Nutrition Notes 2/18

On January 19, 2018, Stephen Colbert referenced Britain’s Ministry of Loneliness.  The monologue was hilarious, AND I know that lack of social bonding is a major contributor to depression and heart disease. I applaud Theresa May’s stance on this problem.

Colbert then went on to quip that if you filled out all the forms and weren’t deemed quite lonely enough to qualify for government assistance, then they would refer you to the place where you could “eat your feelings”, the Ministry of Pudding!  I almost fell off the couch, because this is so true. Rather than feel our feelings, we tend to want to mask or disengage by using food, alcohol, drugs, sleep, TV, or gambling to avoid uncomfortable emotions.

Author Martha Beck offers a mnemonic “so far” when confronted with stressors that might trigger eating that is not hunger related.

S is for STOP-  Stop doing anything.

O is for OPEN- To combat the fight or flight response, open your eyes wide, open your lungs by taking deep breaths, and open your muscles with a stretch.

F is for FORGIVE- Forgive yourself and your body for all alleged imperfections and have a mental list ready of things you and your body do well. Focus on your list and allow the frontal lobe of your brain (the calm observer) regain control.

A is for ACCEPT- You don’t have to love or sustain what is happening; just stop resisting and allow it to be as it is. Breathe.

R is for RENEW- From a place of S, O, F, A, you can make better decisions around food and fitness.

As a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, I want food and fitness to be sources of joy and sustenance, never punishments or stressors.

Keep Happy and Healthy and a special “thank you” to Kevin

Lisa Richardson MA, RDN