One of the occasionally annoying things about occupying a human body is that we regularly need an input of energy in the form of food to survive. It’s fun when we’ve got the time and energy to make something that’s tasty and satisfying to eat…not so much when we’re feeling physically or mentally exhausted and can barely think about food, let alone go grocery shopping or cook. Those are the times I wish I had a personal chef! Unfortunately, the reality of our financial situation (and presumably yours as well) does not allow for that, so when I’m feeling too tired to cook, it means dredging up what little energy I have to figure something out.
When we work with clients on flexible meal planning, we encourage them to have plans for when they’re feeling too tired to cook. Everyone has those days when cooking or putting on real clothes to go out to eat feels impossible, so it’s important to have a plan for how to feed yourself in that situation. It’s especially important for clients in eating disorder recovery, where skipping a meal or undereating ramps up ED thoughts, making the next meal/snack even more challenging. It’s also especially important for clients struggling with depression or a health condition that affects energy levels, like chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis or cancer.
One thing I’ve noticed in my client work is that often times people place unrealistic expectations on themselves around nutrition when they’re feeling tired, as if having the perfect balance of nutrients will perk their body right up! While food can instantly energize you if you’re feeling tired due to hunger, unfortunately, there is no perfect food or meal or mix of nutrients for fatigue. The focus on things like “energy superfoods” overlooks the most important aspect of nutrition for energy - getting a balance of fat, protein, and carbs at your meal, and perhaps some produce as well. Pairing carbs with fat, protein, and some fiber from produce is helpful for stabilizing blood sugar levels, making it best thing you can do for yourself food-wise when you’re feeling exhausted.
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