Share a Meal to Strengthen Your Recovery
Staying hydrated is even more important. You will be less tempted to overeat if you are well hydrated. Dehydration has been known to inadvertently trigger our brain. The brain often associates thirst with alcohol. This trigger could be derailed by simply quenching your thirst. Every meal and snack provides a chance to reinforce a healthy eating habit. When these new habits are normalized, set a new goal and enjoy your new success. And why not include others in your recovery journey?
Throwing a dinner party is a great way to ease into a newly sober life. Sharing meals with family and friends provides an opportunity to nourish both your body and mind. It can also be an excellent way to avoid isolation.
Research shows that time spent sharing a meal can increase happiness and help fight depression. Meal sharing gives us the opportunity to focus on supporting each other mentally and physically. If you find yourself feeling restless, consider planning a healthy meal with friends or family.
When others share, such as setting up a potluck, it creates community. A potluck creates a sense of community because everyone gets to contribute. Encourage everyone to keep to their commitment by setting a date in advance. Consider creating a theme for your potluck. Focus on celebrations and holidays to name a few. Be sure to plan the essentials for your meal. Here are a few extra tips for your dinner party.
#1
Provide a variety of appealing non-alcoholic beverages
Water doesn’t have to always be so plain these days.
Water doesn’t have to be so plain these days. Sparkling water and vitamin water are common alternatives, but that’s not all. Try pairing various fresh fruits with your communal dose of hydration. Smoothies, tea and coffee are a few more fun and life-giving beverage choices. Soda is another option, but consume it sparingly. Soda contains a hefty amount of processed chemicals that negatively affect your brain.
#2
Find some cool, diverse dishes and glassware
New, cool dining dishes don’t have to be all that expensive.
Check out your local Salvation Army, Goodwill or community resale shop. Look for something that adds a little style and your own personality. You could even look for dishes that fit the theme of your dinner.
#3
Smaller is better
Don’t overwhelm yourself with more than eight or ten guests.
Only invite as many people as you feel comfortable with. If three or four is your limit, start with that. Make sure each guest knows that you are no longer drinking. This will help avoid someone showing up with a bottle for the host. Invite friends and family that will respect your effort at recovery. Don’t be afraid to tell them that alcohol won’t be served.
#4
Specify the hours
On your invitation or in verbal communication, state the exact time of the party.
This helps you organize your serving and narrows the time frame for what might be a stressful endeavor. Short but sweet is a good place to start.
#5
Ask your guests to bring a variety of dishes
One thing that you want to keep in mind are people’s dietary restrictions.
Things like dairy, nuts, and meats might have to be avoided, or kept separate. Coordinate between everyone to make sure no one brings the same dish. Try to think of ways to have people add a fun flare to their dishes. You could have them base it off of the theme of the dinner.
Food choices matter on the road to recovery. Nourishing, whole foods provide your body with the nutrients and energy needed to fuel your recovery. Individuals in long-term recovery programs face a greater risk of developing unhealthy eating behaviors. They often gain weight, which can lead to a host of other health issues. Learning to reinforce healthy eating habits now will improve your health and well-being in the future.
Oftentimes, we will replace our substance abuse habits with snacking on sugary snacks. Learning healthy snacking and eating habits while in recovery can prevent bad eating habits. Upon establishing some good healthy habits, you can share your knowledge with loved ones. Research has proven the positive impact of nutrition interventions during recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. Group nutrition education has been commonly associated with positive alcohol and drug treatment outcomes.
