I know you don't want to eat today but please try

This is a bonus newsletter for you all. I'm writing this on the verge of tears and believe it or not, I also need these reminders. I know you don't want to eat but please try.

Today sucks. It feels heavy, it feels traumatic, and it feels stressful. For many of us in marginalized communities, we feel despair and also are questioning so much about our future. I voted on Saturday with my mom for her birthday (at her request.) I’ve been voting with my family forever now as a tradition. I remember the old-school New York City voting booths where you had to physically click a metal portion to select your candidate.

The old-school voting booths, which means I am dating myself with this picture.

When I was little, I would go into the booths with my dad, and he would let me do the “clicking” by telling me the name and then lifting me up so I could “vote.” So, I feel like I have been voting forever, and I know how important it is.

I currently work as a dietitian in public health. Yes, I have social media, and I write a ton, but I also work primarily in public health. SNAP-funded programs and Headstarts might now be on the chopping block with this new administration, and these are both programs that I work under. I’m writing all of this to say that I feel the weight of the decision the country made tenfold. Yes, I am also a Black woman, which in itself can be a hardship based on how this country treats this demographic. Why am I even writing all of this? Because today sucks, and I feel it.

I’m human, so trust me, my stomach is in knots, I felt nauseous this morning, and I feel as though I am in a nightmare simulation. But I also recognize that I have to nourish myself. I do not want to eat anything, and I have zero appetite, but I know that my body needs food. See, I’m human, but the dietitian in me also comes out sometimes, and I have to counsel myself. I know you don’t have an appetite. Neither do I, but let’s figure this out together.

Here is some super generic advice. Remember, I’m a dietitian but not your personal dietitian, so this is not individualized. Yes, I have to give this disclaimer because, well, the interwebs.

1. Eat small, frequent meals: Instead of trying to eat large meals, opt for smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. This can help make eating more manageable. Even if the foods you can tolerate only look like snacks or “kid’s meals,” this is fine. Fruit, yogurt, granola bars, smoothies, toast, soups, cereal, and whatever else feels tolerable.

2. Stay hydrated: Even if you're not feeling hungry, it's important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids such as water, herbal teas, or clear broths.

3. Add flavor: Experiment with herbs, spices, and condiments to add flavor to your meals, which may help stimulate your appetite. I always joke and say to season your food, but honestly, it helps. Good food is enjoyable and can make us excited about eating.

4. Consider nutritional supplements such as Ensure or Boost. Liquid protein drinks are also a great choice. If you're struggling to meet your nutritional needs through food alone, consider talking to your healthcare provider about nutritional supplements.

5. Listen to your body: Try to pay attention to all of your body's hunger cues and eat, even if it's not at traditional meal times. Hunger cues, in addition to a growling stomach, include low energy, shakiness, headaches, feeling lightheaded, feeling cold, irritable, and having problems focusing.

Our bodies are very extraordinary beings because they respond to so many scenarios to try to keep us functioning. I know this seems nonsensical because many times, it often feels like the opposite, and we are fighting with ourselves, but the body’s response processes are amazing to think about. Or maybe it’s just the nerd in me. The reason for this newsletter is that I find myself very often reminding people to eat. We, as a society, put so much focus on “overconsumption” instead of realizing that many of us do not, in fact, eat consistently, which works against us. This can be due to numerous reasons, but what I want us all to remember is that calories are units of energy that we get from food.

I also 100% understand the discomfort that comes from not wanting to eat. I shared my experience above to demonstrate that I, too, am human and go through many experiences that put my body outside its comfort zone. So I get it, I do. What I encourage you to do in these situations is give yourself grace. We get too caught up in picture-perfect meals with the perfect amount of nutrients in each one. I can tell you that not only does perfection not exist, but there are many times when the last thing our bodies need is the perfect equation of nutrients. Remember that fed is best, always.  

Someone on Instagram said they just had a sleeve of Ritz crackers because that’s all they can take. Someone else said she had ice cream. Guess what? I love that because your body needs energy. Now is not the time to overcomplicate things with exact nutrients. It’s the time to provide your body with some sort of nourishment, and it can also be the nourishment of the soul. Take care of yourself as best you can.

My meal so far today. Might be my lunch too, and that’s okay.