The Impact of Food Insecurity & Its Relation to Disordered Eating
There are so many different factors that can impact a person’s relationship with food and their body, and their eating disorder. Today, our Recovery Coach Priscilla is unpacking the connection to food insecurity and disordered eating. Take it away, Cilla!
Food Insecurity: What It Really Means
When we talk about food insecurity, we’re talking about:
Stressing that there won’t be enough food tomorrow
Skipping meals or stretching out what little you have
Opting for cheaper, less nutritious foods
And when these conditions persist, they can fuel or intensify ED behaviors like restriction, bingeing, or compulsive control.
Before We Dive In–-A Quick Intro
Hey there, I’m Priscilla (but most people call me Cilla). I’m an eating disorder and body confidence coach here at Collaborative Counseling & Nutrition, where I support folks in healing their relationships with food, body image, and self-worth, without the toxic positivity or one-size-fits-all advice.
You can read more about me HERE or visit my personal website to see how I mix clinical work with lived experience and a very opinionated relationship with Goldfish crackers.
I share all that because this topic—food insecurity and eating disorders—isn’t just professional for me. It’s personal. So, before we dive into the research and the why behind it all, let me tell you a bit about how I grew up and how my own story shaped the way I approach this work.
My Personal Story: The First Few Days After a Walmart Haul
I grew up in a food desert in western North Carolina. You know, one of those places where “grocery options” meant a Dollar General, a gas station with dusty shelves, and Walmart if you could get a ride.
My family got food in two main ways: through monthly food stamps and weekly food bank pickups. During the summer months, school lunches were delivered to our home—pre-packaged trays that mimicked the school cafeteria vibe, right down to the carton of chocolate milk.
But Walmart days? Those were sacred. We only went maybe once or twice a month, and when we did, we’d stock up like we were preparing for winter. Those first three days after a big haul? Pure magic. Chips, cereal, fruit snacks, things with shiny labels, and flavor. It felt like abundance.
But by day four? The good stuff was gone. Favorites always go first.
And then came the subtle shift—rationing, planning, sharing, skipping. I remember this rhythm so well because it wasn’t just about food. It shaped how I thought about hunger, control, and what I deserved.
It taught me early that the presence of food could bring joy, but its absence brought fear—and eventually, behaviors that looked a lot like disordered eating.
How Food Insecurity Fuels ED Patterns
The Stress‑Rebound Effect
Not knowing when you’ll eat triggers anxiety.
When food’s available, your body might react with urgency: eat quickly, eat more.
Control Amid Chaos
Feeling powerless financially? You might try to take control elsewhere—your eating becomes the outlet.
The Shame‑Isolation Loop
A "bad" eating episode can spark shame.
That shame isolates you—making ED tendencies feel even more entrenched.
Read more about the connection between ED and food insecurity here!
What Happens Inside Your Body and Brain
Cortisol spikes when you’re uncertain about your next meal—heightening anxiety.
Blood sugar swings can cause mood rollercoasters, making emotional regulation harder.
Neural rewiring: your brain starts rewarding any available food more intensely and sees restriction as a way to feel power.
Check out this article for more information.
What You Can Do: 5 Practical & Compassionate Steps
Reframe the Internal Dialogue
From “I’m wasting food” → “I’m doing my best with what I have.”
From “I shouldn’t eat more” → “I deserve nourishment.”
2. Simple, Smart Planning
Keep a basic meal template: oatmeal + nut butter + fruit.
Consider portion‑controlled packets or bulk buys that fit your budget.
3. Build Your Support Network
Name the pattern: “food‑stress cycle.”
Talk to a friend, family member, or therapist.
Explore community resources for assistance.
4. Push Back on the ED Narrative
When the voice says, “You’ll eat it all,” respond: “I’ll eat what’s nourishing.”
Create micro‑actions: eating a balanced snack is progress—even imperfectly.
5. Journal the Journey
Note each time you nourished yourself.
Track feelings and responses: it reveals resilience more than weakness.
Quick Tips Table (Save for Later!)
Why It Helps
Shifts from shame to compassion
Supports stability without overwhelm
Reduces the shame attached to ED cycles
Reinforces progress–even on tough days
Builds proof of resilience when your brain forgets it
Strategy
Reframe Self-talk
Basic, budget-friendly meals
Naming the pattern
Micro-actions
Self-recording wins
Moving Forward
Check out this podcast, where I shared my eating disorder origin and recovery story, and how I used the opposite action to help rewire my brain from food scarcity to abundance of food after moving out of the food desert that I was raised in!
Food insecurity isn’t just about what ends up on your plate—it’s about your mind, your labels, your confidence, your relationship with your body. But understanding how scarcity shapes your brain chemistry and behaviors is liberating. From that place, you can rebuild trust with yourself—one meal, one affirmation, one connection at a time.
P.S. If you enjoyed this blog, you’ll definitely want to keep reading How Malnourishment Impacts Brain Functioning.
Resources Used:
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6019322/
[2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6019322/
[3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6019322/
Collaborative Counseling & Nutrition is an outpatient nutrition and body image counseling center, with locations in Indianapolis and Carmel, that provides compassionate, holistic eating disorder treatment. Through practicing mindfulness, intuition, and Health At Every Size, we are on a mission to help you find a true state of well-being! We take an anti-diet, weight-inclusive approach with all our clients and work to help guide you towards a way of healthy living designed by you, just for you! This post is for education purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for treatment for an eating disorder. If you are looking for a registered dietitian or therapist to assist you on your recovery journey, please reach out today!
