Bad Food, Bad Mental Health for Moms?
Updated: 2 days ago
Can what we eat truly impact how we feel? Picture this: starting your day with a smoothie or a bowl of fresh organic strawberries and blueberries versus grabbing a candy bar and that bag of Cheetos at the gas station. How do you feel afterward? Energized and positive, or sluggish and irritable?
We know that food choices can impact our physical health, and some delicious snacks and foods we habitually enjoy may also shape our emotional well-being—especially for mothers who often balance their needs while nurturing their children. For many mothers, food is nourishment and a way to manage stress, emotions, and even relationship dynamics.
Research shows an association between food attitudes and behaviors, which contribute to mental health (Jonsson et al., 2024). In addition, with the high number of chronic conditions and weight-related concerns—such as obesity— on the rise (Bremner et al., 2020), healthier dietary behaviors have been shown to contribute positively to decreasing obesity and overweight status and improving one's mental health and overall well-being (Johnnson et al., 2024).
I'm sure you can relate to the fact that we're continually bombarded with the latest advice on weight loss, from prescriptions to social media chefs touting their "healthier" recipes. I, too, frequently talk about healthy foods and my favorite weekend recipe made with yummy homemade sauces and veggies. But what if our food choices aren't just about having a healthy number on the scale? Could the food we eat also be affecting our mental well-being? Could those bags of Skittles or Snickers bars actually be causing you to feel tired and groggy?
Research shows a connection between negative food behaviors and poor psychological health—and vice versa (Keeton et al., 2023). Yet, many studies focus on isolated factors—like diet or exercise—without considering how socioeconomics, social support, and neighborhood environment influence food attitudes and mental health (Jonsson et al., 2024). In fact, much of the research on Black mothers' health and well-being tends to be limited in scope, focusing on one aspect of the complex relationships between food, emotions, and psychological well-being (Silfee et la., 2018). What if we stopped thinking about food in terms of only calories and started considering how our foods impact our physical health, emotions, and mental well-being daily?
Is there a connection? Let's explore together.
There are many complexities in the relationship between mental well-being and food disorders. Some research suggests a link between Mediterranean diets and other behavioral changes that benefit perceived stress levels and well-being1. However, there is still a need for more exploration into the relationships between diet and mental disorders1.
Yet, paying attention to how certain foods make us feel could be a tremendous step toward better well-being. So, the next time you make food choices, ask yourself: is what I am about to eat nourishing both my body and mind?
Practical takeaway: To improve your food choices and mental well-being, start small:
When managing multiple household responsibilities, consider swapping food in your pantry, such as chips and cookies, healthy nuts and fresh apples on the counter, and pre-washed celery and carrots in the fridge.
Limit or avoid processed sugary foods that might leave you sluggish or irritable.
Start today by practicing mindfulness in your daily eating habits. Pay attention to how the foods you eat affect your mood.
Let's replace those chips and cookies today with a yummy apple and some nuts and see how it makes you feel. You can do this, I believe in you!
To learn more about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, be sure to register for my next pre-recorded webinar, which will introduce you to health, wellness, and behavior change for moms. You can also pre-order my upcoming book!
References
1. Bremner, J. D., Moazzami, K., Wittbrodt, M. T., Nye, J. A., Lima, B. B., Gillespie, C. F., Rapaport, M. H., Pearce, B. D., Shah, A. J., & Vaccarino, V. (2020). Diet, Stress and Mental Health. Nutrients, 12(8), 2428. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12082428
2. Keeton, V., Bell, J., Drake, C., Garcia, E. R. I. K., Pantell, M., Hessler, D., Wing, H., Silveira, P., Donnell, K., Filho, E., Meaney, M., & Gottlieb, L. (2023). Household Social Needs, Emotional Functioning, and Stress in Low-Income Latinx Children and their Mothers. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32(796), 811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02532-0 (32), 796-811
3. Jonsson, K.-R., Corell, M., Lofstedt, P., & Adeji, N.-K. (2024). Associations between dietary behaviors and the mental and physical well-being of Swedish adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-024-00733-z (18), 1-11
4. Silfee, V. J., Haughton, C. F., Kini, N., Lemon, S. C., & Rosal, M. C. (2018). Weight Perceptions and Weight-Related Behaviors among Low Income Postpartum Women. Journal of obesity and weight-loss medication, 4(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.23937/2572-4010.1510022
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