Care Through Culinary: Nourishing The Mind, Body, and Soul | Aster Springs

Care Through Culinary: Nourishing The Mind, Body, and Soul

All Foods Fit and Intuitive Eating Principles

We are born as intuitive eaters, attuned to our internal cues, and equipped to honor our bodies by responding to these cues. At Aster Springs, we explore how diet culture and external influences disconnect individuals from their internal cues. We believe that all foods fit into a well-balanced lifestyle because every food we consume serves a purpose by nourishing the body. Our philosophy challenges clients to work toward unconditional permission to eat by exposing them to a wide variety of foods. Our clients work to rebuild trust in feeding themselves and understanding that all foods are morally equivalent.
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The Care Through Culinary Difference

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Nutrition: A Vital Part of Treatment

At Aster Springs, high-quality, client-centered care provides the basis for our holistic treatment. The teamwork dynamic at Aster Springs fosters each client’s internal motivation and intrinsic desire to build a positive relationship with food.
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Care Through Culinaryâ„¢:
Helping Our Clients Progress In Their Recoveries

Our nutritional and culinary teams are dedicated to preparing nutritious food and by doing so, extending real-time care to our clients. Culinary excellence involves nourishing the mind, body, and spirit and our clinical teams collaborate with each client in four key areas to help them achieve life-long recovery by:
This culinary collaboration builds the foundation of recovery by instilling clients with the knowledge, trust, and confidence they need to make choices that support sustainable freedom.

Meet the Nutritional and Culinary Staff

Emily Moorefield

Emily Moorefield, RD – Director of Nutrition Services - Richmond

Emily is a registered dietician who obtained her undergraduate degree in nutrition and dietetics from James Madison University. She went on to complete her dietetic internship at University of Virginia Health Systems. She’s currently working on her accreditation to be a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian (CED-RD). Prior to joining the Aster Springs team, Emily served as the Nutrition Manager at an eating disorder facility. Her career has included working at various levels of care for treating eating disorders to help clients improve their relationship with food. She’s also had the opportunity to raise awareness and provide education to the community on eating disorders through presentations and interdisciplinary panel discussions. Her counseling techniques integrate evidence-based nutrition science and motivational interviewing to aid her clients in reaching their full potential. Emily takes a therapeutic approach to nutrition and can connect with clients exceeding far beyond their relationship with food. She utilizes the Health at Every Size and All Foods Fit approaches.

Joseph Wilson – Chef

Joe is a chef who has spent his entire culinary career within healthcare. He’s worked in adolescent residential care for eating disorders in Durham, NC, as well as partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient eating disorder treatment for adolescents and adult clients in Richmond, VA. A graduate of the Art Institutes Culinary Program in Durham, NC, Joseph also served in the U.S. Navy.

His food philosophy regarding eating disorder treatment is to minimize anxiety surrounding food. This is achieved through food exposures in a guided, fun, less clinical environment where clients can learn fundamental knowledge regarding ingredients, cooking methods, history, and applications. A key component of treatment includes culinary groups where clients learn these skills and the ability to process their relationship with the healing nature of nutrition.

Stephanie Walker, RD – Registered Dietician - Richmond

Stephanie is a graduate from the University of Maryland where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. She then completed her Dietetic Internship and supervised practice at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she gained experience serving a variety of populations in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. It was through her own recovery from disordered eating and body dysmorphia that she became passionate about helping others heal their relationship with food and their bodies. Stephanie is an advocate for intuitive eating, Health at Every Size (HAES), and an all-foods-fit mindset. It’s her priority to meet clients where they are to support them in their walk toward recovery. In her time outside of work, she loves to spend time outdoors soaking up the sun and being surrounded by loved ones (including her two cats, Waffles and Biscuit).

Caroline Knight, RD – Registered Dietitian - Richmond

Caroline received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia. She then earned her Master of Science degree in Nutrition from Auburn University. After graduation, she completed her dietetic internship at the University of Houston with a focus on sports nutrition and disordered eating. She started her career as a sports dietitian in a Division I collegiate setting working with athletes, and then she transitioned into working with eating disorders and has worked at multiple levels of care since. Her approach is individualized, weight-inclusive, Health at Every Size aligned, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. She enjoys using a therapeutic approach, evidence-based nutrition science, and humor to help clients have a better understanding of how their bodies utilize nutrition and how to take the steps necessary to achieve recovery.

If you’re interested in learning more about our Care Through Culinaryâ„¢ program, Find the location nearest you today.