Hi and happy Monday!

I hope summer has been treating you well. Summer for me has been full of bike rides, bikinis, and the beach.

Every summer I’m thankful to have a peaceful relationship with food and my body- but it hasn’t always been that way. There was a time, years ago now, that I would go through every day fatigued, underfed, and insecure. Thoughts about food and fears about my body dictated every summer experience. I couldn’t think straight because I wasn’t eating enough and I couldn’t be present because every thought I had was about how to shrink my body.

I’m grateful I learned about intuitive eating and health at every size (HAES), because now I have every moment of my summers. As a healed person, I wouldn’t trade my freedom for a smaller body.

Keep reading for resources to heal your body image, nutrient dense seeds you’re missing in your life, and a simple tool to find more peace.

From My Bookshelf

Recently on Instagram I posted my top books to learn more about diet culture and weight stigma. These books were a big part of my journey as a weight inclusive dietitian. Each one furthered my understanding of diet culture, its roots, and how it’s still influencing so much of society today. Each one also helped me heal my own relationship with food and my body by dismantling diet culture internally.

Check out my list of anti-diet books to enhance your understanding!

From The Blog

Basil Seeds vs. Chia Seeds: Which Super Seed Should You Choose?

I’ll be honest with you.

I had never heard of basil seeds until yesterday! Once I did, I needed to know everything. So I wrote this post.

What you can expect:

• Nutrition Comparison: Basil Seeds vs. Chia Seeds

• Digestibility and Gel Formation

• Health Benefits

• How to Use Basil Seeds vs. Chia Seeds

• Which Is Better—Basil Seeds or Chia Seeds?

From My Bag

This is a new segment in my newsletter and it’s an exciting one! The purpose is to highlight one product or item that has been improving my quality of life. Right now in my life, ✨it’s about the little things✨ and I want to share them with you!

Today I’d like to highlight the one thing that brings me peace when I need it the most - my journal.

My journal is like my best friend. It’s a place to be myself, be honest, and share my deepest thoughts and feelings before I tell anyone else. I don’t feel like myself without it!

I’ve used journals by Fringe for 6-7 years and they are my absolute favorite. They are sturdy, the covers are beautiful, and mine in particular has gold edges. I have the large journal, 7.5 × 9.5, and it's the perfect size.

If it sounds like something you need, check out my favorite journals here. This is not sponsored! I just adore these journals. They’ve helped me, and I hope they can help you too.

Thanks for reading! If you’re interested in learning more about me or the topics I write about, check out my blog.

If there’s a topic you'd like me to write about, send me an email at [email protected] or DM me on IG @theflexiblerd.

With love,

Chelsea