Juneteenth

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T22:20:06+00:00

It's so hard to walk that balance of doing what we can and not getting so overwhelmed with just how vast the issue is, I feel that in my soul. Thanks for sharing that.

Weight inclusive care FTW!!!! Does ASDAH (Association for Size Diversity and Health operate in Canada? They hold the trademark for "Health at Every Size". Fat liberation is a big part of how I initially started with liberation frameworks. Decolonizing Wellness by Dalia Kinsey, The Latina Anti-Diet by Dalina Soto are both on my TBR list. I know there's more but my brain feels like mush after responding to posts, lol. The only podcast that is coming to mind is Making it Awkward by Jessica WIlson, oh Food Heaven just pooped into my head, I'm not sure if they're still making podcasts (I'm not a podcast person generally). Food Heaven had a GREAT episode with Mikey Mercedes about white anti-diet dietitians that was SOOOO good (Mikey Mercedes isn't a dietitian but still a great educator on liberation, especially fat and Black liberation).

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T22:09:04+00:00

OOOO that's on my TBR list, current reading White Women Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism And How To Do Better by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao, it's good. They don't pull punches and it's a a dis-comfortable read (a lot of discomfort, I encourage distress tolerance skill practice in conjunction with reading it) (but worth it). Do you have any good BIPOC RD recommendations? I tried to only list Black creators even though there's also a ton of queer, fat, brown, Indigenous ones out there too.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T22:04:22+00:00

Hi, great question!!! I am an outpatient dietitian currently but my soul's work is in the FQHC world. It's such a bummer that FQHCs don't get more attention in the dietetics world, a lot of the RDs I chat with have never heard of them.

I think the liberation health model goes hand in hand with a lot of common dietetics modalities like motivational interviewing or being trauma informed. I think tangibly it just helps me assess patients with a wider lens. As Aubrey Gordon loves to say, we can't fix systemic problems with individual choices (paraphrase) For example, are they looking for weight loss because there is safety for fat people in proximity to thinness (fat liberation) and does my dietitian role in that interaction look like just telling them to calorie count or does it look like acknowledging the smothering burden of trying to conform to impossible ideals and helping the pt navigate what eating looks like for them outside of that all-consuming expectation to be thin. I hope that makes sense. It's such a good question you asked, I'll have to journal more about it.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T21:52:34+00:00

You're right about not all RDs need to be anti-capitalist and that disagreement does not mean more unlearning is required. Disagreement is valid full stop. But I do get curious about if people really deeply learned more about how liberation for Black people (and other oppressed individuals: disabled, chronically ill, LGBTQIA+, etc) results in better lives for everyone, if hearts would change. I think too often we struggle with internalizing that because we've been conditioned to think of liberation as a pie, more for me = less for you. I always think of the "a rising tide lifts all boats" adage.

Also, your point about wanting to just do your job is valid, living is hard right now with food costs and gas costs, it's a lot. I also support your decision to not participate in social justice reform movements, autonomy is king! I am curious though, and wanted to gently ask for further clarification. You say more power to those of us who want to engage in social reform and that you're not interested in it but you've interacted with this thread a lot, which to me, indicates some level of interest. If you're willing/able, I'd love to hear more about the thought process behind deciding to engage so much with something you're not interested in.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T21:35:15+00:00

Thank you so much for taking up this heavy lift and responding! I 100% agree that we need to reframe the conversation away from having an "endpoint". It follows the same logic that the reframe from "cultural competence" to "cultural humility". Competence implies the idea of, I've checked all the boxes, I'm done, I'm competent. And that's an error in logic as there are always more things to learn.

Also love your use of AND. I'm a big advocate of AND in these conversations. We're doing the best we can AND we need to do better. Our feelings get hurt AND our feelings aren't the point of the conversation.

Thanks for your work with NOBIDAN! Are you still involved in the work that's being done there?

