Food plays a very important role in our mental well-being. Especially during times of stress, it is very important to eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Stories of Hope interviews Kelsey Gill, the dietetic intern at StFX, on the role of food in mental wellbeing.
Q. Please tell us about your role as a dietetic intern with Sodexo?
Kelsey: I started working when students returned back to campus and were beginning their 14-day isolation period. During that time, Sodexo workers were very busy, and my work was heavily focused on providing food to the students in isolation. Every day we managed to prepare and package a total of roughly 1500 meals, and alongside those meals we needed to provide utensils and beverages. We labelled containers for people with specific dietary restrictions such as gluten-free products. So, for the first two weeks, I focused on ensuring that the dietary needs of students in isolation are met, making sure for example, that those who wanted a gluten free meal received it and that boxes didn’t get mixed up. Now that those two weeks are over, I am focusing more on other tasks and projects I can complete as the dietetic intern. I have an interest in gluten-free products and dietary accommodations. I am looking at a student survey focused on the gluten-free diet and gluten-free products, in hopes of making gluten-free food more readily available on campus and ensure students know what is available to them.
Q. What is the role of food in our mental wellbeing, especially during this time of the pandemic?
Kelsey: During stressful times eating comfort foods as a coping mechanism is totally normal. In our first year we are adjusting to a new place and a lot of changes, especially now as we navigate the new normal. All these changes can have us turning to comfort foods to manage our stress and provide us with a sense of normalcy. For example, my comfort food is nachos, because that’s something I always used to eat with my family on movie nights; whenever I am feeling lonesome for home or overwhelmed, nachos can provide me a sense of calm and reassurance and I feel more connected to my family, even when I’m miles away from them. It is important to realize that it’s okay to indulge in eating comfort foods when we are stressed, but to remember that we shouldn’t turn to them every time as a solution. Instead we should try to explore other options and habits to deal with our stress, like going for a walk or watching your favorite childhood movie. Ideally, of course, we should try to work towards stepping back, reflecting, and trying to solve the issue, rather than find ways to distract ourselves. But people often do not take the time to sit back and reflect. Instead, they find the fastest and sometimes easiest alternatives by eating fast food to help them feel better in the moment. Food fills the void for the time being but does not address the root cause of the stress. When focusing on the role of food in our mental health it’s important to focus on a well-balanced approach to healthy eating, as outlined by Canada’s Food Guide. When we properly fuel our body, we will see not only physical, but mental changes. There is a strong link between the foods we eat and our mental health, with our brain and gut continuously working together.
Q. During the pandemic, lot of social media posts promoted certain foods as increasing immunity, resulting in high sales of these foods. What are your thoughts on this?
Kelsey: Often you hear people talk about the idea of "superfoods’, but I believe that there is not one superfood out there. Instead of focusing on these superfoods, we should focus on a ‘super-diet’. This is no fancy diet, its literally just accepting that no one food will cure all your ailments or make you healthy; instead focus on the combination of foods you eat and enjoy throughout a day. When we eat a variety of foods and create a positive relationship with the food we eat, we might see a boost in immunity as a consequence. It is also important to realise that a certain diet is not the only way to boost the immune system. Stress levels, sleep schedule, and exercise routine are also a few of the many contributing factors that account for the health and immunity. It’s important to remember that calling one food a ‘Superfood’ is a marketing gimmick. People should understand that to have a healthy diet, you don’t just need to rely on one food as a superfood. Instead include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet, emphasize consumption of whole grains, and choose lean proteins and non-meat proteins like tofu, beans, and lentils. It Is also extremely important to have a sustainable diet and eating pattern, meaning that you shouldn’t stress over the food you are eating/not eating. For example, If you didn’t consume a certain nutrient in your diet one day, or ended up eating junk food, don’t stress about it. Instead, know that it is okay to eat an unhealthy meal once a while, but try not to make it a habit. The term ‘sustainable’ hear is referring to environmentally sustainable, but rather having an eating pattern that you can stick to and sustain, as opposed to trying a new diet every two weeks, only to ‘fall of the wagon’ and feel frustrated. Remember, you are not a failure, unrealistic diets and diet cultures have failed us.
Q. Finally, what is your advice to the students on healthy food choices?
Kelsey: Try to be creative about what you put on your plate, especially when eating at meal hall. Take time to look around and see what is being offered before deciding what to put on your plate and never feel like you can only get something to eat from one station. Similarly, be creative and resourceful when living off campus and going to the grocery store. Many people choose convenience foods because they are cheap. While this is great every now and again, if you want to save some money, try to take time to look at grocery flyers and ways you can win grocery store reward points, so you can eat healthy and save money at the same time. Focus on a healthy eating pattern but also acknowledge that these are stressful times and if you want to buy an extra bag of chips and you think that will make you happy, go for it. Also turn to your friends and other close people for support, talk to them about your problems instead of focusing on eating more when you’re stressed. Most importantly, remember that the food you eat is only a piece of the puzzle and you are so much more than what you eat.
[Kelsey recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition with Honours from StFX and is now pursuing a career as a dietitian by completing her integrated dietetic internship. Her honours thesis "Development of a Canadian Nutrient Composition Database for Gluten-Fee Foods" has provided her key insight into the gluten-free diet and how as a future dietitian she can influence change surrounding special dietary accommodations. Kelsey is completing her first placement at StFX, working alongside Sodexo and StFX students, encouraging them to better understand the role of food and nutrition and how we can create a positive relationship with the food we eat, both on and off campus.]