Maintaining Your Good Mood and Waistline During a Period of Confinement

admin March 30, 2020 Eat Well, Health

Faced with the uncertainty that we are all living with in the context of the COVID-19 confinement, it is normal for many to seek comfort through food.

In fact, it is recognized that in times of stress, to compensate for our concerns, we may dive into food without restraint, especially into foods high in fat and sugar, which we can find comforting and calming. In addition, the fact that we no longer have a routine and are at home all the time, encourages more trips to the pantry and fridge.

Still, it is very important to maintain your good eating habits, especially at this time, because eating well is a good way to put the odds in your favour through strengthening the effectiveness of your immune system. Let’s take advantage of the time we are saving on transportation to take care of ourselves by preparing good, healthy and balanced meals.

Here are the 7 tips from our dietitians:

• Tip 1: Introduce a food routine.

Even when stuck at home, it is important to be careful to maintain a schedule that is as regular as possible. In effect, human beings have very precise internal regulators, notably directing our metabolism and our state of mind, and changing up our routine can greatly affect us. Continue to wake up at regular times and prepare and eat your meals at fixed times as well.

It’s very easy to forget your good eating habits in a time like this. A word of advice: keep the rule of three meals a day and include snacks only if you feel hungry and not because you are fooled into thinking you are hungry from boredom. Before you open your cupboards ask yourself if this ping of hunger would not be a feeling of thirst instead. Try drinking a glass of water and seeing if it passes.

• Tip 2: Pay attention to quantities

When we move less, our energy needs decrease, a decrease that can be estimated at about 30%. But many make the mistake of eating just as much, if not more, as when their days were busy. Take the time to enjoy your meal so you don’t lose touch with your hunger and satiety signals.  Also, pay close attention to what you put in your cupboards. It’s true that not having temptations at hand is still the best way to avoid them. Instead, leave fruit out in sight on your counter and vegetables ready with hummus in your fridge.

• Tip 3: Pay attention to the quality of your meals.

Make sure your meals all contain a good source of protein, plenty of vegetables and a source of carbohydrates that are full of fiber. Home cooking is a great way to have control over what we consume, however be careful not to forget that cookies and cakes must remain occasional pleasures.

• Tip 4: Take the time to cook with your family

Those who are at home with children know that they must stay occupied. So what better way than to share quality family time while making it rewarding, by cooking good nutritious meals.

• Tip 5: Pay attention to your alcohol consumption.

Staying at home, and in order to cope with stress, it may be tempting to have a few drinks to decompress or have fun. But be careful, because not only is alcohol high in calories, but increased consumption can also increase our dietary cravings as well as our level of physical or verbal aggression.

• Tip 6: Combat boredom through sport.

It’s easy to get bored when you’re obligated to stay at home. So why not take advantage of the many online videos showcasing how to get exercise at home. It is recommended to move at least 30 minutes a day. Try it, and you’ll see that it will do you a lot of good. Here are some exercises you can do at home.

• Tip 7: Foster a good night’s sleep

Take advantage of this extra time to plan a great night’s sleep of at least 7 hours. As we know, not getting enough sleep has a detrimental effect on weight gain.

It is in these difficult times, when we feel vulnerable, that we must not lose sight of our objectives, even more than before. Being healthy and taking care of yourself should be your number one priority and we can help you to do so by making eating well more accessible. At SOSCuisine, you can choose from more than 20 different types of diets and we also offer you the opportunity to be supported and helped by one of our dietitians, thanks to the VIP service. Please note that we have experience in online consultations, via teleconferencing, as we have been offering this service for over 10 years.

We are all stuck at home right now, but we need to continue our healthy efforts both physically and mentally, especially at this time.

SOSCuisine’s Nutrition Team

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