Food Junkies Podcast

In this episode of Clinician's Corner, Molly and Clarissa get real about one of the most pervasive and painful barriers in recovery from ultra-processed food use disorder: shame and stigma.
Fresh off facilitating two back-to-back retreats (with Vera joining both!), they bring the depth of those in-person conversations directly to you. This is the kind of episode that meets you where you are — no toxic positivity, no oversimplified "just love yourself" advice, and absolutely no shaming you into change.
In this episode, you'll hear:
The ancient roots of stigma and how it evolved from physical branding to the labels we carry today
How external stigma becomes internalized — and why that inner critic is the real battleground
Why shame is rarely a catalyst for sustainable change (and why "hitting bottom" is not a recovery strategy)
The ways shame quietly shrinks our lives: postponing travel, relationships, photos, joy — until we're "fixed"
Whether shame can ever be an ally, and when it becomes maladaptive
Why self-compassion is the antidote to shame — but it's not the whole story
The difference between doing this work cognitively vs. somatically, and why both matter
What it looks like to stop fighting shame and start collaborating with it instead
Exploring Shame Resource
A note for listeners: This is a big ask. Everything we talk about today is deeply ingrained — not a simple reframe. Give yourself permission to take it slowly. You don't have to figure this out in 60 minutes (it's taken us decades, and we're still in it).
Connect with us:
📧 [email protected]
🌐 https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/
If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it. And remember — your life is happening right now. Get in there and live it.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

What do you do when your child will only eat three foods — and none of them are vegetables? For Natalie Peltro, certified nutritional therapist and lifestyle medicine expert, that was her reality. Her son was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism at 18 months, and the journey to help him heal through food became the foundation of her entire career.
In this episode, Natalie shares the framework she's used with hundreds of families to overcome picky eating — not through force, pressure, or sneaky tricks that backfire — but through biology, nervous system awareness, and what she calls the Four E's.
Whether you're navigating picky eating in your household, supporting clients who struggle with ultra-processed food habits from childhood, or just trying to understand why your kid will eat mac and cheese but nothing green, this conversation is full of practical, compassionate strategies you can start using today.
In this episode, we cover:
How Natalie's son went from eating only 3 foods (nonverbal, severely autistic) to graduating mainstream school with honors
Why "fed is best" may be an outdated framework in today's ultra-processed food environment
The biology of picky eating — zinc deficiency, taste perception, and why green foods taste bitter to nutrient-deficient kids
The 10% Fading Rule: how to transform mac and cheese into a nutrient-dense meal without your child noticing
The Three Stages of Picky Eaters: Resistor, Adventurer, and Negotiator — and why the approach must be different for each
The Four E's Framework: Expectation, Emotional Intelligence, Environment, and Encouragement
Why "taste training" works faster in kids than adults (3–5 days vs. 7–14)
How your nervous system is sabotaging mealtime — and what to do before you even pick up the plate
The coupon system, safe plates, and other creative strategies that actually work
How to talk to grandparents and caregivers about food changes without blowing up the relationship
About Natalie Peltro: Natalie is the co-founder of Blue Life RX and creator of the Neuronutrition Program (formerly "Bring the Fun Back to Mealtime"), which helps families with picky eaters — including children with autism and ARFID — expand their food diversity through biology-first, fun-first strategies. She's also the host of the upcoming Brilliant Brains podcast.
🌐 Website: https://www.blueliferx.com/neuronutrition
📱 Instagram: nataliepelto_blueliferx 
ⓕ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueLifeRx
🎙️Podcast: Out in June 2026 – keep checking the website!!
The Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week.
📧Email us at [email protected]
👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you. Leave a comment below — we'd love to know: what's your biggest challenge around picky eating or feeding your family real food?
 
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

What if the most powerful tool for mental health recovery isn't a medication — it's your metabolism? 

Dr. Erin Louise Bellamy joins Dr. Vera Tarman for a deep dive into ketogenic metabolic therapy: what it is, how it works, and why it may be one of the most underutilized interventions in both psychiatric care and food addiction recovery. 

Dr. Bellamy is a chartered psychologist, CEO of IKRT (International Ketogenic Research & Therapy), and a research fellow at the University of East London. She has been researching and applying ketogenic metabolic therapy in clinical settings since 2014, with a background that bridges eating disorders, psychiatric research, and metabolic health. 

