The crackle of chicken frying, flour dusted across the counters and stovetop, me sneaking the crispy bits left on the plate before anyone noticed they were missing. Mashed potatoes. Green beans pulled straight from the garden that morning. A plate of sliced tomatoes. Bread and butter, because no meal was complete without it. It was a time when everyone gathered around the table to eat and connect.
The simple thought of food evokes an array of memories and meanings. Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s home, for one. There are other food memories too. Sitting next to the ice cream churn, waiting out the longest 10 minutes of a summer afternoon for my grandmother’s peach ice cream. Decorating gingerbread cookies every December. Two Red Hots in my mouth for every one on a cookie.
Conversations about the ordinary and the momentous happened around the table. We discussed hopes, worked out disagreements, discussed plans for the future, and made a case for who made the best cookie.
For me, food is as much about nourishment as it is about connecting. But back then, it never occurred to me that food also informs mental wellbeing.
An Exploration
We already accept, without much argument, that what we eat affects our physical health. What’s less discussed, but increasingly well-documented, is how food is directly tied to our mental state. That question – how much of what we feel is coming from what we eat and how we consume it – is what stirred my curiosity. Who better to ask about this topic than a few trusted women I know.
Lindsay Ford, a registered dietitian and owner of Permission to Eat, points out how our physical health influences our mental wellbeing. For example, “Blood sugar dysregulation leads to energy highs and lows, low vitamin D status increases your risk for depression and anxiety, and low iron stores place you at risk for anemia, which often occurs with high levels of fatigue.”
Lindsay Ford
Jennifer Tucker, certified integrative nutrition health coach and certified gut health coach and owner of Wellness Simplified, puts it simply: “Eating a variety of whole, minimally processed foods can help support your overall wellbeing.”
Jennifer Tucker
Charlotte Hardwick, certified integrative nutrition health coach and owner of Flow and Nourish, takes a seasonal approach with her clients. Apples, pears, and figs in the fall to help clear residual heat and ward off winter colds. Root vegetables through the cold months, chosen for their grounding, warming effect. Warm greens folded into winter soups. Salads, berries, and fresh juices in spring, when the body wants to cleanse and renew.
Charlotte Hardwick
The variety is intentional. Different plants feed different populations of gut bacteria, and a well-fed gut microbiome is increasingly linked to better mental health outcomes, which is exactly what Charlotte’s clients report. Once again, it reminds me of my grandparents’ home and picking seasonal veggies to prepare as side dishes and fruits for desserts.
Charlotte also notes, “Nourishing the body through the seasons balances the brain.” And there’s a psychological bonus built in: It’s simple, and it’s sustainable. This alone leads to a decrease in anxiety and overwhelm. “People tend to make eating healthy or nourishing their body and mind harder than it needs to be,” she said.
Listening to your Body
Your body is constantly sending internal signals. Like that signal of fullness, even if you want one more bite – you know, just for taste. Jennifer describes it this way: “Our bodies are always giving us information. Learning to pay attention to things like hunger, fullness, energy, and digestion helps us better understand what our body needs, which is an important part of supporting overall wellbeing.”
Lindsay shares a similar stance, stating that “Diet plays a huge role in how we feel.” She notes that the implications of the foods we eat can often sneak up on us. We may not realize the impact they have on us right away. Instead, it often takes time for the foods we’re consuming to “settle in.”
It makes sense. Those extra few sips of coffee I thought I needed can easily increase my heart rate and trigger my anxiety response. I’m not actually anxious, but my brain and nervous system read my body’s signals as such. If I’m not paying attention, I can easily assume I’m experiencing anxiety rather than my body’s response to caffeine.
Simple, Everyday Changes
Being aware of how food affects your mental wellbeing doesn’t require an overhaul. Jennifer’s advice is refreshingly modest: “Reducing ultra-processed foods and added sugar is one of the simplest changes people can make.” Even more importantly, she encourages paying attention to how different foods make you feel personally, since our bodies don’t all respond the same way.
Lindsay suggests keeping it simple by eating breakfast, including fiber-rich foods, consuming adequate protein, and enjoying meals at the table with friends and family. She also includes honoring your hunger and fullness cues, while keeping alcohol intake low.
Charlotte’s seasonal approach offers another low-effort entry point. You don’t have to redesign your diet; just start layering in what’s currently in season.
In all cases, it’s a practice of slowing down to pay attention or be mindful. It’s noticing what a food does to your body immediately, or even an hour later. Notice when hunger is real versus when it’s boredom or stress.
Speaking of easy, here’s a recipe for Charlotte’s brain-boosting snack that takes 10 minutes and barely counts as a recipe.