Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month?! The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics launched National Nutrition Month as an annual nutrition education and information campaign. It’s an entire month dedicated to bringing attention to the importance of nourishing our bodies. 
The theme for this year, “Fuel for the Future”, emphasizes the necessity of fuelling our bodies at all ages and eating for sustainability. Sustainable eating means consuming foods that are beneficial for both the environment and our bodies. You can learn more here!

With that being said, here are 5 ways to celebrate national nutrition month while in eating disorder/disordered eating recovery (Confidently NourishED style):

Try food outside of your culture or try a new food item in general (or a fear food!).

You never know…this food might be your new favorite! If you decide to try a fear food, it may be beneficial to journal your experience. You can record the date, food, and anxiety rating (on a scale from 0 to 10) in your journal. It can be comforting to see anxiety ratings for particular foods decrease and rewarding to have proof of your bravery in trying these foods.

Additionally, you may also want to make a note of what your fear is of eating that certain food and run an experiment to see if it comes true. For example, “If I eat a piece of cake I will gain five pounds.” Make sure to record whether or not your prediction comes true. (Spoiler alert: You will find that it usually does not!)

Make an effort to eat more consistently.

Make the time to have 3 meals per day with snacks in-between (or slowly work your way up to that amount)! It’s important to not go more than 4-5 hours without eating. It also may be helpful to keep snacks on hand and set an alarm every 4 hours if you have a busy schedule.

Celebrate community.

Try sharing a meal with a friend, family member, or group this month to appreciate how nourishing our bodies can build community and improve our mental health. Food pulls people together, whether it’s over dinner or getting a treat together. Relax, spend time with someone, share your day, and nourish your body with a shared meal. Celebrate the way food creates community and connection because food is much more than just fuel! 

Make a list of all the ways nourishing your body can have a positive impact on your life.

We often overlook the impact that nourishing our bodies has on our life, so it’s important to stop and think about it! Will nourishing your body give you more energy? Improve your mood? Decrease brain fog? Improve your performance in school? Help you be a better role model for your kids? 

Decide if seeing a Registered Dietitian is right for you.

 If you think that you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. For many people recovering from an eating disorder, a registered dietitian is an integral part of the treatment team. It is important that this dietitian specializes in (and has experience with) treating eating disorders. They must also be willing to work with the rest of the treatment team and be a good fit for you. Schedule a free discovery call here to get started on your food freedom journey today! 

National Nutrition Month Activity Time!

Join us in our social media challenge on Instagram! Simply post a photo of how you’re celebrating National Nutrition Month on your feed or stories and tag us @confidently_nourished! 

OR you can email us a photo of you celebrating to be featured on our social media at info@confidentlynourished.co (*Note: by sending us your image, you’re allowing us to share it on our social media page)