Welcome to my blog!

Here I am sharing everything I have learned about navigating grief as a bereaved partner by delving deep into modern research and the ancient healing wisdom of Ayurveda. By reading my articles, I hope you will find the answer to your questions about grief and how it impacts our health in many different ways. 

My hope is that by sharing my personal experience and learnings, you will feel less exhausted, overwhelmed and confused and gain all the understanding you need to start making simple yet important changes to your daily habits that will help you regain control of your health, and therefore, reclaim your life.

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. I'm here with you every step of the way.

Grief does not keep to a schedule

When we are grieving, one of the first things that goes out of the window is eating at regular times each day. Which is unfortunate as a regular daily meal routine is the very thing that can prevent us from grazing all the time and overeating. Especially around Christmas.

Timing our meals so that they happen at about the same time each day is one of the easiest ways to help our energy, mood, and emotions this time of year. Because it is all about blood sugar balance. 

Our body loves routine and irregular mealtimes affect our health and wellbeing – on every level. When we don’t have breakfast or a truly nourishing warm meal at lunchtime, we tend to snack more. Why? Because our needs are not met and we are constantly hungry.

Now imagine this physical hunger combined with our emotional hunger when we are grieving. With all the emotional triggers of Christmas thrown into the mix..... 

With so much food for the taking, it becomes very tempting – and easy – to try and satisfy all our ‘hunger’ with food. However, grabbing food at random to satisfy our emotional needs can become a real problem during the festive season. 

Because grazing all through the holidays and indulging too much in traditional comfort food, such as pizza, pasta, cookies, or bread, causes a constant blood sugar rollercoaster. And a true ‘double whammy’ when our emotions are already all over the place. 

Going on a rollercoaster

Since grief does not have a schedule, we are left with only one choice if we want to get through the coming season in a better shape – sticking to a regular eating routine as best we can.

 Here are some tips on how you can prepare yourself for all this ‘festive food extravaganza’ and curb emotional eating so that you feel more in control:

  1. Be mindful
  • Bring awareness to what, when and how you eat. Ask yourself: ‘Am I truly hungry?’ before you put food in your mouth. Also reflect on what kind of emotion you are trying to satisfy by eating. This Mindful Eating Journal can help with tracking your eating patterns.
  • Once you've decided what you are going to eat, simply enjoy it. Never feel guilty or ashamed about your food choices. These negative feelings can disrupt digestion, which isn't beneficial. Instead, pay attention to how the food you've enjoyed makes you feel afterward.
  1. Be prepared
  • Base all your meals on a combination of protein, fruit or vegetables, and small amounts of healthy oils to keep your tummy nicely full and your blood sugar stable. 

Colourful food

Consider adding a slow-cooker to your kitchen arsenal for quick and convenient meal prepping.

  • Plan out your meals for the next day to avoid erratic eating or skipping meals. Get all the ingredients for a hearty slow-cooked stew or make a tasty stir-fry with leftovers from Christmas.
  • Make a batch of healthy snacks such as energy balls or Chocolate Avocado Truffles. Keep them in your fridge or freezer for whenever you feel like comfort eating.
  • Prepare yourself mentally for how you are going to deal with eating out. Are you going to stick to the 80:20 rule, being stricter about what you eat at home and going with the flow when you are out and about? Alternatively, you can choose healthier foods from the menu or party buffet.
  • The same 80:20 rule can apply to staying over with friends and family. Decide beforehand. 
  • Plan how much alcohol you are going to have and when. Read my tips on this topic in this blog.

At the end of the day, it is all about balance. The more you can control your blood sugar by eating on schedule during the holidays, the better you will feel.

Meanwhile, there is no need to deprive yourself. Treat yourself to some deliciously healthy food by trying some of the festive recipes in my Christmas Survival Guide

Available at an exclusive introductory price of £5.95, this guide is packed with invaluable tips, colourful recipes, and lots of ideas for healthier treats. All the recipes have been carefully put together to help stabilise your mood, energy, and weight during the holiday season while captivating both your eyes and taste buds.

Explore this guide now for a flavourful and balanced festive experience!

Christmas Survival Guide