Caring for a friend or relative can be hugely rewarding, but at times it can also be tiring and stressful. Carers often put their own needs last. Amongst the day-to-day challenges of looking after someone else it can be easy to forget about your own health needs.
As a carer, eating a balanced diet is essential to provide your body with all the nutrients it needs. A balanced diet will keep your body strong and give you enough energy to provide the best care for the person you are caring for and yourself.
Eating well does not have to be difficult either. Whether you are underweight or overweight, by understanding how to achieve a balanced diet and how to fit it into your lifestyle, you can manage your weight and stay in good health.
What happens when you do not eat well?
We all know that eating well is important, but when caring for someone it can often be difficult to make sure the body is getting the right nutrition. As a carer, you may find that much of your time and energy will be focused on the needs of the person you care for and, as a result, it may be difficult to prepare and eat healthy balanced meals. You may find that you struggle to eat well for some of the following reasons:
• Caring for someone can often mean a busy and demanding lifestyle, with little time to eat balanced meals. Some people may eat too much of certain types of food, resulting in weight gain, whilst others may not eat enough and therefore lose weight.
• During stressful events, such as recent bereavement, work or financial pressures, you may not feel like eating very much.
• You may also experience appetite loss when suffering from a short-term illness, such as flu, or recovering from an injury because you may feel too sick or weak to prepare and manage normal food.
• If you are on a budget you may find it difficult to buy the foods you need for a healthy, balanced diet.
For more information please click here:- The Importance Of Eating Well For Carers Leaflet
