Dietitian Dawn’s Lockdown Advice

A lockdown environment can be difficult for us all, which is why dietitian Dawn's lockdown advice may prove beneficial.

Vitally important to prevent further spread of Coronavirus, a nationwide set of social restrictions has been in place since the tail-end of March.

These social distancing rules restrict outdoor movement, take away motivating exercise spaces, like a gym or sports club, and force people to stay in home spaces for longer.

Boredom may creep in and lead to focusing on food as it is simply something to do. Increased snacking and comfort eating to boost mood may become part of the day. With this in mind, we sought dietitian Dawn's lockdown advice on how to avoid temptation when it comes to food:

Establish a Routine

Try to set regular meal times across the day; breakfast, lunch and an evening meal is a great start.  Stick to this structure to help regulate your appetite and avoid unhelpful eating times and snacking behaviours setting in.

Plan your weekly meals

Keeping shopping trips to a minimum is tricky. If we can achieve it, we will not only help reduce the spread of the virus and our exposure to it, it also means we will need to carefully plan weekly meals to be sure you have everything you require for them.

Make use of any freezer space you have to keep things like bread and milk safe to eat.  The silver lining to your planning and restricted shopping trips is that limited availability to poorer choices might just help you stick to the plan.

Keep Busy

All too often, people tell me it is when they are out of routine, or lose a sense of purpose to the day, when boredom is most likely to take hold, quickly followed by nibbling, snacking and grazing on foods that pile on the pounds.

To avoid this trap, try to set out a plan of activities each day – waking, housework, gardening, family calls/social time, meal times, hobby time, exercise time, and routine bedtime.  This will not only help give you a focus, but it will keep the boredom, and nibbles, at bay too.

Exercise and keeping active

Not only is activity important for our physical health and wellbeing, it is crucial for our mental health too.  Make sure you try to get out into the fresh air daily for a short spell.  Follow the social distancing rules and either enjoy a walk or jog at a comfortable pace for you.

Inside, there are tonnes of online, social media and TV exercise programmes that you can tap into just now, with Joe Wicks' offering an example.  Pick one that you enjoy most and work within your capability; the trick to progress here is persistence and frequency, not intensity!  Keep it varied so you avoid boredom and ensure you are working different parts of the body.

For more information on understanding your triggers when it comes to eating habits, click here for more advice from Dawn.