Why Join a Meal Support Group?
Blog Post by Rock Recovery Therapist Brigitte Sandoval, MA, RC
Starting recovery is incredibly brave — and often, it feels like a deeply personal and isolating journey. The thoughts, feelings, and internal work that emerge during this time are often tied to our most fundamental beliefs about food, body, identity, and worth. As we begin to heal, we may find that the behaviors we once relied on no longer align with who we’re becoming.
One of the most overlooked challenges in this process? Sitting down to eat.
Meals can be really difficult in recovery. And while it might feel like something you should be able to manage on your own, the truth is: you’re not meant to. You’re not alone in finding meals triggering, overwhelming, or even exhausting. And needing support around food doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’re human. Meal support groups exist because this part of recovery is often where isolation shows up the loudest. They offer a structured, therapeutic space to eat in real time with others who get it. It’s not just about the food –it’s about rebuilding trust with your body, challenging long-held beliefs, and reconnecting to your needs. It’s also about accountability — showing up when it’s hard and letting others witness that effort.
As clinicians, we also see folks stepping down from higher levels of care — transitioning from residential or partial hospitalization care into outpatient care. While that shift can bring a sense of freedom, it often feels overwhelming. In higher levels of care, structure is built into the day. When that structure suddenly becomes your responsibility again, it can feel like too much. Meal support gives you one meal a week you know you don’t have to do alone. That kind of consistent accountability can be helpful for anyone, but especially for those navigating that step-down process.
You’ll also learn why hunger doesn’t always feel like a stomach growl. For many people, hunger cues have been silenced or misread for so long that reconnecting with them takes practice. Tools like the hunger/fullness scale (rated 1–10) can help you begin to notice more subtle signals — low energy, brain fog, irritability, mood shifts. Those are cues, too. You’ll also explore how emotions play into appetite. Stress, dissociation, sadness, frustration, or years of restriction can all disrupt your ability to sense hunger or fullness. That’s why meal support isn’t just about the food – it’s about what’s happening emotionally around the food, too. Connection is a huge part of this work. Not just with others, but with yourself. When someone else says, “This is hard for me too,” it can take the edge off the isolation. You don’t have to explain everything. You don’t have to do it perfectly.
If you’re wondering whether a meal support group is for you, take a second to notice your initial reaction to the idea of eating around others. If your gut response is a firm “Absolutely not,” that might not be your truth — it could be the eating disorder resisting change. And that resistance is common. Food can become a very private and isolating experience in recovery. You may be used to eating alone—or not eating at all—and the idea of doing that with others can feel uncomfortable. But we gently ask: Does your recovery need to challenge that?
In these groups, we don’t ignore the fear, we face it together. Through exposure and emotionally focused discussion, you’ll build resilience in the very spaces that once felt unsafe. You’ll practice showing up to meals without pressure to perform, explain, or hide. And that’s where real progress starts. Joining a Rock Recovery Meal Support Group means you don’t have to go through this part of recovery alone. You’ll show up to the table with others who are also learning how to stay present, grounded, and connected through one of the hardest parts of healing.
Brigitte Sandoval, MA, RC
Therapist, Rock Recovery
About the Author: Brigitte Sandoval is a Resident in Counseling at Rock Recovery, licensed in the state of Virginia. She started with Rock Recovery as a Clinical Intern in 2024, and joined the full-time team in January 2025. She received her MA in Clinical Psychology through Pepperdine University. Brigitte is passionate about supporting clients on their healing journey, emphasizing the mind-body connection. She takes a holistic approach to dealing with life's challenges and promotes change through mindfulness and acceptance. Brigitte provides virtual individual therapy to residents of Virginia and in-person individual therapy to residents of Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC.