Keeping Good Nutrition throughout a Pandemic

Eat well-balanced, regular and nutritious meals.

Get your healthy fats. Walnuts, flax seed and fish oil are associated with brain function. Deficiencies of this fatty acid can result in depression and/or anxiety.

Eat your fruits and veggies. Fruits and vegetables are vitamin and mineral powerhouses that work to combat harmful molecules produced when your body is under stress. Eat a variety of colors to ensure you are getting a range of nutrients to help boost your immune system.

Add high fiber foods. Foods like oatmeal, nuts, beans, fruits, vegetables and whole grains are linked to greater alertness and decreased perceived stress. Plus, they will satisfy your hunger levels.

Get adequate sleep. Lack of adequate sleep can affect our hunger levels causing sugar and refined carbohydrate cravings.

Hydrate. Drink adequate amounts of water throughout the day. Without proper fluids, fatigue and weakness may set in. Avoid sugar-laden drinks which can lead to an energy crash. You don’t like plain water? Try adding a piece of pineapple or a strawberry to add natural flavors to the water. Try sparkling water – there are so many flavors out there now.

Move more. Make sure to get up and move. With many people working from home and not going out and about people are moving much less these days. Keeping moving is key to good health and preventing pandemic weight gain. Physical activity helps blood flow to the body and brain which may help improve memory and brain function. Physical activity also protects against many chronic diseases, it helps to lower blood pressure and improve heart health, it can help improve your quality of sleep, it can help improve joint pain and stiffness and it can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.