You may have heard the saying ‘you are what you eat’.

Whilst this of course isn’t scientifically proven, there is some truth to it. Concerning diets, it’s healthy to be mindful of what you’re eating, but in no way should you feel ashamed. Whether you have a great diet, a problematic relationship with food, or feel like you don’t have the time to eat properly, there are things you can do to ensure your body (and mind) get the nutrients required to function at an optimum level.

First and foremost, it’s important to identify exactly what food you’re consuming regularly. If you write it down, you’ll have a clearer understanding of where you’re at in terms of:

• Are you eating enough?

• Are you getting enough nutritional value from what you’re eating?

• Are you likely to be maintaining, gaining or losing weight?

Having a clearer understanding around this means you can adjust your diet accordingly, if required. For example, are you lacking in iron? Do you eat too much saturated fat?

It’s well known that there is a link between what you eat and both your physical and mental health. For example, if you’re always tired with low energy and find yourself drinking caffeinated drinks to get through the day, could your diet be playing a part? 

On the flipside, if you’re eating well and exercise, you’ll notice that the exercise may be easier and you may notice improvements in your performance. Diet can be the difference between meeting or failing to meet your fitness goals.

Eating well can take some time and it can feel cheaper to eat junk food. In these instances, it can be to do with preparation and planning. Of course, eating readily-made healthy food can be a bit more expensive, so it’s important to be prepared and make informed choices. If you’re not in control of the family budget, you could make requests for things to try and rustle up some recipes for the whole family. If you add herbs and spices to meals, you may be surprised at what people will actually eat and enjoy!

Equally, it’s important to look at your/your family’s shopping habits. For example, some super markets are cheaper than others. Convenience stores are almost always more expensive, and it’s suggested that people who shop weekly tend to spend less than those who buy things daily. Shops are designed to get you to spend as much as possible, so make sure you have a list and only buy the things on your list!

How do you find your diet impacts your mental health? Let us know on our social channels.

Using wellbeing solutions steeped in innovative technology, Govox provides data and insights that helps leaders in schools , sports clubs and the workplace spot at-risk individuals and give much-needed support.