Empty Reflection

Running on Empty

When the time comes to write these reflections, I find it difficult to relate course material to my personal life. Reflections tend to challenge me, as they force me to create parallels from the course material to my own life. Fortunately, this topic has really stuck a nerve for me on a personal level. Not only is my upcoming group presentation focused on nutrition, but also in particular, the section on anorexia has really resonated with me. Anorexia has indirectly influenced my life in various ways; through watching friends struggle with the disease in high school to a more recent encounter following my Oma’s struggle with anorexia.

Following my Opa’s death, my Oma had an incredibly difficult time coping. They had been married

They often used dinners and baking lessons to pass on knowledge and bring our family closer together. This chapter helped me identify these psychosocial aspects as positive and helping to create belonging and security, critically reflecting on this helps me identify the isolation my Oma is feeling. Prior, they were a team creating a piece of “home”, this belonging, engrained in eating, ended with my Opa’s death. I can’t imagine the grief she experienced, as she packed away his recipes and baking attire, the fact that he was gone confirmed with each item boxed up. I wish I had known how detrimental it is to eat alone earlier, to prevent my Oma’s isolation. Reflecting on what I’ve learned in class, the physical barriers to accessing food my Oma faces are a legitimate concern. I can identify her severe osteoarthritis contributing to her malnutrition because it makes it difficult to obtain and access food. I empathize with the feeling of frustration and self-doubt experienced when your difficulties aren’t resolving. I love my Oma and this reflection has truly made me realize how monitoring nutritional status is essential through all ages. Eating disorders occur at any age, to any