Eating Together: An Introduction to Group Meal Support
It’s one thing to talk about food and eating, and it’s another to actually share a meal in real time with others who “get it”. Put your strategies into practice and get real time support by coming to a virtual meal support group!
This post is designed to help you learn more about what group meal support is, who it’s for, and what to expect from it as part of your recovery journey.
So…what is meal support?
Meal support is essentially eating a meal (or a snack) with others in a supportive, pro-recovery environment. Many hospital based eating disorder programs incorporate meal support as a core aspect of their program (typically for multiple meals every day), but meal support can also be informal and take place at home, at a restaurant, or online…anywhere!
In my virtual community private practice, I offer group meal support online. This means participants tune in with their prepared meal on Zoom over lunchtime, with a facilitator (typically me, Courtenay) to guide them. My meal support sessions are fairly casual, giving participants the autonomy to bring what they want without rigid expectations. It’s ultimately about participants being able to meet themselves where they are at while receiving guidance and support while eating.
It’s important to note that meal support is different from nutrition counselling or therapy - we’re not doing deep ED exploration or discussing meal plans, or even talking about food. The primary goal of meal support is to eat a meal, together, in a supportive space with light conversation and helpful distractions.
Think of meal support as practice. It’s a place to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and hopefully create more manageable experiences with eating that can be carried over into future meals.
Who is meal support for?
Many individuals with an eating disorder or disordered eating can benefit from meal support! It may be especially helpful for:
Anyone with food anxiety and distress at meals
Someone who feels stuck in ED recovery, often delaying meals or struggling to move forward with their specific food related goals at mealtime.
Folks who tend to avoid or delay eating, especially if they live alone
Anyone who wants more support with eating as part of their ED recovery journey
People who are working towards greater independence and flexibility with eating and food situations
From a very logistical standpoint, my meal support group is specifically for adults (17+) working on recovery living in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or the Territories in Canada 🇨🇦
Meal support with Courtenay may not be the best fit if you find the idea of eating with others highly distressing, or are unable to eat on camera at this time.
What can I expect in a virtual meal support group?
With every eating moment, even outside of meal support, there’s the “before”, “during”, and “after”. Meaning there’s what happens right before we eat which can help set the tone and help folks feel more regulated before eating. The “during” means we’re actually eating, typically aiming for 20-30 minutes as an appropriate length of time. Then the “after”, a common time where folks may feel more anxious or stressed, so we plan to stay together and offer supportive strategies including helpful distractions.
Every meal support session I run is 60 minutes in length, generally over lunchtime, and follows a similar structure:
Welcome and grounding (5 minutes)
Supported eating (30 minutes) with time cues, gentle prompts and reassurance from the facilitator. We’ll chat about light topics and engage with one another, as if we were eating lunch together in person.
Post meal support (20 minutes) - this typically looks like more supportive conversation and distractions (I’m a big fan of word games).
Check out (5 minutes) where we can share more about how the session went before signing off.
What do I bring?
When you sign up for a virtual meal support group, you’ll prepare your own meal ahead of time. Your meal should be something that’s appropriate for where you are at in your recovery.
Typically I recommend bringing an entree with 1-2 sides, a calorie-containing beverage, and a dessert. For example, this could look like a ham and cheese sandwich (entree) + cucumber sticks and dip (side) + yogurt (second side) + glass of cranberry juice (beverage) + oreo cookies (dessert). Again, please meet yourself where you are at, but also try and use meal support groups as an opportunity to challenge yourself!
For anyone wanting a bit more of a challenge, you may want to bring a challenge food - this might be a specific food item that you often avoid and want to work on reclaiming into your regular eating pattern. For example, someone who’s nervous about chocolate milk may want to try bringing a glass of chocolate milk alongside their meal.
Need ideas? I love recommending checking out this instagram page (@platebyplateapproach) - it’s filled with visuals of meals and snacks appropriate for most people’s recovery!
If you’re feeling stuck with what to bring and appropriate portions, this might be something to discuss with your eating disorder dietitian ahead of time.
What are the benefits of meal support?
There are SO many benefits to attending meal support groups! Here’s a few that often stand out to me in my practice:
Reduces isolation - you’re eating with others who truly understand.
Interrupts eating disorder thoughts through gentle distraction and presence
Builds tolerance for anxiety and discomfort around food
Supports pacing, whether you tend to rush through meals or take a very long time
Creates accountability without shame or pressure
Makes eating feel more possible on hard days
Over time, these experiences can translate into more confidence eating outside of sessions.
Ready to sign up?
If you’re looking for structured and compassionate support with meals, join my lunchtime meal support group!
Available for Canadian residents of Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or the Territories, ages 17+. Email me if you have any questions: hello@courtenayvickersrd.com
I hope you’ll join me for lunch :)
