5 Tools On How to Support Your Mental Health with Nutrition
Tips and Tricks From a Mental Health Nutritionist
It's no surprise that supporting yourself nutritionally can help with your mental health. But when you do a quick google for nutrition support and mental health, a lot can pop up, which can make you feel confused and overwhelmed.
Plus, when you’re in the throes of a difficult mental health flare and your capacity is limited, the idea of implementing any kind of thoughtful nutrition support plan feels impossible!
In a lot of ways, it feels like you’re attempting to walk through chest high mud. So, what do you do? How can you support yourself nutritionally?
Here are 5 Practical Tools to Support Your Mental Health with Nutrition
Keep it simple: Now is not the time to shame yourself for not implementing nutritional changes, it's the time to go what what is easy to do–maybe that’s ordering out 4x/week, maybe that’s stocking up on freezer meals from Trader Joes, or maybe it’s getting snacks and meals that you know you can always make like cereal, toast, etc.
Remember that eating is better than not eating: Make sure you eat, even if it’s just something–it doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be something.
Make food accessible: When we don’t have food easily accessible, it makes eating that much harder to do. Make foods more accessible by ordering some basic groceries through a delivery service, like Instacart. Ask a friend or family member to pick up some food for you.
When eating feels hard, set an alarm for your meals so they’re expected, planned, and you’re reminded. It’s easy for minutes to turn into hours when you’re feeling low capacity, so having a reminder and plan for when you’re going to eat really helps, especially when the foods you have are easy to execute and accessible.
Get support: Talk to your therapist or functional nutritionist about how you’re having a difficult time making sure that you’re eating enough consistently throughout the day, so you can build a plan for next time.
When working with a functional nutritionist with your mental health in mind, it’s not just about foods that help, but instead it’s more about building in tools and a plan to support yourself when your capacity feels suppressed.
