Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center

Meals Meet Emotional and Nutritional Needs

IN SEASONAL HEALTH

You probably know that it's good for your health to eat a balanced diet that includes servings from all the main food groups, but are you aware that eating involves more than nutrition? There's an emotional aspect. What you eat and how you eat it can help meet your emotional needs while providing nutrients and fiber to meet your physical needs. Here's a strategy from the Menninger Clinic (www.menningerclinic.com) to help you achieve positive emotional effects with your mealtimes.
  1. Creativity/Receptivity—When you cook, experiment with recipes. It can be relaxing, energizing, and therapeutic. You might even find that cleaning up afterward can be invigorating and soothing once in a while. But on occasion, let yourself be served. Not having to prepare food and clean up afterwards can be beneficial for your emotional health.
  2. Efficiency/Leisure—Sometimes dine on nutritious snacks and healthy, quick meals that will allow you time to get things done while giving you the nutrients you need. Other times, dine at the dinner table and savor a more leisurely meal. It can provide you with relaxing and memorable companionship and conversation.
  3. Solitude/Togetherness—Dine with your family, friends, and co-workers sometimes. The togetherness will fortify you with feelings of closeness and support. Sometimes each alone. A solitary meal will allow you to slow down, think, and recharge.
  4. Variety/Comfort—Occasionally try foods of various and unique styles, flavors, textures, and colors. But also remember to sometimes prepare family recipes or traditional meals such as meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. They can be familiar, enjoyable, and make your feel comfortable.
If you strive to balance these four emotional areas related to your mealtimes, you may reap more than just good nutrition—you may feel soothed, comforted, and rewarded as well. When You Ignore the Emotional Dimension If you're often too busy to eat and end up skipping meals, you may lack important nutrients, and feel depressed, anxious, or less energetic. When you skip a meal, you're not only missing the nutrition, you're missing the potential emotional benefits. In addition, skipping meals can leave you at risk of turning to food to fill emotional gaps. And when you look to food for emotional boosts, you risk making unhealthy choices and developing an eating disorder.

Tips for Maintaining a Positive Outlook
According to the Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com), if you can learn to maintain a positive attitude through life's successes as well as frustrations, you may experience increased energy, less pain, fewer problems with your daily activities, and you may even feel more peaceful, happy, and calm. It will take practice to see the positive, but here's how you can start. Be Grateful—Gratitude may help you feel happier and free you up to look to the future optimistically. List everything you are grateful for in life. In addition, you may find you'd like to list things you'd like to achieve too. Eat Well—Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and grains can improve the way you feel and help your body and mind run more efficiently. Exercise Regularly—Aerobic exercise will release endorphins — substances that produce feelings of satisfaction and wellness — which reduces stress, depression and anxiety. Rest Plenty—Rest gives your body and mind time to mend. Sleep will improve your attitude and give you energy for physical activities and coping with stress.
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