"Will this make me sick?"
Maybe you've started avoiding restaurants.
Maybe your list of "safe foods" keeps getting smaller.
Maybe you're hungry, but eating feels stressful because you don't know how your body will respond.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.
For many people living with gastroparesis and other digestive conditions, food starts to feel less like nourishment and more like something to fear.
While making nutrition changes can absolutely be necessary to manage symptoms, I also want you to know this: you deserve a way of eating that supports both your digestive health and your quality of life.
That's why I'm especially excited for two opportunities this week to talk about a topic that doesn't get enough attention: the relationship between digestive disease and food fear.
Does this sound familiar?
✔️ You feel anxious before eating.
✔️ Your list of "safe foods" keeps getting smaller.
✔️ You're skipping meals because eating feels overwhelming.
✔️ You avoid social events because food is involved.
✔️ You're worried every symptom means another food needs to come off your plate.
✔️ You feel like you're constantly thinking about food, symptoms, or what could go wrong if you eat.
If you're nodding along, I want you to know something important.
Feeling afraid to eat because you've experienced painful or uncomfortable symptoms is a very real and understandable response.
The goal isn't to force yourself to eat foods that make you feel miserable.
The goal is to find the balance between managing symptoms and making sure food fear doesn't begin taking over your life.
🎙️ New Podcast Episode: The Overlap Between GI Disease & Food Fear
This week, I was recently interviewed on Surviving Out of Spite to discuss a topic I'm incredibly passionate about.
We'll be talking about:
• Why food fear is so common among people with gastroparesis and other GI disorders
• How medically necessary food modifications differ from an eating disorder like ARFID
• Warning signs that food restriction may be becoming too restrictive
• How to recognize when it's time to seek additional support
• Why individualized nutrition care matters so much for chronic digestive conditions
If you've ever wondered whether you're being "too restrictive" or struggled to trust your body around food, I think you'll find this conversation incredibly validating.
Check out a clip of the episode on Instagram!
💚 Free Webinar with the President of G-Pact, Samantha Sauer
I'm also thrilled to partner with Samantha Sauer from G-PACT for a free educational webinar during Gastroparesis Awareness Month this Friday, August 7th at 12:00 pm CST.
Together, we'll cover practical nutrition strategies that go beyond the typical handout.
Topics include:
• Meal timing and why it may matter for symptom management
• Making meals more satisfying while considering texture tolerance
• Understanding protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals without feeling overwhelmed
• Food pairing strategies
• Solid fats versus liquid fats and why tolerance can differ
• How to estimate your protein needs without obsessing over numbers
• Symptom tracking as an alternative to rigid food tracking
• Why recommendations should always be individualized—not one-size-fits-all
We'll also discuss a question I hear all the time:
"If my current eating pattern seems to work for me, do I really need to change it?"
Instead of giving blanket rules, we'll talk about getting curious about your own body and making changes only when they support your health goals and quality of life.
📅 Date: Friday, August 7th
🕒 Time:12:00 pm CST / 1:00 pm EST
👉 Reserve your spot here:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/noapxzT9SEmVAu8-YoKw-Q
🌱 A Gentle Reminder
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that everyone with gastroparesis should avoid all fat or all fiber forever.
The truth is, nutrition recommendations should always be individualized.
Your food preferences, cultural traditions, cooking skills, lifestyle, symptom patterns, and nutrition needs all matter.
Just because someone else can't tolerate a particular food doesn't automatically mean you won't.
That's why working with a GI dietitian can make such a difference. Together, we can explore adjustments to meal timing, portions, food texture, and preparation methods so you can nourish your body with confidence instead of fear.
❤️ Kind Words from My Clients
"I found Samina in the middle of a big IBS flare up. She worked with me on my diet, my habits, and showed me that I don’t have to restrict to be healthy. She helped me cut through all the food noise that had been in my head for decades, and that is priceless! I still have flare ups from time to time, and I go back to my notes from my sessions with her every time to get back to normal. I highly recommend working with her!"
"In the face of diet culture and both aggressive and restrictive approaches to addressing digestive issues, Samina’s understanding of how diverse experiences affect different peoples’ situations has been such a breath of fresh air. She is extremely knowledgeable about not only the obvious dietetics aspect of her work, but the sociological and cultural aspects as well, which truly play such a significant role in peoples’ varying experiences. Her open-mindedness and non-judgmental approach helped to not only make me feel much more comfortable addressing such difficult and personal issues, but to do so with confidence. My relationship with and attitude towards food and eating has improved in a way I couldn’t have previously imagined. If you’re located in Austin, Texas, or looking for a Texas-based dietician who will make you feel comfortable, seen, and human, look no further than Wholesome Start!"
Read more reviews here!
Ready for Personalized Support?
If digestive symptoms have made eating feel confusing, stressful, or isolating, you don't have to navigate it alone.
My goal isn't to hand you another list of foods to avoid.
It's to help you understand your body, expand your confidence with food whenever possible, and create a way of eating that supports both symptom management and quality of life.
If you're ready for personalized, evidence-based nutrition support, I'd love to help.
Book a free 15-minute discovery call to see if we're a good fit.
