Eating Well When You’re in Self-Isolation or Quarantine

At the moment, the world feels a little upside down, with quarantine or self-isolation because of the COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, we are all spending much more time at home. Being much more sedentary than you may have been, especially if you’re not working or studying right now, can be really tough. Staying healthy can be a challenge, especially if you are feeling low or are filling your time with baking and creating. So can you make sure that you are staying healthy and well, during this time? Here are some recommendations to help.

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Eat a balanced and varied diet

It has never been more important to eat well and to make sure that we eat a full range of foods. There is no magic pill to take that will boost us up at this time, so it is all about eating a diet that is varied, balanced, full of plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and proteins, either plant or animal-based. Eating like this makes sure that we are able to get all of the nutrients and vitamins that we need to have a normal immune function and to have the energy that we need. 

 

Mindful eating

When you are feeling stressed, it can be tempting to just eat all of the food, and eat more than you really need. You are likely to snack purely out of boredom too when you’re at home for long periods of time. Practicing mindful eating is a way to make sure that you have a good balance in your life, and create a healthy relationship with food. You could try some of the following:

 

• Sit down to eat, rather than eat on the go. You won’t be as aware of what you’re eating when it is not on the plate in front of you.
• Serving your food on a plate is a great way to help, rather than just grabbing something out of the bag. You can see the quantity and what it looks like, as you eat.
• Cooking food from scratch can really help, as you take time to make the food that you eat, you’re more likely to take time eating it. If you’re in need of some ideas, then look up some of the best cookbooks online, and then choose some that will suit you.
• Removing distractions is a must when you eat. Don’t have a TV on, or be looking at your phone when you eat.

 

Establish a routine

So much is uncertain at the moment, which can really make us feel anxious, stressed, sad, and scared. But if you are able to stick to a normal routine, and do this each day, it can help to alleviate some of the stress as you can control what will happen in your home each day. Planning meal times can be a good idea, and sticking to them. You’ll be less likely to snack too, as you know that dinner is only an hour away, for example.