Hi there 👋🏻,

This is my April-May combined newsletter. I'll be honest, a few weeks of solo parenting and a work trip got the better of me, and April just slipped by. By the time I noticed, it was already mid-May. So here we are.

I hope you'll forgive the gap. I think many of you know what it feels like when life just takes over. 😊

And honestly, I'm glad I waited. The story I wanted to share with you has a nicer ending now.

Before Mother's Day, I had a session with a client who was dreading the holiday. She'd recently had a really hard time with her family around her weight and body image. And now she had to see them again.

We didn't talk about her meal plan that day. We didn't look at her numbers. We just talked about that.

Comments about our bodies from family, even when they come from a good place, can be really hard to receive. In a lot of Asian families, concern shows up as commentary. On how you look, what you're eating, whether you've gained or lost weight. It comes wrapped in love. But it doesn't always feel that way.

And when you're already working hard on your health, it can feel like the people closest to you just don't see it.

💡 Practical Corner

What we worked on together was how she could write an email before the visit. Not a confrontation nor a lecture. Just a chance to say the things that are hard to say at the dinner table when everyone is already there and emotions are running high.

We talked through what that email might include.

💚 Acknowledge that they care. She started by acknowledging that she knows they love her (Because they do!). And saying so first changes the whole tone of what comes next.

💚 Share how the comments actually land. Not pointing fingers, but saying "when I hear those things, I feel..." It's a small shift but it matters. Feelings are harder to argue with than accusations.

💚 Explain what she's been doing. Telling them about the appointments, the changes, the effort that's been happening quietly behind the scenes. Family doesn't always know. And sometimes when they do, something shifts.

💚 Ask for what she actually needs. Not for them to stop caring, just to show it differently. To trust that she's working on it.

💚 Close with love. Reminding them that this conversation is coming from love too.

We also talked about going in a little prepared. Having a few lines already worked through in her head meant she wouldn't be caught off guard, and could stay calm enough to express herself when the moment came.

I shared this post with her too, which has some practical tips for navigating family gatherings.

When we reconnected in May, she told me her mother had taken the email really well. That she'd respected what her daughter was asking for. And that they'd had a really nice dinner together.

I want to add something here. Doing what she did takes courage. Reaching out before a visit, putting feelings into words, asking for something different, that's not easy. It's not something a lot of us grew up doing, especially in families where so much just goes unsaid. So if you read this and thought "I could never do that," I get it. I really do. And I also think you might surprise yourself.

This story really touched my heart. 💚

🔍 Diabetes Insight

This is actually a good example of what working with a dietitian can look like.

It's not always about what's on your plate. A lot of what affects how we eat is tied up in other things - family, culture, how we feel about our bodies, whether we feel safe at the dinner table. Those things matter too, and they're worth talking about.

If you've ever felt like your relationship with food is complicated in ways that go beyond nutrition, you're probably right! You are not imagining it. And it's something we can work on together.

✅ Actionable Takeaway

If this resonated with you, I'd love to connect. Whether you're navigating family dynamics, working on your relationship with food, or just trying to figure out where to start, this is exactly the kind of work we do together.

You can book a free strategy call here, or if you're ready to get started, fill out this form and I'll be in touch. 💚

📅 Coming Up Next

I'd love to know what you want to hear about. Is there something you've been wondering about, or a situation you've been trying to navigate? Hit reply or send me an email. Your questions genuinely shape what I write about.

🤝 Ready to Work Together?

If you're managing diabetes or weight and want to make sure your nutrition is truly working for you — not just your numbers — I'd love to help. I accept insurance and see clients virtually and in person in Massachusetts.

👉 Fill out my intake form here and we'll go from there.

✉️ Find this newsletter helpful? Forward it to a friend who might benefit too!

📚 New to our newsletter? Catch up on previous issues and explore our archive here.

👋 About Karen

I'm Karen Lau, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with over 15 years of clinical experience at a major medical institution, helping Asian Americans manage diabetes while honoring their cultural traditions. I work with clients virtually and in person in Massachusetts, and I do accept insurance. Ready to get started? Fill out my intake form here and we'll take it from there.

Note: This content is for general knowledge and educational purposes only, not medical advice. While this guide follows current medical guidelines, always consult your healthcare team for personalized recommendations and advice specific to your situation. This newsletter was authored by me, with my professional expertise, clinical experience, and original ideas forming the foundation of the content. Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic, helped organize and expand my thoughts into this comprehensive newsletter while maintaining my voice and professional perspective.​

To your health—body, mind, and heritage,

Karen​
​Diabetes Dietitian & Diabetes Care Specialist (RDN, CDCES)
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