We are sensitive to each individual's food issues and provide flexibility in our menus. We offer vegetarian choices and take into account any diagnosed food allergies. Each client is individual in terms of food fears, likes and dislikes. We work slowly and empathetically with all food issues. Clients go through the level system at their own pace. Clients are not forced to eat any particular food, however, we are careful to help each client understand the differences between food preference and eating disorder-driven choices. If you have specific questions about allergies or religion-based food limitations please call our main office at 310-457-9958.

As clients progress through our level system they increasingly participate in dealing directly with food i.e., going grocery shopping, preparing their own snacks and meals and planning and preparing meals with their a dietitian and their peers in our Shop and Cook outing.

We provide wholesome natural ingredients for our meals. In addition to this we also include on our menus normal dessert items and we go on outings to restaurants where clients can re-learn to enjoy eating a variety of foods. We feel it is important that clients be able to eat a variety of foods in a variety of settings. Therefore, although we provide healthy food, we believe that limiting oneself to this food only causes limitation in one's life. We would like our clients to be able to choose in life whether or not to eat certain foods rather than be afraid of these foods.

Each client's meal plan is highly individualized. We work slowly with clients who are extremely afraid of food and have a limited variety in their diet. We also help clients manage their food cravings and re-learn a sense of both hunger and fullness. We assist all our clients in establishing a healthy functioning metabolism, allowing them to eat and enjoy the foods their bodies desire and need.

Many of the therapists at our facility have struggled with some type of eating or exercise disorder in their past and thus have special insight into the problems associated with exercise in many eating disorder clients. Our therapists maintain a calm, caring stance with the goal of helping the individual define what he or she needs, rather than a program based on punishment or taking things away.

Each individual will be evaluated for what is healthy for her body. We believe in creating an overall healthy lifestyle. This includes a balanced amount of activity. We believe that clients need to develop a sense of faith and trust in their body and that self-care is an important component of any exercise or training program. We assist the client in developing a unique, healthy, balanced approach to exercise. Rather than just a way to burn calories, we re-establish exercise as a way to add joy to each client's life. We have a variety of exercise activities including walking, yoga, and Nia. Ideally, before leaving, we want each client to be participating in the activities she will be doing at home after discharge.

We treat compulsive exercise and we also treat athletes. In situations with athletes it is often difficult for those involved (the athlete, parents, coaches) to determine where the "appropriate" amount of training and attention to diet ends and the eating disorder begins. We work hard to help individuals distinguish between healthy and excessive behaviors. We are also sensitive to the factors that may have played a part in the development of an athlete's eating disorder. Ideas about perfection, pushing through pain, being in top physical form, focus on a low body weight and high muscle mass, demanding coaching and the prioritization of training and performance above all else can all factor into the development and maintenance of an eating disorder. All of this is to say nothing about the other areas in an athlete's life such as school, family and social life that may also have an influence on the thoughts and behavior that make an eating disorder possible. Our program takes particular care in treating this problem according to individual needs. We have an exercise program that allows for increased exercise as clients accomplish their eating and behavioral goals. On the higher levels of our program we begin to tailor the exercise activities to the particular sport or training needs of the client.