Mood, Food and Wellbeing
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”
- Hippocrates
We are passionate about what we eat and drink.
There is now enough clinical evidence to show that the food we eat has a direct impact not only on our physical health but also our mental health.
Nutrition should be one of the first tools clinicians reach for from their tool box.
From pregnancy throughout our lives the food we eat will impact the person we are.
We want to change government treatment for mental health to include funded nutritional treatment.
If you are interested in being part of that work then please get in touch. If you would like some information on how you can change your mood and help your whanau then we have some information below.
10 steps to a better brain
1. Avoid food that comes in packaging.
Buy produce not products
2. Drink water
3. Eat as nature intended you to, good natural foods
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Variety every day
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Fresh
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Colourful
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Whole
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Moderation - watch your portion size
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Quality
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Raw if possible
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Minimise sugar intake
4. Keep takeaway meals to a minimum
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5. Try eating at the same time each day
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6. Eat at the dinner table. It is a great time for family
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7. Wash hands before you eat
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8. Work together to prepare food - planning, buying, growing, cooking, packing lunches.
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9. Have plenty of healthy snacks in stock. Nuts, whole wheat crackers and bread, fruit and vegetables.
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10. Give EMOTIONAL vitamins, hugs, interest and laughter.
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Water only for schools
Fizz is a group of researchers and public health doctors who have come together to advocate for ending the sale of sugary drinks. They believe that the tide of evidence which implicates sugary drinks with common diseases such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, rotten teeth, gout and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease and premature death is so strong now that ending the sales of these products is justified.
The group includes Dr Gerhard Sundborn (founder), Dr Rob Beaglehole (Dentist), Professor Rod Jackson (Epidemiologist), Professor Boyd Swinburn (Professor of Global Health), Dr Simon Thornley (Public Health Physician) and Associate Professor Tony Merriman (Geneticist).
The Better Brain
How Nutrition Will Help You Overcome Anxiety, Depression, ADHD and Stress
Julia Rucklidge, PHD and Bonnie Kaplan PHD
Published in 2021 The Better Brain outlines key research and treatment information for mental illness.
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Why nutrition matters - and the science behind it
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How to use food and nutrients to treat and prevent mental illness
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Clear dietary advice with delicious mood-boosting recipes
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Crucial guidance on when to supplement and how
Food for Thought
The Food for Thought nutrition education programme is a charitable trust funded by Foodstuffs. They provide two free classroom sessions with a qualified nutritionist, followed by an inquiry learning exercise hosted in a local Foodstuffs supermarket.
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The students also design and budget for a healthy meal/snack for the class. They receive a supermarket gift card to help purchase the ingredients for this shared kai.
The National Curriculum-based learning covers:
• General healthy eating
• Food group information
• How to read a label
• Spot the sugar in drinks
The programme is completely customisable (in its contents, activities, resources used and duration) to meet the needs of students, their families and the wider community.
