I was a little apprehensive as I opened Do Nourish, How to Eat for Resilience by Sarah Bayliss. Although I’ve long been interested in the intersect between optimum nutrition and mental health, I’m also quickly irritated by the sanctimonious attitude that some nutritional experts adopt. I’m exhausted by thoughtless talk about beach bodies, bone broth and living our best lives. Because sometimes, just getting by is enough.
So, with a strong sense of relief, I found Do Nourish Eating for Resilience was nothing like I’d feared. From the start Sarah Bayliss’, a registered nutritional therapist, writes in a way that’s accessible and relatable. There’s no talk of weight, dieting or even the euphemistic ‘shaping up’. Instead she focuses on fueling the body properly. So her clients can free themselves from brain fog, fatigue, and energy dips. She also draws on her own experience of years spent in marketing. Where the hours were long, the deadlines incessant, and eating junk food became a way of life. There’s no judgement here, because Bayliss has lived the life, and paid the burnout price.
Eating better is achievable and easy
What particularly struck me about Bayliss’s book is how attainable, for all, she makes eating better seem. There’s only one written exercise in the book. It’s completing a short food diary, which you’re asked to analyse for nutritional value. But even that’s via a simple traffic light system. Otherwise, Do Nourish focuses on small manageable changes, that anyone can incorporate into their day. For example, eating a portion of good quality protein with every meal, increasing consumption of fruit and veg, and using your palm as a tool for portion control. There’s no fussy weighing or calorie counting here.
Being from a mixed culture family myself, I was particularly impressed to see the wide range of ingredients incorporated – there were herbs and spices from around the world. And her pillars for building the perfect salad did look delicious. But complete disclosure: I probably won’t be making it until at least May, when the warmer weather’s here to stay.
The only thing that I felt was missing from Do Nourish How To Eat for Resilience was the acknowledgement that not everyone can easily afford fresh food. I get that a picture of Sarah Bayliss brandishing a tin of carrots, isn’t the same vibe as her perusing a fresh food market (pictured). But the reality is that food banks are busy. And food, that stores better and longer, should be an option for all.
A great starter book for nourishment and nutrition
Overall, it’s a book I’d happily recommend to my clients who express an interest in managing their health or energy levels. It’s packed with good advice and I didn’t once feel heckled, patronised or overwhelmed by nutritional science parlance.
My life is as busy as most, but these are all quick and easy ways to ensure proper nourishment and nutrition with minimal effort. It’s too early for me to say whether reading Do Nourish, and incorporating the tips has had any impact on my mental health. But certainly, I’m adjusting my eating habits to include more protein and fiber. And with the brighter February days here, I feeling more resilient than I was a few weeks ago. Fingers crossed for higher energy levels and greater focus to come.