How to Begin a Therapeutic Style Diet (Without Dogma) Practical Guide Inspired by Michelle Hurn
When I first read The Dietitian’s Dilemma by Michelle Hurn, I felt like someone had finally said what many of us quietly suspected. Hurn, a registered dietitian and former elite athlete, spent years following conventional nutrition guidelines. She was doing everything “right” according to the textbooks, but her health was falling apart. She was exhausted, anxious, and physically breaking down. Her story isn’t unique. It mirrors what so many women experience after years of low-fat diets, constant hunger, and fear of real food.
In her book, Hurn explains how she turned her health around by doing the opposite of what she was taught. She increased protein, embraced fat, cut out processed carbs, and returned to nutrient-dense, whole foods. The result was healing, both physical and mental. Her energy returned, her inflammation dropped, and her mind cleared. What makes her story powerful is that she wasn’t chasing trends or extremes. She simply started asking better questions about what truly nourishes the human body.
For women, this message is especially important. Many of us have spent decades chasing diets that promise thinness, not health. We’ve feared butter and steak while piling our plates with grains and low-fat yogurt. Hurn’s journey reminds us that food is not about rules, it’s about repair. The body thrives when it receives enough protein, healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals, not when it’s deprived or tricked by marketing.
If you’re ready to begin your own therapeutic-style diet, here’s how to start without turning it into another obsession.
1. Choose the foundation that fits your life
Some people thrive on a meat-based diet. Others feel best with a vegetarian-keto or low-carb Mediterranean approach. What matters most is nutrient density and balance. Base your meals around real food: eggs, meat, fish, dairy, or for vegetarians, eggs, cheese, and low-carb plant proteins. Add healthy fats like olive oil, butter, or avocado. Avoid processed seed oils, sugars, and refined carbs.
The goal is not to fit into a label. It’s to eat in a way that stabilizes your energy, supports your hormones, and heals inflammation. Whether you prefer grass-fed beef or pasture-raised eggs and vegetables, what matters is consistency and quality, not perfection.
2. Start with one change at a time
Hurn reminds readers that healing begins with small, consistent steps. Start by removing one major source of processed food. Replace your breakfast cereal with eggs. Swap soda for sparkling water. When that becomes easy, take the next step. Over time, these changes add up.
3. Track how you feel, not just what you eat
A therapeutic diet is not about punishment or willpower. It’s about observation. Notice your sleep, mood, digestion, and energy. Your body gives feedback long before lab tests do. Many women discover that stable blood sugar and fewer cravings lead to better focus and calmer moods.
4. Beware of perfectionism
It’s easy to slip from “therapeutic” into “restrictive.” Hurn talks openly about her struggles with disordered eating during her athletic career. Healing from that required compassion, not control. The goal of this way of eating is nourishment and freedom, not anxiety over macros or calories. A piece of fruit or dark chocolate won’t derail your progress. The problem comes when food becomes a source of fear instead of healing.
5. Remember why you started
Most people begin a therapeutic-style diet because something feels off, fatigue, pain, stubborn weight, or brain fog. When you start feeling better, you may want to test your limits or slide back into old habits. Use that as an opportunity to remember how far you’ve come. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress toward long-term health and stability.
6. Relearn what “healthy” means
Hurn’s book exposes how broken our dietary system is. Many of the foods marketed as “heart-healthy” or “low-fat” are the same ones fueling chronic disease. She encourages readers to look beyond labels and focus on ingredients. Real food doesn’t need a nutrition label. If your grandmother would recognize it, it’s probably a good choice.
Healing your metabolism and relationship with food takes time. Be patient with yourself. Let your body adjust and rebuild.
A therapeutic-style diet, when done with flexibility and kindness, can change your life. Whether you lean more animal-based or vegetarian-keto, the principles stay the same: eat nutrient-dense foods, respect your hunger signals, and don’t let fear guide your choices.
If you’d like to go deeper into this topic, Michelle Hurn’s The Dietitian’s Dilemma is a must-read. It blends science with real experience and gives a voice to so many who’ve been told they were “doing everything right” yet still felt unwell. It’s one of those books that shifts how you see nutrition forever, and it might help you start your own path toward healing with more clarity and confidence.
Disclaimer: The content shared here is for informational and educational purposes only and should never be taken as medical advice.
In writing this blog post, my goal is to distill research findings into a clear, approachable format that encourages critical thinking and empowers you to make informed decisions about your health.
