The holiday season is filled with gifts, get-togethers and tons of food and treats. From cookies at the office to department dinners, we are surrounded by unhealthy food choices and often give in to temptation with the intention of losing the extra pounds in the new year. Of course it’s not wrong to indulge a little during the holidays, but moderation is key. Not only do the extra treats wreak havoc on your waistline, but they can worsen mental health conditions too. 

Strategies to help you enjoy every aspect of the holidays, including the food. You may be surprised that Silver Hill Hospital prepares holiday feasts for our patients and their families to enjoy. This is because we believe food is an integral part of every holiday celebration, and we want our families to enjoy the moment together.

The link between how food affects our mood is becoming common knowledge.  There are blockbuster books, recipes and diets can be found on the Internet, and even grocery manufacturers now package perfect snack pairings to you power through that mid-day slump.

Pair a carb with a protein for a lasting energy boost. Now, you may be surprised that Silver Hill is writing what appears to be more of a culinary post than a medical one, but the truth is, what our patients eat is incredibly important to us. Absorbed into the bloodstream, food is how we get nutrition, and the right nutrition is a critical component of the recovery process. It gives our patients energy to focus and fully participate in treatment programs, aids in mood stabilization by reducing blood sugar spikes, and if their medications are causing weight loss or gain, can even help rebalance those scales.