Our Nutritional Philosophy

At Mirasol, there isn't a single food behavior that is viewed as good or bad — not even restricting or bingeing and purging.

We don't focus on stopping a behavior, nor do we impose an external structure, like a diet. Instead we recognize that when a person feels like using eating disorder behaviors of any kind, it may be a red flag for "system overload."

We understand that while external rules may work in the short-term, those rules often disappear or backfire once the person is stressed again. When a person is at this point, we can immediately teach them healthy coping skills rather than having to use the eating disorder as a way of coping with stress or having to rely on a set of rules.

Our approach is to identify the root of the problem and then develop new ways of communicating and coping. We believe that the skills we teach are more effective and longer lasting than external rules and systems. In this way, Mirasol helps clients restore and maintain overall balance.

What Is Normal Eating?

One of our goals is to provide our clients with the experience of normal eating. We're proud of our cooks, who create a wide variety of delicious meals and can easily accommodate needs such as food allergies and vegetarian/vegan lifestyles.

At Mirasol, clients make their own food choices from meals that are served buffet style. Along the way, they're given guidance in re-establishing accurate portion sizes and meeting nutritional needs according to personalized guidelines worked out with our staff nutritionists.

Rather than focusing on rules, we focus on intuitive eating and we help clients relearn what it feels like to be hungry and full. Thus, we emphasize normal, healthy and mindful eating.

Therapists eat with clients, providing structure, safety, and immediate support. In the course of treatment, we offer the opportunity to practice new skills in a safe environment that supports change.