Summer Re-runs: how to feed yourself first when midlife stays busy

Food For Thought

Jul 3

Do you put your own mask on first?

This excellent advice is provided on every flight safety announcement … but have you thought about how it applies in your everyday life?

When it comes to your nutrition in menopause, we can still be stuck with the impulse to feed others first, putting our own needs on hold, even when the message is clear - we need to put our own masks on first!

If you find yourself in this camp, and you’re looking for a simple way to “put your own mask on first”, re-runs just might be your answer.

If you're old enough to remember a time when T.V. wasn't streamed and your only choice was what the networks served to us, you’ll know what I mean. Once the season was over, all we were left with was what we’d already seen.

You had two choices: move on to something else or watch again. New things can be exciting, but the familiarity and comfort of a rerun has it’s own appeal.

Just like watching re-runs on tv, "re-running" your food with recipes and meals on repeat can feel familiar, even comforting. But repurposing recipes can have even more benefits.

It makes cooking food at home simpler and gives you the opportunity to easily nourish yourself without using up all of your energy chasing down new recipes or ingredients.

Repeating yourself in the kitchen will free up your mental space and time.

Re-runs like leftovers, prepared foods and pre-made dishes can be your gateway to nourishing yourself in a way that fits your life in this moment, without compromising your nutritional goals.

Aside from not knowing what to eat, one of the biggest complaints I hear from women navigating their diet after they’re no longer cooking for a crowd, is not having the energy or the interest in cooking for themselves.

“Food doesn’t taste the same anymore”

“By the time I get to the end of my day, I’m just too tired to cook”

“I know I’m only cooking for me (or us), but I still can’t muster the mental energy to figure out another meal.”

Your solution: reruns!

No need to reinvent the wheel every time you step into your kitchen. Just because your needs have changed, you don’t need to figure out a whole new way to feed yourself.

That would overwhelm even the most accomplished cook.

Repeat the winners. Keep making the recipes that you love and already have the ingredients for.
If some of your tried and true recipes are missing elements you want to focus on now (eg fibre, more plants and legumes, calcium, etc.) think abou ways you can add those ingredients into the meals you already enjoy.

Make a list. Start keeping track of your go-to's, on your phone or in a notebook.Think of it like your greatest hits list. This isn’t about tracking macros or calories, it’s about highlighting what’s worked for you in the past and creating a quick resource for inspiration, shopping lists and meal planning.

BONUS: You'll end up with a bank of recipes and ingredients curated by and for you, and you can skip the internet rabbit hole when you’re searching for ideas.
Make peace with leftovers. Once you’ve found a meal that works for you, make it often, and make extras to eat later.
There’s nothing wrong with freeing up space to focus on other things besides your diet, and leftovers help you do that.

Eating healthy doesn't mean eating something different for every meal.
Spice it up. If you’re feeling bored and uninspired by your meals, consider adding new flavours to re-spark your tastebuds.
Spices and seasonings are a fast and simple way to boost flavour, and many of them have strong nutritional benefits too.
I cover the details in this blog postif you want to learn more.