 – Why neurodiversity should be at the forefront of healthcare 35:00 – The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit: who it's for & how it helps 43:00 – Holistic, neuroaffirming support toolsResources & Links:Kate's websiteThe ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit (available from 17 July)Kate on Instagram: @adhd_womenswellbeingTrigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of disordered eating, ADHD, and trauma. Connect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
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The Devastating Impact of T1DE: Megan’s Story and the Fight for Change with Lesley and Neal Davison
In this deeply moving episode, Han is joined by Lesley and Neal Davison. In 2017, their 27-year-old daughter, Megan, took her own life as a result of a long struggle with T1DE, a deadly combination of food and insulin restriction.Since her death, Lesley and Neal have campaigned on all platforms to raise awareness of this condition and successfully carried out a legal challenge to the outcome of her original inquest.This episode highlights the urgent need for integrated care and the systemic reforms they’re now fighting for.Key Takeaways:What is T1DE (type 1 diabetes with disordered eating), and why is it often misunderstood?Megan’s lived experience: from early signs to repeated hospital admissionsHow the lack of joined-up care between diabetes and ED services became fatalThe legal inquest that exposed failures, and the changes they’re advocating forHow to support those at risk, as a professional or loved oneTimestamps:08:30 – Megan’s T1D diagnosis & early challenges16:10 – Onset of disordered eating & insulin restriction25:00 – Hospitalisation, distress & gaps in care34:15 – The inquest and campaigning for change42:00 – Supporting others: advice for parents and clinicians52:40 – What integrated care should look likeTrigger Warning:This episode includes discussion of suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, and the loss of a loved one.Resources:The Megan Sugar Davison StoryInquest coverage in the BBCBEAT Eating Disorders – Diabulimia InfoDiabetes UK – Mental Health SupportConnect with Us:Subscribe to the Full of Beans Podcast hereFollow Full of Beans on Instagram hereRead our latest blog hereThank you for listening and being part of this important conversation!If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might benefit!Sending positive beans your way, Han 💛
Full of Beans Podcast: Sharing the Unheard Voices in Eating DisordersEating disorders are complex, often misunderstood, and wrapped in layers of stigma. That’s why Full of Beans is here - to open up the conversation and foster understanding through real, raw, and research-backed discussions.Hosted by Han, founder of Full of Beans and passionate mental health advocate, this podcast explores eating disorders through the lens of lived experience, clinical expertise, and the latest research. Each week, Han sits down with guests, including individuals with firsthand experiences, clinicians, researchers, and charities, who all share one goal: to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and support those affected by eating disorders.With a mix of heartfelt stories and professional insights, Full of Beans is a space for education, advocacy, and connection. Whether you're navigating your own eating disorder journey, supporting a loved one, or working in the mental health field, this podcast is here to provide knowledge, compassion, and hope.Join us in creating a community where eating disorders are understood, and no one feels alone in their struggles.(Please note: This podcast is for awareness and education purposes and is not a substitute for professional therapeutic support.)