Withall Guide

A Simple Guide for What to Say

You Have a Powerful Voice. Know What to Say.

Nearly 2 million kids alive and healthy today will develop an eating disorder before they reach adulthood…unless we do something about it. Join the movement to stop diet and weight talk around kids and help us change outcomes for the kids in your life.

WithAll’s Simple Guide for What to Say is the foundation of our What to Say initiative. We encourage every adult role model to use these principles as their home base when deciding what to say to a child related to food, body, and exercise. Consistently choosing words and actions that flow from these principles gives kids a foundation of lifelong health and well-being related to food, body, and exercise.

 

Download A Simple Guide for What to Say

WithAll's Seven Guiding Priciples

01 AVOID SINGLING KIDS OUT
No child should be singled out as a “special case” needing more attention related to food, body, or exercise.

02 DON’T MAKE HEALTH A NUMBER’S GAME
Health and well-being are the goals, not a certain weight, size, or BMI.

03 REMEMBER THAT SELF-WORTH IS NOT SKIN-DEEP
Our value as human beings does not come as weight, size, appearance or BMI.

04 LET KIDS BE KIDS BY LETTING FOOD BE FOOD
Food choices are not moral issues (i.e. “clean,” “junk,” “bad,” etc.) It’s just food.

05 LET FOOD BE FUEL AND FUN
Food provides the nourishment and nutrition our bodies need to be healthy, and food is also about community, traditions and celebration.

06 MAKE MOVEMENT JOYFUL
Exercise-movement-is critical to emotional and physical wellness and overall well being. Its value is not in controlling weight, size or shape.

07 YOU WON’T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT AND THAT’S OK
Any effort you make to promote children’s body image and healthy relationship with food is commendable, and shows your love and care for the kids in your life. You’re doing great!

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Take the Pledge

At WithAll, we are all too familiar with the devastating consequences of eating disorders. With 70% of girls and 40% of boys reporting body dissatisfaction, there is no better time for you to make a positive impact on the kids in your life.

That’s why we started the What to Say initiative.

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What to say

What to Say is dedicated to equipping adults with simple tools to help kids develop healthy relationships with food and body. It starts with a 30-second pledge: to stop diet and weight talk. From there, you’ll receive ongoing resources on how to replace diet and weight talk and be an advocate for the kids in your life.

What to Say works. Pledge signers have found an 87% positive change in their behaviors and words. This means that more kids have a chance to grow up free of disordered eating and thinking.

What to Say Coaches Challenge

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Take The Pledge

THE PLEDGE: I believe that words matter. I want to make a positive impact on the kids in my life by stopping harmful diet and weight talk. I am committed to making sure that every child gets a chance to develop healthy relationships with food and body.

 









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Shannon assists with the logistics of development and operations and making every day run as smoothly as possible. Her day-to-day focuses on our Recovery Support Program, budget management, events, and administrative support. She enjoys being part of the nonprofit world and finding ways to help enhance the organization. She has a heart for serving others and helping people succeed.

Shannon has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health & Exercise Science from Gustavus Adolphus College and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from Walden University.

Outside of work, you can find Shannon chasing her two girls around, attending sporting events and finding the next brewery or winery to explore.

Lindsay leads our operations, programming, fundraising, and communications to better fulfill our mission. She enjoys engaging with our supporters and stakeholders to build stronger connections to our work. Outside the office, you can find her planning her next trip, exploring the Twin Cities, or reading her book club’s latest pick.

With ten years of experience in nonprofit and foundation administration, Lindsay is a creative project manager working to strengthen all our operations. She loves being a part of a team deeply dedicated to discovering innovative and effective strategies to end eating disorders and is excited to invite others into this important work. Efficient and collaborative, she executes activity across all operations, including fundraising, events, communications, and programming. Lindsay has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, and a fundraising certificate from the University of St. Thomas. She and her family live in Richfield, MN.

As Executive Director, Lisa leads WithAll’s strategic growth as a sustainable social enterprise dedicated to the prevention of and healing from eating disorders.

Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs, community relations, and law, and nearly 15 years of experience in non-profit leadership, most recently at Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media. She is a graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, a member of the Minnesota Bar, and a Minnesota Supreme Court appointee to Minnesota’s Lawyers Professional Responsibility Board. She volunteers with her daughter’s school and with youth sports.

Lisa does this work because she knows eating disorders are not a choice; they are deadly, and they are everywhere. She also knows kids are not born with harmful thoughts and actions around food or their body—and it’s our job as adults to keep it this way so they can focus their precious brains and time on things that matter.

Lisa finds laughter, all children, and the numerous variations of sparkling water to be delightful.