Episode 47: Co-Parenting Through an Eating Disorder: What to Do When You’re Not Aligned
Release Date: 02/04/2026
Plateful Parenting Podcast
In Episode 47, Christine and Chanel dive into one of the most emotionally charged—and incredibly common—realities families face during eating disorder treatment: what happens when parents (or co-parents) don’t agree on what the child needs, what “serious” looks like, or how to move forward. This episode is honest, grounded, and deeply validating—especially for the parent who feels like they’re carrying the weight of appointments, decisions, advocacy, and fear… while also trying to keep the home calm for a child who’s already struggling. Together, Christine and Chanel explore:...
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In this episode of Plateful Parenting, Chanel Kenner, RD and Christine Heller sit down with Dennis Bulani, farmer and author of What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food. Together, they unpack one of the most overlooked aspects of how families relate to food—where it actually comes from. From his boots-on-the-ground perspective, Dennis walks us through the disconnect between modern food marketing and real-life farming. We talk about: The myths about “big ag” and what terms like “organic,” “natural,” and “non-GMO” actually mean The rise of fear-based food messaging and...
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info_outlineIn Episode 47, Christine and Chanel dive into one of the most emotionally charged—and incredibly common—realities families face during eating disorder treatment: what happens when parents (or co-parents) don’t agree on what the child needs, what “serious” looks like, or how to move forward.
This episode is honest, grounded, and deeply validating—especially for the parent who feels like they’re carrying the weight of appointments, decisions, advocacy, and fear… while also trying to keep the home calm for a child who’s already struggling.
Together, Christine and Chanel explore:
✨ Why disagreements are so common in ED recovery—and why they can feel so isolating
✨ The difference between “my child is choosing this” vs. understanding EDs as a mental health condition
✨ How control, power struggles, and family dynamics can show up in treatment decisions
✨ Why stereotypes about what an eating disorder “looks like” delay care for so many kids
✨ The role of weight stigma and internalized beliefs in parental resistance to treatment
✨ What to do when one parent is doing most of the work (appointments, follow-through, meal support)
✨ How to use your child’s clinician as a neutral “middle ground” when parents can’t agree
✨ Why therapy (individual + family) and peer support can be game-changers for parents
✨ Christine’s lived perspective: what she wishes she’d done differently—especially around communication and asking for help
This episode is for any parent who has thought:
“Am I overreacting?” “Why won’t my partner take this seriously?” “Why does it feel like I’m doing this alone?”
You’re not alone—and you’re not imagining how hard this is.
🔗 Plateful Parenting
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