In this episode, Vera and Erin discuss: 

How Erin went from eating disorder and alexithymia research to ketogenic metabolic psychiatry — and why the field's "biopsychosocial" model was missing the bio 


The difference between metabolic psychiatry, ketogenic therapy, and therapeutic carbohydrate restriction — and why the terminology matters 


What carbohydrate range actually produces therapeutic ketosis (and why "dirty keto" doesn't cut it) 


The shared mechanistic pathways across psychiatric diagnoses — including mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and neuroinflammation 


Why antipsychotic medications create metabolic dysfunction, and how ketogenic therapy can help offset those side effects 


The GABA/glutamate shift that makes ketones naturally anxiolytic — and why this may work differently than the serotonin model of depression 


The "buffer effect": what it feels like to be in ketosis when you're a food addict — and why some people describe it as a pane of glass between themselves and a trigger food 


How ketogenic therapy compares to GLP-1 medications (Ozempic/Wegovy) for reducing food noise — and Erin's concerns about the long-term research 


MCT oil vs. exogenous ketones: when each is useful, and when exogenous ketones are counterproductive 


Applying ketogenic therapy to people with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and co-occurring food addiction 


How to support vegan or plant-based clients who want to pursue ketogenic therapy 


Why the first week matters most — and how to help clients through withdrawal without triggering a binge 


The 19-person IKRT group program published in Frontiers — and what's coming next in the research 



Connect with Dr. Erin Bellamy:  

🌐Web: Integrative Ketogenic Research and Therapies | ketogenic diet and mental health 

 

Food Junkies Podcast is hosted by Dr. Vera Tarman, Molly Painschab, and Clarissa Kennedy. New episodes every week. 

Connect with Food Junkies Podcast:  

🌐Web: Food Junkies Podcast ▶️ YouTube: Food Junkies Podcast - YouTube 

💌Email: [email protected] 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

CJ is joined today by Peggy, whose story is as raw as it is relatable. From the age of six, Peggy began navigating a complicated relationship with food that would follow her into adulthood. She shares candidly about tying her worth to always having a boyfriend, and the deep need for validation that drove those choices. While she was able to walk away from cigarettes with ease, food proved to be a far more difficult battle. Through years of weight fluctuations and self-discovery, Peggy's authenticity shines. Her honesty, vulnerability, and insight will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to feel enough.
If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at [email protected] 
Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email [email protected]

What if the missing piece in your recovery isn't more willpower — it's resilience? In this deeply inspiring episode, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Stephen Sideroff, UCLA psychologist, researcher, and one of the world's leading experts on stress, addiction, and optimal performance. With over 40 years at the intersection of neuroscience and recovery, Dr. Sideroff breaks down his comprehensive Nine Pillars of Resilience model and shows exactly how it applies to recovery from food addiction. 

🎙️ IN THIS EPISODE: 

Why stress is the #1 driver of both addiction and relapse — and what to do about it 


The real definition of resilience  


All Nine Pillars of Resilience explained — and how each one applies to food addiction 


Why your inner critic is keeping you stuck — and how to replace it 


The nervous system truth behind burnout: why most of us are already on the continuum 


How to "dress rehearse" recovery moments so you're prepared when cravings hit 


Why saying "this is difficult" actually makes things harder 


The biological age study Dr. Sideroff is running right now — and his own remarkable results 


How joy is not a luxury but a physiological necessity for recovery and aging 


Why anxiety and worry are a faulty strategy — and what to do instead 


The concept of "the path" — and why you don't have to do everything at once 


What quantum leadership has to do with recovery culture 


Why 12-step programs work through the lens of the resilience model 


🏛️ THE NINE PILLARS OF RESILIENCE: 

Relationship Pillars: 

Relationship with yourself — your inner voice, self-compassion, self-acceptance 


Relationship with others — healthy boundaries, connection, support 



Relationship with something greater — community, spirituality, purpose 


Organism Balance & Mastery: 

Physical balance & mastery — nervous system regulation, relaxation, parasympathetic recovery 


Cognitive balance & mastery — mindset, growth orientation, releasing negative thoughts 


Emotional balance & mastery — healing emotional wounds, reducing reactivity 


Engaging with the World: 

Presence — awareness of your environment and the energy you project 


Flexibility — adapting to obstacles, shifting perspective, seeing through others' eyes 


Power — courage, focus, goal-setting, taking action in spite of fear 


📖 DR. SIDEROFF'S BOOK: The Nine Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Master Stress, Slow Aging, and Increase Vitality  

🔗 CONNECT WITH DR. SIDEROFF:  

🌐 Visit Home - Dr. Stephen Sideroff for resources, his book, and the resilience questionnaire 

📬 CONNECT WITH FOOD JUNKIES:  

📧 Email: [email protected] 

 🌐 Website: foodjunkiespodcast.com

If this episode resonated with you, please leave us a review and share it with someone in recovery who needs to hear that healing is a path — not a single decision. 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.