Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Eating & Living - Recipes for Recovery

The famous question we all hear at the end of everyday: 

"So...what's for dinner?"

Ugh NOT again, right? At the end of a long day we are just too tired...drained...avoidantWe have so many things on our metaphorical plate that we struggle in figuring out what to put on our dinner plate. Meal preparation, feeding our bodies on a regular schedule, and eating "right" are struggles for many people and is even more overwhelming for those struggling with an eating disorder. This question can spark feelings of distress, shame, low self-esteem, fear, and a whole realm of other difficult emotions as those in treatment or recovery attempt to better their relationship with food and their weight. 
In today's media, where messages and advice on health and fitness are not always clear, information can become even more blurred by such a relentless and constricting illness. Not only can it be difficult for people to have a clear idea of what a relatively balanced diet looks like, but it can be even harder to put this knowledge into our daily practice. Having support in any form can be very helpful, but for those with eating disorders it is crucial. 

https://eatinglivingrecovery.wordpress.com/
Eating & Living is a recipe book for those in recovery from eating disorders. The collection of recipes has been shared by those who are also in treatment, those who are recovery, care takers, friends and family of sufferers, and health professionals - each of them having told their story as to why a recipe matters.
This creation began through the conversations being had on an inpatient ward for severe eating disorders in North London. Here, patients shared stories of the delicious foods they once loved and wished they felt capable of eating again. They would joke of crafting a cookbook, filling it with their knowledge of food and meal ideas.  An inpatient who participated in many of these conversations, Francesca Baker, recently decided to make this idea a reality. However, she wanted to take it further than just a list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions and share the unique stories that are ingrained within each recipe. These meals are not exclusively about preparing food, but also about the company and memories that come with the experience of living with these disorders.



"The book communicates the message that there is no such thing as a 'good' food, but that the old mantra 'everything in moderation' still rings true." -Huffington Post

Baker presents a wide range of recipes, featuring a variety of ingredients. These meals are broadly balanced, attempting to address both the nutritional and physical aspects of the reader's recovery process. Better yet, she attempts to offer additional support and resources for grocery shopping, planning your meals, as well as the process of cooking and eating. Baker aims to play a critical role in helping others conquer the same obstacles that she has been challenged to overcome herself.
Take a glimpse what this resource entails through online previews. As if it couldn't get any better, money raised through the sales of Eating & Living are going towards B-EAT, an eating disorder charity in the UK. This organization provides helplines, online support and a network of self-help groups to help adults and young people in the UK beat their eating disorders. Buying this recipe book will help both you throughout your recovery and others with theirs.


[click on the image above to checkout her page!!]

"I hope that [this] book is not only a used resource, but also symbolic of something. Testament to resilience, hope and belief that recovery is possible. Recovery is hard. But to live, you must eat." 
-- Francesca Baker

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