Who would have thought we’d be here? Suffering as a nation. Hunkering down for the safety of one another. Trying to stay connected while social distancing. Working, teaching, and schooling from home. Praying for the essential workers who are on the front lines and keeping the world going to the best of their ability.
During this crazy time, Well Balanced Nutrition is here to support healthy habits, provide clarity around food choices, and help you overcome stress eating. We know that change is tough. Adjusting to your new normal at home may be challenging. That’s why we are here to support our communities in Durham and Clemmons, North Carolina. We have the wellness tools and strategies that will help bring a bit of balance back to your life, help you feel comfortable and in control around food, and manage the stress and anxiety that this situation brings.
How can I keep my food safe during COVID19?
The Nutrition Source from Harvard Health has the low down on food safety. This article provides the answers to your questions including how long does coronavirus live on surfaces?
Food safety, nutrition, and wellness during COVID-19 | The Nutrition Source
Try These Strategies for Managing Emotional Eating
We asked and we heard you say that being so close to your kitchen all day long is hard. The fun snacks are calling your name and the stress can lead you down a slippery slope of emotional eating. Here are some strategies you will find helpful as you try to manage those urges. Remember to be kind to yourself! We are all human and Well Balanced eating is not fail-proof. (Start here. If you are new to Well Balanced Nutrition or just need a refresher, start here with What the Heck is Well Balanced eating?)
- HALT – a tool to head off emotional eating
- Make your fridge your friend, not your foe
- Some indulgences are truly #worthit, others not so much
- Fight sugar cravings with DATA
- Riding the Crave Wave
- Don’t expect perfection. You are enough.
- Why moderation doesn’t work for everyone.
Keep Moving to Manage Stress
If you need a reminder of why it is so important to keep moving and stay active at home, remember that walking can:
- Be an effective antidepressant in mild to moderate cases of depression
- Protect an aging brain against memory loss and dementia
- Support Vitamin D levels
- Boost your circulation and increase oxygen supply to the brain
And that’s just to name a few reasons why walking is like a miracle drug.
Also, check out these online workouts: Gym closed? Here are some free or discounted workouts to do at home
Manage All The Feels with Meditation
Meditation is a great way to feel all the feels, release some of the anxiety and find your center again. Several companies have shared free resources to help you continue or start a mindfulness and meditation practice during COVID.
- Headspace: “We’re here for you during COVID”
- Coronavirus Sanity Guide by 10% Happier
- Free Mindfulness Resources to Find Calm During the COVID Outbreak by mindful.org
Boost Immunity with Fruits and Vegetables
Running out of fresh Fruits and Veggies? How do you maintain a colorful diet full of produce when you are trying to avoid multiple trips to the store? One solution is to have your produce delivered! Below are several options or you may have a local farm near you that has a delivery box.
- Hungryroot – get prepped veggies, sauces, and proteins delivered to your door
- Winston – Farm Fresh Box to pick up at Saturday’s Cobble Stone Farmer’s Market.
- Produce Box in NC – They are waiving their sign up fee right now!
- Imperfect Foods https://www.imperfectfoods.com/how-grocery-delivery-service-works
- Misfitsmarket https://www.misfitsmarket.com
- Farm Box Direct https://www.farmboxdirect.com/
When you use up your fresh produce, don’t feel bad about eating frozen and canned produce. Both are healthy options. Read why below…
If you buy more fresh produce (and other food items) than you can eat, make them last by sticking them in the freezer. Here is a resource to help you know what foods you can freeze and how.
Keep Meals Interesting
Working with an extra tight budget now? Check out Struggle Meals. You’ll find super budget-friendly dishes in these free cooking episodes. Not too mention, he is so fun to watch!!
What are some healthy pantry foods?
Check out our healthy pantry staple checklist HERE.
Here are 4 more resources to help you cook from pantry staples.
- Cooking from the Pantry: Recipes and Cooking: Food Network
- 100 Simple Ways to Turn Pantry Staples into Complete Meals – Chickpeas, Beans, Rice, Pasta and more.
- Pantry Power – get access to our meal planning dashboard that is stocked full of pantry staples. If you are new to the platform, we are gifting you 30 days free. Use the code GIFT30
- https://www.mosaicfoods.com/pages/vegan-meal-delivery – at Mosaic Foods take pride on making it as easy as possible to eat healthy, while never having to leave home to do so!
How can I stay/be healthy through COVID-19?
Still feeling overwhelmed? We understand. This is hard. If what you really need is someone to walk you through these wellness strategies and take it one baby step at a time, we can help you feel more Well Balanced and supported through our virtual nutrition coaching services. Reach out today for an appointment.
