Food Psych #268: Navigating Boundaries, Diet Talk, and Beauty Standards in Latinx Communities and Western Culture with Dalina Soto

Photographer: Khali MacIntyre

Introduction & Guest Bio:

Anti-diet dietitian Dalina Soto joins us to discuss navigating boundaries, diet talk, and beauty standards in Latinx communities and Western culture; the lack of diversity in dietetics; what she learned in her first jobs as a Spanish-speaking dietitian; her relationship with her postpartum body; and so much more. Plus, in “Ask Food Psych,” Christy answers a listener question about how to find online movement/fitness programs that align with the anti-diet approach. 

Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LDN, is founder and bilingual registered dietitian at Your Latina Nutritionist. Throughout her career, Dalina has worked in the Latinx community as one of the only Spanish-speaking RDs helping clients ditch diets. Through Instagram she has been able to expand and reach Latinas all over the world and has helped them ditch the diets and practice body respect. Find her online at YourLatinaNutrition.com.

We Discuss:

  • Dalina’s parents’ intuitive relationship with food

  • What motivated her to pursue a career in dietetics

  • The cognitive dissonance and microaggressions that she experienced in her dietetics training

  • The various factors that contribute to the lack of diversity in dietetics

  • Christy’s experiences as a second-career dietetics student 10-12 years ago

  • Dalina’s experiences in her dietetics training 

  • What she learned in her first jobs as a Spanish-speaking dietitian

  • The nuances of bringing Health At Every Size® to Latinx communities

  • Navigating boundaries and diet talk in Latinx culture

  • Beauty standards in Latinx cultures

  • Dalina’s goals for her clients as a weight-inclusive dietitian

  • Her relationship with her postpartum body

  • How Dalina’s personal and professional experiences have changed her relationship with her mother

Resources Mentioned

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Ask Food Psych

Listener Question:

“How can I find online movement/fitness apps, trainers, or programs that are free from diet culture?”—Farah

We Discuss: 

  • Why no one is obligated to engage in physical activity, and why it may actually be beneficial to not engage in structured movement

  • The benefits of yoga

  • Anti-diet movement instructors and programs that Christy recommends

Resources Mentioned: 

 
Christy HarrisonBIPOC, Latinx, intuitive eating, dietetics, cognitive dissonance, microaggressions, racism, oppression, nuance, Health At Every Size, HAES, boundaries, beauty, diet talk, postpartum, movement, yoga, dance, anti-diet, S821