Nourish yourself this week

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, providing a timely reminder to consider new ways of caring for our mental health. The focus for this year is loneliness. Loneliness affects many of us at one time or another and with the increased isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is a very important topic to get talking about.

Food is a powerful tool that can bring us all together – whether you find cooking or baking therapeutic, a time to unwind and forget about external stresses or you re-connect with all your friends and family around some seriously good food. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week we’ve come up with a list of potential ways food can be beneficial for your mental health and some fabulous recipes to get you in the kitchen and make this week.

Mindful cooking

Whether you’re cooking a delicious main or baking some mouth-watering gooey brownies, getting in the kitchen can be a perfect mindfulness activity to take you away from external stresses. Check out our top tips for making cooking the least stressful it can be:

1. It is important to remember that cooking what you love is key. If you are passionate about a certain recipe or group of recipes, focus on what brings you joy.
2. Make sure to leave mobile phones, laptops and other outside distractions out of the kitchen if you can so you can really switch off.
3. Lay out your ingredients neatly and clean up as you go, a messy kitchen can be stressful so by cleaning up as you go you avoid having to do one big clean up at the end.
4. Don’t stress about the end result, by removing the pressure for the end result to be perfect you can have a more mindful cooking experience.

Nourishing recipes

Need some inspiration to get you in the kitchen? Whether it is a wonderfully colour nourishing bowl or delicious baked treats check out some of the great recipes from our friends at BBC Good Food which are guaranteed to delight.

Chipotle & lime prawn burrito bowl

Serve up a big bowl of colour with this easy prawn burrito bowl, with zingy chipotle and lime flavours. Packed full of nutrients this wicked recipe provides four of your 5-a-day and you can have it ready in less than 20 minutes! Check out the full recipe here.

Rhubarb Crumble Cake

We are obsessed with this seasonal bake which brings a unique twist to classic comfort baking. Set your taste buds alight with this zingy rhubarb flavour, light sponge and crunchy crumble topping. Plus, it is freezable which makes it the perfect to enjoy again and again. Why not bake it and get your friends and family together for a traditional tea party. Check out the full recipe here.

Kale Smoothie

Finally give yourself a boost of vitamin C in the morning with this vegan green smoothie. Along with kale and avocado, there’s a hit of zesty lemon and pineapple too. Not only is it vegan it is also gluten free. Start your morning right with this delicious glass of goodness. Check out the full recipe here.

However you choose to look after your mental health this week make sure to reach out to your loved ones and re-connect.

If you fancy an unmissable foodie day out with all your friends and family then make sure to join us at the BBC Good Food Show Summer from the 16-19 June. We are delighted to be back for the first time since 2019, bringing you a foodie wonderland packed full of top culinary talent, fabulous shopping, delicious recipe inspiration and so much more. Plus, you can save 20%* on tickets when you quote MAY20 at checkout! Book now here.