Now, more than ever, we are all seeing firsthand how a shift in our environment and routine can impact our basic needs and our ability to achieve our ‘best’. Over the past few weeks I have encountered many individuals who are driven, successful and highly regarded in their fields feel as though they’ve lost the healthy habits they have created around self-care.

Though it may seem tempting to add pressure to ourselves to become a culinary expert, a batch-cooking extraordinaire or to commit yourself to extreme dieting during this time, I encourage us all to take a different approach. To realize that we are in the ‘basic needs’ level of our Hierarchy of Needs due to uncertainties with safety and security. While our brains are in this state, we cannot expect ourselves to be able to juggle all our normal activities plus the energy it takes to completely overhaul our diets.

Approach your goals instead with the intention of being realistic and kind to yourself. Give yourself the opportunity to meet your ‘non-negotiables’, your basic needs, in a way that reduces your stress- not adds to it. And open yourself back up for the possibility of more drastic change in the future when our hierarchy allows.

Here is my recommendation on how you can safely and effectively reframe your ‘Nutriarchy’ of Needs:

By Erika DeRooy, PRO Medical Dietitian Services Manager and Registered Dietitian

PRO Medical’s Registered Dietitians provide personalized meal plans and education to support you in making realistic lifestyle changes and in achieving your individual goals. We have experts in a variety of areas and provide support for adults, pediatrics and families.

For healthy recipes that you can use, view our recipes here.