Balanced Bites: Dining Out Meal Support Group in St. Louis

Following a meal plan is a great start to eating disorder recovery, but rarely does real life follow such a routine schedule. We want to help you take the skills you’ve practiced in sessions and at home, and expand them to challenging situations in the real world.

We know that navigating meals in public can feel overwhelming. So we are happy to introduce Balanced Bites - structured restaurant meal support to help you build confidence and comfort in real-world dining situations.

In this small, supportive group, you’ll:

Share meals with peers who understand your challenges
Practice ordering and portioning food in a safe, non-judgmental space
Learn coping strategies for managing anxiety and negative thoughts
Engage in casual conversation and strengthen social skills around eating
Reflect with guided support before and after meals

Eating Disorder Support Groups in St. Louis

How can dining out with a group aid in recovery?

Balanced Bites reduces the isolation that often comes with eating disorders and creates space to practice balanced eating in a supportive, alcohol-free environment. Over time, you’ll gain independence, flexibility, and confidence in everyday eating situations—skills that can help carry recovery into every part of your life.

Who can join Balanced Bite meal support group?

This group is ideal for those in outpatient eating disorder treatment who feel steady at home but struggle with eating in public or with others. If anxiety, avoidance, or fear of judgment holds you back, Balanced Bites offers a safe bridge between individual therapy and real-world recovery.

Balanced Bites Schedule - Fall 2025

Time and Location:
This group meets every other Tuesday at 6pm
We meet at various restaurants around the Crestwood/Kirkwood area
Led by OT Doctoral candidate Abby Wagner

Registration Requirements:
Join for as many or few sessions as you’d like! It’s free to join us, but pre-registration is required so that we know who to expect.

September 16: Circle 7 Ranch
(11769 Manchester Rd #4616, St. Louis, MO 63131)
September 30: Amigos Cantina
(120 W Jefferson Ave, Kirkwood, MO 63122)
October 14: Mellow Mushroom
(3811 S Lindbergh Blvd, Sappington, MO 63127)
October 28: Walnut Grill
(10797 Sunset Hills Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63127)
November 11: Crushed Red
(140 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122)

First time joining us? Please fill out the liability waiver and optional release of information before attending the group. You can print and bring these with you, or email them to us.

Recovery Pathway Series

Recovery isn’t just about stopping behaviors, it’s about building something new.

The Recovery Pathway Series is a 6-week, closed support group designed for those in eating disorder recovery who are ready to explore life beyond the disorder. Each week, we’ll dig into themes that help you reconnect with your values, your body, and your sense of self without pressure for perfection.

This group offers:

Guided support from a recovery coach with 25+ years experience.
Weekly deep-dives into topics like motivation, denial, body image, and identity
A safe space for reflection, conversation, and connection with others who get it
Tools to move forward, even when recovery feels uncertain or messy

Fall 2025 Series: Recovery Support in Mid-Life

Whether you’re stepping into the unknown for the first time or returning to the work with new eyes, Recovery Support in Mid-Life helps you remain motivated and use the tools you need for recovery—all while juggling work, family, hormonal shifts, and social relationships. And, let’s not forget that we’re all trying to navigate these challenges amongst the confusing, conflicting, and shameful messages of diet culture.

You need a community who understands what recovery looks like in this stage of life. And, you’re in luck! You’ve found your people.

Week 1: Finding and creating a midlife community
Week 2: Avoid diet traps and find peace with food
Week 3: Joy-enhancing movement versus fear-based exercise

Week 4: Reflection on our transformation: Moving through loss/grief
Week 5: Managing perimenopause /menopausal symptoms
Week 6: Navigating recovery life: the bumpy road of change

Registration Details

Price:
For $75, you’ll be registered for all six weeks of the Recovery Pathway series. We ask that participants make every effort to attend every week, as we build safety with a consistent group of peers. Everyday Recovery members - don’t forget to use your code to receive 25% off!

Time and Location:
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
Our next series begins October 8, 2025
Led by Deborah Hinds, NDTR
Held in the group room at 50 Crestwood Executive Center, Suite 500

First time joining us? Please fill out the liability waiver and optional release of information before attending the group. You can print and bring these with you, or email them to us.

FREE Eating Disorder Support Group

Thursdays at 6:30pm
Led by Deborah Hinds, NDTR
Location: Conference room at 50 Crestwood Executive Center, Suite 500

Join our supportive, understanding community for a safe place for weekend planning, to decompress from the week, and find accountability to follow through with your personal goals.

This group is open to anyone age 18 and above who is committed to working toward their own eating disorder recovery. Registration for the group is free, but we ask that you sign up so we know how many people to expect. We look forward to connecting with you!