Self-quarantine is a challenge to people all over the world. The issue has become universal, regardless of age, nationality, or location – we all experience similar problems, doubts, and inconveniences. It often turns out that even the most practical issues become surprisingly tough. One of them is diet and nutrition. All of a sudden, obtaining favourite meals or products becomes problematic. Long queues don’t facilitate shopping, and online supermarkets are overloaded with orders.
What is more, time spent at home doesn’t always mean having high cooking aspirations, because many lose their appetites. How to take care of a balanced diet and perfect nutrition during the self-quarantine? There are a few options.
Plan your meals & mealtimes
Keeping a record of all that we eat may sound boring and challenging, as on a daily basis, we don’t analyse every meal and ingredient. However, it has many good sides and can be practical during self-quarantine. Why? Firstly, it takes time! Instead of experiencing boredom or scrolling social media, we can research food and nutrients, and then create a personalised diet plan. We can consider our favourite products, energetic needs along with the level of physical activity. Such an idea will be a brilliant option to keep a routine. Psychologists claim that planning our schedule helps to maintain mental balance during self-isolation. An additional advantage is the fact that following a well-thought, balanced nutrition plan can strengthen the immune system and minimize the risk of diseases.
If you don’t cook – order!
Those of us who were used to delicious lunches at the local restaurant may suffer from a fear of becoming a ‘perfect housewife (or husband) and mastering their cooking skills. This fear is perfectly understandable. What’s the solution then? Finding a nicely-prepared, delicious meal delivery offer can be an option. Some companies offer delivery seven days a week, and others provide food only on working days. You choose a diet type: number of calories and ingredients (for example, if you don’t eat meat, take a vegetarian or semi-vegetarian option). The meals are typically delivered in the early morning within packages of 3 up to 5 meals ready to heat or eat raw. To read more about food delivery services and compare their prices, take a look at freshly.com reviews.
How to balance the nutrients in your diet
Planning a perfect diet on one’s own is challenging, not to mention combining the preferences of the whole family. Well, it’s not possible to conform to all tastes, so it’s good to follow general tips concerning nutrient balance. As we know, it’s advisable to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, since they contain vitamins and mineral salts. That doesn’t mean, though, the need to eat five apples or five cucumbers – these portions can be varied, so a tomato soup or a banana smoothie also count in. You can think in advance and prepare more portions of the meal so that the whole family will enjoy it.
Another important thing is to reduce the amount of salt and sugar in the diet. It’s easier said than done, as most of the foods we eat are rich in these two. Still, they have a tremendous impact on the organism, leading to obesity, dehydration, increased cholesterol level, or high blood pressure. Along with the lack of sport and inactivity during the quarantine period, these effects can be even worse. It is then essential to avoid salty foods or sweets.
Drink a lot (of water)
As mentioned above, the lack of physical activity is not good for our health, and nor is the lifestyle it goes along with. Spending hours on the sofa with limited access to fresh air … leads to dehydration, which not only can be dangerous to physical health but also affects mental health. How? If you don’t drink enough water, your brain and other cells aren’t appropriately hydrated, and you suffer from a bad mood, headaches, or lack of energy. So make sure to drink 1,5-2 litres of water every day. Soups, juice, tea, or coffee count in, but remember that, especially the two last increase the dehydration. If you don’t feel like remembering about a glass of water, you can install an app on your phone, which sends a reminder every time it’s the moment to take a few sips.
Stay healthy & safe at home
We all know that the next few weeks are going to be hard for everyone. That doesn’t mean, though, that we should waste this time and stop caring about ourselves. If we plan the diet reasonably, it will help to find both mental and physical improvement. What’s more, well-chosen food delivery can leave us more time to spend with significant others and enjoy meals together.