Divorce is one of the most stressful life transitions a person can face. Between emotional upheaval, legal logistics, and the pressure to keep everything else moving, it’s easy for your own well-being to fall to the bottom of the list.
During divorce, some people either skip meals entirely or turn to food as a coping mechanism. The reality is, how you nourish yourself during this time directly impacts how you think, feel and get to the other side. Good nutrition can be a stabilizing force, a grounding ritual that brings you back to yourself when everything else feels chaotic or uncertain. I asked nutrition coach, Alison Acerra MS, RDN, CDN, LD to provide five nutrition strategies to share with my clients, who may need to rediscover balance when life feels turned upside down.
1. When life feels chaotic, let meals become your grounding ritual
Letting mealtimes be small anchors in your day can restore a sense of control. For one client, taking time to sit for lunch every day, without her phone, email or to-do lists, became “time just for me where I could truly take care of myself and my own needs.”
Regular, balanced meals calm your nervous system, stabilize blood sugar and help regulate cortisol. It also does wonders on your digestive system -- slowing down at meals is key to managing bloat, gas and other GI distress.
2. Prioritize protein and real meals
Under stress, it’s tempting to grab quick carbs or skip meals. Try to bring intention to your meals because what your body really needs is steady, consistent fuel, especially protein.
Clients tell me, “I just don’t feel hungry,” or “I forget to eat.” Ultimately, their hormones are a mess, and they feel run down and exhausted. Loss of hunger signals is natural when cortisol levels are high! Working towards balanced meals with enough protein can stabilize mood and get you through your day with more energy and clarity.
3. Support your adrenals with blood sugar balance
Stress puts a great demand on your adrenal glands--the powerhouses that regulate energy, mood and metabolism. Skipping meals, relying on caffeine or sugary foods only pushes them harder, leading to fatigue and emotional swings.
Try pairing every carbohydrate (fruit, bread, rice) with protein and some healthy fat. Examples: apple with almond butter or sprouted toast with eggs and avocado. These small shifts help your body feel more grounded instead of depleted.
4. Avoid dieting and choose nourishment
In my years of working with clients 1:1, I’ve noticed that when their lives feel out of control, disordered eating behaviors often pop up. This makes sense. When everything else feels chaotic, food becomes the one thing we try to control.
Restriction or skipping meals amplifies stress and triggers emotional eating cycles. Your body doesn’t need perfection right now, it needs nourishment!
Ask yourself: What would feel kind and stabilizing to eat right now? Not what should I eat, or what’s “good” or “bad.” This mindset shift helps you reconnect with your body and its needs so you can nourish yourself for balance, energy and clarity.
5. Rebuild your relationship with food as you rebuild your life
Consider food as part of your healing process. One client described this work as “rebuilding from the inside out.” Eating regularly, listening to hunger cues, and choosing foods that made her feel calm gave her a sense of confidence.
This chapter of your life can be an opportunity, a reset. As you redefine home, family and identity, you can also redefine what nourishment means for you. If you’re navigating a major transition like divorce and want to rebuild your energy, mood and confidence, consider working with a nutrition coach to help you stay in control of your health.
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Alison Acerra, MS, RDN, CDN works with high-capacity clients, helping them find balance through nutrition so they can lead themselves and others with more clarity, ease and confidence. Learn more at www.alisonacerra.com. You can contact Alison via email at alison@alisonacerra.com.