Eating Disorders + Maple Cinnamon Granola
Issue #11
Hello everyone, and happy Thursday! I know, I am a day ahead, but tomorrow is our school’s Senior Ball and wanted to get this issue out beforehand. This week's issue delves into eating disorders, with a focus on them within social media among adolescents. I'm excited to share some findings and a welcome back my mentor, Heather Gerrish, for further insights on this important topic. Plus, enjoy a delicious maple cinnamon granola recipe.
*Trigger Warning* this may be a sensitive topic for people with a history of eating disorders.
Eating Disorders
There is a common misconception that eating disorders are a choice, however, they are a serious illness associated with eating behaviors related to thoughts and emotions. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Focusing on adolescents, eating disorders over the last 50 years have increased among adolescent girls. From the National Library of Medicine, a report found that, “…prevalence rate for anorexia nervosa is 0.48% among girls 15 to 19 years old. Approximately 1% to 5 % of adolescent girls meet the criteria for bulimia nervosa. Today, more than ever, adolescents are prone to concerns about their weight, shape, size, and body image, and as a result, diet to lose weight.” A common trend with eating disorders, also seen with adolescents, is the misconception of today’s beauty standards. The misconception that skinny equals healthy, when it is far from the truth. However, diet culture over the years, especially on social media, has construed that starving your body and over-exercising is going to get you this “ideal” body.
When speaking to my mentor about this topic, Heather Gerrish, I asked her whether adolescents should be using social media as a tool for healthy eating tips?
“Well, I think that social media can be both a good and sometimes dangerous tool…but I do think that (adolescents) could use social media in beneficial ways as an outlet for creativity".”
Another point brought up in our interview was that social media platforms do not use trigger warnings when it comes to health and nutrition, especially for people with a history of an eating disorder.
“There are no warning signs for accounts that promote disordered eating and unfortunately many social media marketing ploys showcase unhealthy relationships with food…I think that students looking to learn about healthy ways to fuel their body are bombarded with the opposite message".”
Yes, social media can be an empowering tool, for connecting and building a community, but it can also do the exact opposite and reinforce unhealthy habits of dieting.
Restrictive Eating
Along with eating disorders, is the more noted term of restrictive eating. Yes, in some ways they are the same, but restrictive eating focuses more on limiting the amount of food one has. The most common trend on social media is the “1,200 calories a day” eating style or an all-liquid diet. Sure, some people may need to live this lifestyle of 1,200 calories or a liquid diet, but many people fall for this trend because of social media influencers. One of the things I pointed out in my research paper was that most of these influencers are there to sell a brand. Whether that be a weight-loss program or diet supplements to make them money. Their job is to show their followers that this one diet pill will change their life when really, they say that to make money. Because of this unhealthy mentality of dieting, it creates patterns of unhealthy eating behaviors.
“Unfortunately, many patterns of disordered eating and restrictive eating behaviors have presented from the use of comparison on social media. There is always a “grass is greener” situation and this overshadows any personal struggles or underlying disordered eating that social media influencers or personal posting might have, even unknowingly, to their account in hopes of promoting a quote, healthy diet or meal plan. And this can result in more restrictive eating behaviors from viewers and especially teens who are looking for more and more answers online, however, this sometimes comes at a dangerous price.”
I hope you enjoyed this week’s issue and again thank you to my mentor for allowing me to put our interview into my newsletter. Now please enjoy this maple cinnamon granola recipe, that I have been making on repeat.
Maple Cinnamon Granola (GF, DF, Vegan) *Includes Nuts*
Serves 10
Ingredients
2 Cups of oats
1/2 cup of each almonds, pistachios, & walnuts, roughly chopped *or any nut that you prefer* (you can use cashews, pecans, etc.)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (Can also use butter)
1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
1 tsp vanilla extract (Optional)
1 tbsp cinnamon or 1 tsp (but I like cinnamon so 1 tbsp is perfect)
Pinch of sea salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients listed and mix.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add the granola mixture, spreading the mixture out to ensure it evenly cooks.
Place into the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Allow to cool completely before enjoying! Add on top of yogurt bowls or enjoy on its own!