The importance of food for our mental health and the role it plays

How what we eat makes us feel

When you think about it, what we eat has a direct correlation and impact on how we feel, both physically and mentally. What we eat impacts our moods, energy levels, and our well-being. In looking at the children and youth we support on their mental health journeys when with us, the food we make for them at Hull is intentionally made and curated to have a positive effect on their mood.  

Our brains are working 24/7, 365 – no breaks there! They require tremendous amounts of energy and fuel to keep up with the daily demands of our bodies and minds. The foods we choose to put in our bodies ultimately makes a difference in our brain’s performance. When we eat a healthy and well-balanced diet with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it sets us up for success and to help be in a better place, mentally, emotionally, and physically. Because of this, it’s important the children and youth we support at Hull are taught and encouraged to understand and maintain this balance in their lives.

March is National Nutrition Month and we spoke with Stacey Manolescu, a Recreation Programmer who provides programming support to help ensure the children and youth at Hull are having their nutrition requirements met, while also teaching them life skills in the kitchen, and educating them on how food makes us feel.

“Part of it is knowing how food fuels your body during the day and when you sleep and at night. Food’s a big part of how you feel, and there are times the kids can be stressed or struggling to regulate themselves, so teach them on how food can help support them. With them being so young, when you’re under 25, you need a lot to develop your brain, and what you put into your body needs to act in harmony,” Manolescu says. 

A lot of the food made here comes directly from Subnivean Farm’s gardens, representing a true farm-to-table operation that supports the greater community as well as our on-campus community. The farm teaches the kids here not only about how to plant, tend, and care for food planted, but about sustainability and the importance of having healthy food options. 

“Subnivean supports community programs like Patch, Resilient Families, Lasting Impressions, Fostering Connections, Bridging the Gap, and ILS. Within our school and programs here on campus, we can access the garden and utilize the food. We also have cooking classes at the school and look at the growing schedule and see what we can then incorporate into our lesson plans,” Manolescu says, highlighting the importance of having Subnivean in our backyard. 

Important foods to help support brain health 

• Fish: Salmon, trout, tuna
• Dark Chocolate
• Grains: Oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, quinoa, pasta, bread
• Fruits and vegetables: Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, avocados, broccoli, oranges, peppers, cucumbers, root vegetables (potatoes, yams, carrots, beets), dark leafy greens
• Nuts and seeds: Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds
• Legumes: Chickpeas, beans (black, kidney, pinto, cannellini), lentils (black, green, red, yellow), split peas, peanuts
• Eggs 

She says the kids have a deep sense of pride when they can see something they helped plant come to fruition. “Two years ago, we had a poutine day with all the potatoes from the garden, and last year, a harvest lunch was made with everything for that also coming directly from the garden”. 

“We also receive a grant called the Youth Wellness and Nutrition fund from the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, which is for our young adults and youth transitioning into adulthood. Through that grant, we work with youth in the age range about 14 to 24, that we work to build in wellness and nutrition together. So healthy minds, healthy bodies going along with what you’re eating. We help them build the capacity and confidence in how to buy the staples you need, but then to also cook your food,” Manolescu says. 

A lot of the kids in our care are learning and developing those independent skills, and they’ll often tell Stacey what they made at home, displaying a sense of confidence and satisfaction. Food brings conversation and everybody to the table in an equal way, and helps build a sense of community. 

Caring for such a large amount of kids also requires being adaptable and accommodating to the various dietary needs of the kids we support. For example, some kids don’t eat pork, eggs or dairy, while others may be vegetarian, etc.  

Promoting a healthy and balanced diet as well as displaying healthy eating habits is important for the kids. Manolescu says they work to give them easy tools like using your hand for portion sizes – think veggies are half your hand, protein is a quarter, and grains are a quarter. It gives them easy and tangible ways to look at what their plate needs.  

There are also regular check-ins with the kids to see how they’re feeling, and how that can be connected to what they’ve eaten, or haven’t eaten, during the day. A lot of this is to ensure that we’re educating our staff and the kids and their families in a matter that is sustainable and easy to take home. 

To tap into the benefits that food has on our mental health, effectively teaching that to the kids and making small incremental behavioural changes is important.  

“We’re teaching kids about awareness within themselves, being mindful of their energy levels, and knowing that can be connected to what they’ve eaten. What you eat is important, and choosing what you eat makes a statement within yourself,” Manolescu says. 

Having an understanding of how food affects mental health can inform and empower people to make positive dietary choices to help support emotional resilience.