Our Weekly Tip: Stock Up on Healthy Snacks to Maintain Energy and Focus

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Our Tip of the Week: When someone you love dies, and your world seems to be coming undone, the last thing most of us want to do is worry about what to make for dinner. Shopping, food preparation and the necessary engagement with a dispassionate outside world can be overwhelming to someone processing a recent death. It’s also common to lose your appetite completely. Experts say that inadequate nutrition is a significant and measurable issue for those who are recently bereaved. An easy self-care strategy to get you through this time with enough energy and mental focus is to stock your kitchen with some of your favorite healthy snacks that require no preparation before eating.

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How-to Suggestion: Bereavement sends us on a journey of a lifetime, so think in terms of convenient, simple lunchbox fare. Make a list of “easy” foods, like your favorite kinds of nuts (which are high in “good fats” that can help with memory and overall brain function), dried/dehydrated fruit (raisins, cranberries, apples, dates, etc.), fresh fruit and veggies (bananas, oranges, carrots, celery or anything you enjoy eating raw), and canned soups for when you need a fast, hot meal. Try to avoid anything fried, as this can make you feel even more lethargic. Keeping a small bag of dried food in your pocket or purse is a great way to keep you adequately fed and energized through long days, intense emotions and daily tasks that can leave you feeling drained. Similarly, eating a delicious piece of fresh fruit that is full of vital vitamins and minerals can instantly make you feel more awake and alert, and will help keep you hydrated. On that note, drink a glass of water as well. Nourishing yourself can go a long way to helping you to encounter the life-changing lessons of this transitional period with strength and clarity.