During this stressful time, where access to fresh food may be limited, it’s vital for people not to take their diets too seriously or feel guilt over ordering a cheese pizza now and again.
“Right now, it’s alright for nutrition to take a bit of a backseat,” Rachael Hartley said. “A lot of us don’t have access to a lot of our day-to-day pleasures right now, so if you find yourself getting more pleasure out of food, and it’s not super nutritious food, that’s OK. It’s what we might have to do to get through this moment.”
If you are ordering a pizza or an order of penne alla vodka, simply try to practice portion control and eat the recommended serving size. If you’re still hungry, add a salad or grilled vegetables to the side of your order.
“For a satisfying meal, our body generally needs fat, protein, carbohydrates, and produce. Pizza has many of those nutrients, it often just needs some produce. Whether you’re throwing some vegetables on as a topping or adding a side salad, it’ll give more of a balance to your meal,” Hartley said.