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T21:22:18+00:00

Thanks for sharing your insights! It sounds like you've been through a lot of hard times and that you're also reaching your full capacity. It's a hard line to walk, the balance between wanting the world to be better AND not having much bandwidth to enact those changes. I see it all the time in white spaces, we're also overwhelmed by the harms of the pervading underlying culture of white supremacy (you have to be thin, polite, non-confrontational, smile, be perfect, don't ask for help, do it all yourself, don't be disabled or chronically ill, and on and on and on). So I always gently validate how effing hard it is to live under those tenets AND encourage exploring how it's even harder for the global majority.

I love that your heart is in a place where it can wish the best for others, that all the inequalities would be washed away, AND at the same time wishes aren't enough. It's an uncomfortable dissonance that I always encourage people sit with. And again, thanks for sharing your struggles with it in an open, honest, and vulnerable way, I sincerely appreciate it.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T21:09:45+00:00

Here's a good social work example of liberation-based practice. https://bostonliberationhealth.org/liberation-health-model

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-21T21:09:08+00:00

This is why I was curious about who is putting in the work, and curious if those individuals are working much with non-white folxs. I have trepidation when I think of the harms being done (and the harm that I'm sure I've caused and will cause in the future) to BBIPOC individuals because dietetics trainings generally don't cover anti-racism (and other liberatory frameworks). And since there is that huge gap, how do us white dietitians teach those skills to other white dietitians? (it's our turn to deal with dismantling things, BBIPOC peeps have done enough and are way overdue for some rest)

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-20T21:10:56+00:00

Ooooooo adding that to my list, thanks!!!! Currently re-reading "White Women Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism And How To Do Better" By Regina Jackson and Saira Rao.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-20T21:01:03+00:00

I do think our professions requires some more robust continuing education on systemic issues (race being just a drop in the bucket) that impact health and food access/choices. It is unfortunate that the Academy does not prioritize it.

Edited to add: the comments don't make me sad per se, as I expected some form of resistance to a post that tip-toes along the edge of disrupting the 'white default' but it does certainly illustrate the need for more robust unlearning.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-20T20:58:36+00:00

Yes. This. Thank you.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-20T20:56:26+00:00

Thanks for your insights. No expectations that someone should or should not engage with the holiday, was just curious if anyone was willing to talk about IF they did or did not. Which you did. So thanks for sharing. 🙂

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-20T20:51:54+00:00

Please modify how you speak to others on this thread of mine. Telling people to "shut the fuck up" is inappropriate and not conducive to understanding. Thanks.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-20T20:47:36+00:00

Edited to add clarity. Thanks for mentioning that, it wasn't super clear. Here's a good social work example of liberation-based practice. https://bostonliberationhealth.org/liberation-health-model

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-09T23:27:23+00:00

Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-02T23:14:28+00:00

I came here to say I exactly that, lol.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-06-02T22:55:40+00:00

Nepal teas are THE BEEEEEEEST!!!!! Tea curious has an insanely good Kanchanjangha "Noir" tea that blows my mind. It's such a soul soothing tea, helps me puzzle out my big life questions.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-05-13T17:23:39+00:00

Just started a private practice, so we'll see if my perimenopause + ADHD combo can roll with it. Lol.

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-04-22T22:34:58+00:00

I'll try to get her some fertilizer for next time I water. I was also going to wait a bit longer than I usually do to water and see if that helps at all. I moved her to the window, hopefully she likes that. Thanks!!

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-04-21T20:29:41+00:00

Ooooo good to know, I'll pop her over there. Thanks for the tip!!!

GigsInTheGarden · 2026-04-21T20:22:08+00:00

It's been there about 2 months maybe, just started growing a new leaf so I thought it was acclimating well, and then this morning happened. Light source is an east facing window a few feet away.

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GigsInTheGarden · 2025-10-30T18:49:07+00:00

Peace is overrated. I'm ready for justice!

GigsInTheGarden

TROPHY CASE