Wellness and Grief: Nourishing the Hurting Mind, Body and Soul

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:38:37 GMT

Eat, drink and be merry

This phrase is often tossed around without a second thought. These three actions can be the most difficult to do when grief has entered the daily routine. Feelings of hunger and thirst are overridden by despair, sadness, fear, and anger. Decisions involving what food to purchase and what to eat/drink for a meal are pushed aside by the matters at hand. The desire to nourish yourself diminishes with the realization that life, as you know, is now different.

The truth is, you must eat and drink often every day to move through the loss. Daily nourishment provides the energy needed for increasing the desire to provide self-care. Over time, the nourishment will bring a smile back to your face and into your soul.

But how do you nourish yourself when your grief is so raw and present? How do you make the decision to eat when all you want to do is go back to the moment before life changed forever?

Try these steps and see how they help you.

Make nourishing your body, mind, and soul your job. Set the timer on your phone or watch as a reminder to eat at certain times during the day. Aim to eat at least 2-3 bites of food every 2-3 waking hours initially. Start with nourishing liquids (smoothies, protein shakes, milk, soup) if eating is difficult. If you are dealing with overeating to distract yourself from grief, follow the same time schedule to prevent mind-numbing, continuous eating.
Aim for eating every 3 to 5 hours during waking hours as your body, mind and soul continue to heal. Select foods, such as soup, yogurt, smoothies, mixed dishes, that are easy to eat, if the act of eating is difficult. Work towards selecting at least 3 items for each meal, including at least 1 high protein source (meat, eggs, beans, nuts, cheese, dairy) for daily energy. Fill one-half of the plate or bowl with vegetables and fruits to increase fiber, vitamin and mineral intake for good digestion and immune function.
Set the timer for water breaks, starting with the first steps of the day. Work towards drinking 3-4 cups of water in the morning to activate the body. The brain contains 73% water, which is vital for making hormones and neurotransmitters. These essential components are the deal breakers in thought and decision pathways and mood regulation.
If caffeinated or alcoholic beverages are the drink of choice, work towards drinking ½-1 cup water after each restroom break. Flavor water with slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, oranges, strawberries or drops of peppermint oil if you prefer flavor. Drink hot tea to warm your heart and soul as you heal.
Package food you have received during the initial grief period into smaller portions, label with date/item name and freeze/store for later. Purchase frozen meals to have on hand when the act of cooking is too much. Make a list of what you have and where it is stored to refer to when deciding what to eat – post on the fridge or inside a cabinet.

If eating at a table with a new empty chair is difficult, change where you sit to eat. Pick a new spot at the table, and eat in a different location. Play calming music to help relax the body and mind and improve digestion. Place favorite items around the room as focal points during the meal.
When offered help, ask the person to buy groceries for you or make a meal for you periodically. If you are now alone, accept invitations to eat with others.
Use prayer or slow, deep breaths to center yourself on the task at hand.

Follow the advice of Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” as you move through the moments and days after a life-altering change and “ eat, drink and be merry ” will be achievable again.

Blessings,

Kristy

Blog | Allen-Hall Mortuary – Logan, UT

Wellness and Grief: Nourishing the Hurting Mind, Body and Soul

Eat, drink and be merry