Nutrition During Recovery
Lindsey Richardson
Nutrition for the Addict
 An addict will spend most of the day doing,
searching and/or being under the influence
of drugs and/or alcohol…so how important
is nutrition in their daily life?
 According to Homefamily.net; Heavy
drinkers can consume 50% or more of their
calories from alcohol. Alcohol contains
"empty calories" because it does not have
the nutrients needed for health.
Inside the Addict’s Body
 Heavy drinkers entering treatment have digestive,
circulation and internal problems, and a poor
appetite due to the damage to their body tissues.
 Drug addicts are an average of 20-30 pounds
under weight when the enter treatment, have poor
skin, thin hair, little circulation in their body,
sunken eyes and protruding bones due to the
damage drugs have done to their body.
Nutrition and Recovery
 How important is nutrition during recovery?
 Good nutrition while in recovery can both
correct the effect of poor eating habits and
repair and rebuild tissues is needed during
recovery. (homefamily.net)
 Good nutrition during recovery can also
continue after treatment is done, making it a
life style change.
Nutrition and Recovery
 Proper nutrition is critical to physical and
emotional health during recovery
 Relapse to using the drug of choice is also more
likely when blood sugar fluctuates due to the
irregular intake of food, which is why regular meals
are so important.
 Addicts and alcoholics often forget what it's like to
be hungry and instead interpret this feeling as a
drug craving, so they should be encouraged to
consider the possibility that they may be hungry
when cravings become strong.
Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy
Eating
Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy
Eating
 According to Canada’s food guide the “normal”
adult person should consume in one day:
 7-10 servings of fruits and vegetables
 6-8 grain products (with
a focus on whole grains)
 2-4 dairy products
 And 2-3 meat and
Alternatives
 8-12 glasses of water
Nutrition on a Budget
 Private treatment centers usually have a wide
array of healthy foods, prepared by red seal chefs,
because the clients pay thousands of dollars for
treatment.
 Publicly funding facilities do not have the same
luxuries. Most facilities are funded through
government agencies, local business, fund raising
and tax relief programs. There are no red seal
chefs, and not a lot of money in the budget for
food (food sometimes being donated by the food
bank like at SAM’s).
Sample Menus: Food For Thought!
 Private Facility (New
Seasons Treatment Center in
California)
 Breakfast:
Fresh-squeezed Orange
Juice, Oatmeal & Bran,
locally-grown Seasonal Fruit,
Yogurt, Eggs, assorted Wholegrain Breads and Bagels,
Sweet Butter & assorted Nut
Butters, Jams, Milk, and Soy
Milk.
 Public Facility (Southern
Alcare Manor in Lethbridge)
 Breakfast:
2% milk, coffee and tea, low
sugar cereal, toast, peanut
butter and jam, and apples
or oranges
Eggs, bacon, sausages,
French toast and/or
pancakes are offered on
weekends
Sample Menus
 Private Facility
 Lunch:
 Public Facility
 Lunch:
Salad of Various Baby Lettuces
and Micro Greens, Diced
Garden Tomatoes finished in a
Pomegranate Vinaigrette.
Broiled Breast of Chicken with a
Grain Mustard and Herb Sauce.
Steamed Lemony Asparagus,
Toasted Brown Rice.
Iced Rooibos Tea w/ lemon.
Sandwiches with processed meat,
soup (either homemade or from
a can), cake, pie or cookies, and
fruit salad, as well as coffee,
tea, and 2% milk.
Sample Menus
 Private Facility
 Dinner:
Roasted Vegetable
Soup w/ Parmesan
Croutons Broiled
Salmon w/ Basil
Pesto, Ratatouille
Rosti Potatoes
Caramelized Plum
Crostata w/ Creme
Fraiche
Iced Decaffeinated
Green Tea
 Private Facility
 Dinner:
Deep fried chicken strips, gravy,
boiled potatoes, frozen
vegetables, salad (with ranch,
Italian, or 1000 island), left over
cake, pie or cookies, fruit salad,
coffee, tea or 2% milk.
My Questions to YOU
 If we know that nutrition is a very important part of
life, and there is even guide lines for healthy
eating, then why is nutrition being over looked at
public facilities?
 What can we do to change the importance of
nutrition at public facilities?
 Where can the extra money come from?
 We know that private facilities have a higher
success rate than public, so how much of an
impact does nutrition play in sobriety?