Managing a healthy diet during a Flare-Up
It can sometimes be difficult to always maintain healthy eating habits when experiencing a flare-up.
Some energy saving ways to help eat a healthy and balanced diet could include:
- Making food when energy levels are appropriate, e.g. when possible, cooking a larger batch of food and then freezing it for use when energy levels are depleted.
- Ready meals can be efficient when fatigue or exhaustion makes it hard to prepare or cook food from scratch.
- If you find your energy levels are higher in the morning, a slow cooker or pressure cooker meal prepared in the morning and then left to cook during the day can be useful.
- Any food is better than no food, but fruit instead of a high-sugar snack would be better.
- Planning any food lists in advance may help if you struggle with cognitive impairment when shopping and help get the task finished quicker, enabling you to rest.
- Using a stool to sit and prepare, or do the washing up, can help preserve energy.
Frozen vegetables store for longer and can cook quickly. Many varieties can be microwaved.
Frozen fruit for smoothies; a great way to get in vitamins and nutrients. Also helpful if your appetite is low.
- A great source of protein and fibre are tinned pulses and lentils, such as chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans. These count towards your 5 a day and are easily added to curries, soups, and stews.
- Healthy grazing throughout the day can help with energy levels- think fruit, seeds, nuts etc
- Pre-washed or cut items such as vegetables or fruit saves energy and time spent preparing.
