It was once believed that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. With young children, that may still be the case as they head off to school. Breakfast helps fuel the brain and prepare it for learning. As we get older, however, it is becoming more clear that lunch is the most important meal of the day. That is why we need to expand on the importance of supported lunches in our healing food programs. A key feature of treatment at Integrative Life Center is our focus on our client’s whole self. Not only do we treat the physical symptoms of mental health issues and substance abuse, but we strive to help clients develop the most positive habits going forward.
Body Rhythms
It has been found that digestion energy works on a cycle the same as all other body systems, such as sleep. In the mornings, that energy is just starting up. It needs only a light meal, or you will end up feeling weighed down throughout the day. As the day progresses, that digestive energy increases. It reaches its peak somewhere between 11 and 2, at lunchtime. After that, it starts to slow down again. This means that it makes more sense to take in the most nutrients during the mid-day hours when your body can best process them. The importance of supported lunches is based on needing to see that the healthiest eating is done during this meal.
Food and Eating Disorders
In most cases, a person struggling with any type of eating disorder is not getting proper nutrition. Eating issues can appear in many forms. For some, it is the inability to stop eating; for others, food of any kind is considered horrible. Another group finds items that are not meant to be eaten appealing. The list goes on. Eating disorders are both physical and psychological and need to be addressed from both angles. One way to do this is to utilize the importance of supported lunches, along with body-image counseling.
The Importance of Supported Lunches
You may be wondering how individuals with an eating disorder participate in supported lunches with staff. This can vary depending on where you are in your process of healing. Everyone who enters our program is given a nutritional evaluation along with the other evaluations. We work with our nutritionist to determine the importance of supported lunches for each individual. You may experience anything from simple guidance on how to make this the healthiest meal of the day to having someone sit with you and help you get through the rituals you may have developed or helped you overcome the avoidance of certain foods. We offer what you need when you need it. In this way, you can grow toward eventual independence.
The Importance of Supported Lunches in Helping You Heal
If you or a loved one find yourself struggling with your relationship with food, call us at [Direct]. Here at the Integrative Life Center, we believe that healing takes more than psychological counseling. Clients need to be empowered to take control and embrace positive attitudes towards not just themselves but their actions. Furthermore, we make it a point to offer a wide range of therapeutic services so clients can have their unique needs met. For instance, some of the therapies we offer include:
- Breathwork therapy
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Disorder eating treatment
- Music therapy
- Nutrition therapy
These are just a few of the therapies we offer. Our counselors and nutritionist work together and fully understand the importance of supported lunches, especially for those with an eating disorder. You can rest easy knowing we won’t leave you to struggle alone as you work at repairing your relationship with both food and your inner self. We believe in your ability to succeed.
