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Be Well, Feel Well blog: Food and Drink – April

April is Food & Drink: Food & drink should be one of life’s pleasures; beyond just eating to live, experiencing new tastes, the feeling of being nourished, and the sense of community which comes from eating and drinking with others.

Eat Well, Feel Well

'Eat Well, Feel Well' aims to raise awareness to families and schools of the importance of eating well and building good relationships with a variety of foods in order to maintain good mental and physical health, and prevent eating problems in children.
Discover a wealth of information, advice, podcasts, services, activity sheets and webinars on a number of topics including food and mood, ADHA and food, disordered eating and much more at:

Eat Well Feel well Suffolk County Council

How to manage your mood with food

What and when we eat is not just important for our physical health, but for our emotional health. Here are some top tips to help you eat well for your body and mind:

Eat regularly - if your blood sugar drops, it can make you feel tired, irritable or depressed. Eating regularly will help keep your sugar levels steady, especially foods with slow-release energy that are high in protein like eggs, nuts, and seeds.
Get the right fats - your brain needs fatty oils such as omega 3 to keep it well, so rather than avoiding all fats in your diet, it’s important to get the right ones. Oily fish is good, but walnuts are great too (and shaped like a brain)
Increase your protein - protein contains amino acids, which helps your brain regulate your thoughts and feelings, plus your blood sugar levels. Protein rich foods include lean meat, eggs, fish, cheese as well as oats, brown rice and nuts.
Drink more - if you’re not hydrated enough, you may find it harder to concentrate, experience changes to mood and headaches. Water and herbal teas are best
Eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables - the minerals, vitamins and fibre in fruit and vegetables are essential to keeping us physically and mentally well. Eating a variety of colours every day - a ‘rainbow’ - is the best way of achieving a good balance.
Cut down on caffeine - drinking too much caffeine can make you feel anxious, and even depressed, and affect your quality of sleep. You don’t have to stop completely, just cutting down on the amount of caffeinated drinks can work wonders, especially in the latter part of your day.
Pay attention to your gut - your gut and your brain use similar chemicals, so looking after one supports the other. Foods to include for a healthy gut are high in fibre including fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and live yoghurts

Top Tips for a healthier diet

Food and Drink money saving ideas and recipes

How to save money on food

Recipes

Events

ActivLives - Grow your own food

Gardening in Mind - An outdoor programme to support mental wellbeing.

This is a free course you will take part in gardening, growing and environmental activities, with the option to get involved in bee-keeping too

Come and join our outdoor programme to support mental wellbeing.

Taking place on Mondays between 6 February and 24 April 2023, 10am-2pm or Wednesdays between 8 February and 26 April 2023, 10am-2pm.

The People’s Community Garden, Maidenhall Allotments, Halifax Road, Ipswich, IP2 8RE

Activgardens

To find out more and register your place please contact Project Manager Susannah on 07530 407302 or 01473 345350 email susannah@activlives.org.uk

YMCA webinar

Wednesday 26th April, 1pm -2pm

Eat Well, Feel Well - This webinar focuses on the relationship between food and our mood. We will explore how different foods can impact us both positively and negatively as well as strategies to incorporate small changes in order to have big impacts.

Book a place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eat-well-feel-well-registration-574490224727

Wednesday 28th June 1pm -2pm

Tips for rest and recharge This webinar is an exploration of good sleep hygiene, the impacts of disturbed sleep and its links to other conditions.
We hope to give you a better understanding of why teenagers sleep so much and how we can promote great sleep for all of us.
Book a place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tips-for-rest-and-recharge-registration-592394025477

Wednesday 30th August 1pm-2pm

One community: Challenging the stigma of mental health
In this webinar we explore the themes of community and what stigma around mental health means. What impact does stigma have and tips to help reduce this stigma and nurture our sense of community.
Book a place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/one-community-challenging-the-stigma-of-mental-health-registration-592405640217

Tuesday 24th October 1pm-2pm

Firm and fair - Why boundaries are important.
In this webinar we will look at why children of all ages need boundaries and how it helps their growth as well as explore the idea of privacy and how respecting and encouraging privacy can enhance family life.
Book a place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/firm-and-fair-why-boundaries-are-important-registration-592428277927

Tuesday 19th December 1pm-2pm

The power of noticing (Suitable for 11- 18 year olds & parents)
How does being present boost our wellbeing and relationships?
Join us in this webinar to explore the links between the power of noticing and the impact on our wellbeing and mood, including being in control of where we direct our focus.
Book a place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-power-of-noticing-registration-592446221597

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