Nutritious eating habits remain a cornerstone for maintaining optimal health in everyone, but for those in recovery, dietary choices can directly impact their recovery in numerous ways. Consuming foods that are nutritionally lacking and high in sugar, like fast food, as their bodies attempt to grow stronger despite the abuse suffered can not only impede the body’s ability to heal, but it can also become a substitute addiction that only further diminishes their health. Fortunately, there is a solution. If those in recovery can learn how to replace the foods that are offering them the same “highs and lows” as the drugs they were on, they can learn how to maximize their nutrition intake to support a faster recovery, as well as develop habits that will help them maintain their progress indefinitely. Tracey Burg, a chef and dietitian at the Boston Medical Center (BMC), who specializes in nutrition education, says, “food can restore the body to where it once was and it can be a big help in the recovery process.” It’s just up to the hospitals to lead the charge.
Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to make sure they prioritize the health and wellness of their communities above all else, and something as simple as introducing a few culinary wellness classes, and written resources that demonstrate how to use cooking to restore health after addiction, can go a long way in achieving that goal. Simple lessons about what whole grains are and how to cook them, or how to satisfy a sweet tooth with fresh fruit, can help those in recovery improve their health and be more confident about the dietary choices they make in the future. Burg herself says she typically begins with how to prepare a quick “one-pot meal” that usually consists of some type of sautéed ground meat, seasoning, brown rice or another whole grain, and some kind of colorful vegetable, like fresh broccoli. This type of meal is ideal because it’s simple to make and can be made in large batches, it’s nutritious, and its recipe can be altered to suit any taste preferences. Determining how and what to cook, and where to find the necessary ingredients, may seem like such simple obstacles for most people, but for thosein recovery who have no experience taking care of themselves – the information could potentially be life-saving.
Do the right thing for the sake of your community, today, and start showing how effective cooking is to restore health after addiction. Call 629.777.8989, or fill in the free consultation form in the sidebar, to learn more about how our software can positively impact the lives of the patients and visitors you service every day.