Conditioned Food Sensitivity

Exploring Food Restriction Due to Sensory Differences

In this episode, Susan Watson and I explore the challengespeople face when certain foods feel uncomfortable due to their sensory characteristics — such as smell, taste, or texture. Susan shares both her personal experience with sensory differences and the valuable insights she’s gained through her work in nutrition counselling, helping clients navigate foodrestrictions with understanding and self-compassion. Susan Watson is a registered dietitian and eating disorderspecialist, and the founder of A Little Nutrition and Therapy Services Winnipeg—a multidisciplinary practices that help individuals heal their relationship with food and body through a compassionate, weight-inclusive approach. With over 15 years of experience in nutrition counselling and mental health, Susan is passionate about bridging the gap between nutrition care and mental well-being. You can reach her at www.alittlenutrition.com [http://www.alittlenutrition.com] or  info@alittlenutrition.com [info@alittlenutrition.com].

Positive Visualization: Focused Use of Imagination to Change Habitual Patterns

Positive visualization can help us reshape the beliefs andpatterns that hold us back — yet creating personal audio recordings isn’t always easy. In this episode, we break down the process step by step, exploring how to write your own visualization script, record it with confidence, andweave it into a meaningful daily practice. Dr. Navidi is a licensed clinical psychologist andco-founder of GI Psychology, a multi-state center specializing in the treatment of GI disorders and chronic pain. He oversees training and outreach for the practice and is also a founder and past president of the Northern Virginia Society of Clinical Hypnosis, as well as a hypnosis trainer for ISSTD. Dr.Navidi has given talks about GI disorders and chronic pain to organizations around the country and has appeared on multiple podcasts, spreading awareness ofevidence-based psychological approaches to GI care. You can reach Dr. Navidi through his email: admin@gipsychology.com

Year-End Reflection

In this year-end episode, Wendy looks back onsome of the most powerful insights shared by her 2025 podcast guests—especiallyaround the theme of acceptance. Drawing from conversations with her guests, sheexplores how acceptance of symptoms, emotions, and lived experience can reducesuffering and support healing. Wendy also introduces a simple dailyvisualization practice to help listeners soften resistance and make space formeaningful change.

Help Your Child Develop a Positive Eating Relationship, Even if You Struggle with Food Fear

A parent/caregiver's food relationship impacts how their child's feeding relationship develops. For example, many children pick up food fear from a parent.  Jaclyn shares tips on how to turn these challenges into teachable moments with your child.   A parent/caregiver's relationship to food has a direct impact on their child's feeding development. As they develop, children learn from observation and may adopt similar habits or behaviours from the adults around them. For example, a child may not like a food because their parent/caregiver does not like it; this could even transpire into fear of the food altogether. Jaclyn shares tips on how to turn these challenges into teachable moments with your child. Jaclyn Pederson, MHI,  is the Chief Executive Officer of Feeding Matters. With more than a decade of experience in program development, Jaclyn Pederson's broad knowledge of programming in the public and social sectors includes program and strategic initiative design, fund development, special events, grant writing, and community engagement. A system thinker and positive team builder, she uses transformational leadership principles to develop energized and efficient workgroups that influence significant organizational and systemic change for all affected by pediatric feeding disorder –such as the development of the expanded PFD Alliance. Jaclyn also manages Feeding Matters' strategic partnerships with numerous professional associations, including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN). You can reach Jaclyn through her website and social media. https://www.feedingmatters.org [https://www.feedingmatters.org]  https://www.facebook.com/feedingmatters [https://www.facebook.com/feedingmatters]  https://www.instagram.com/feedingmatters  [https://www.instagram.com/feedingmatters]

Elimination Diet Red Flags: Stay out of the C-FAST

Elimination diets are a primary risk factor for getting stuck in the Conditioned Food Avoidance and Sensitivity Trap. Julia Cassidy joined me for an insightful discussion on this topic. She highlights the key warning signs that you may have developed a fearful relationship with food and what to do if you notice these red flags. Julia Cassidy is a highly experienced dietitian with 20 years of dedication to weight-inclusive and nutrition-sensitive care within the behavioral health field. Her leadership roles have included Vice President of Clinical Nutrition and Senior Director of Nutrition and Wellness. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Consultant, a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, certified in Nutrition Psychiatry, and a Licensed Body Positive Facilitator. Listeners can connect with Julia at julscass@me.com [julscass@me.com] or www.thriving-nutrition.net [http://www.thriving-nutrition.net/]