Healthy Eating

Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind is committed to promoting good eating habits and the mental and physical benefits that come from a healthy, balanced diet.

Whilst it is fair to say that the link between diet and mental health is less clearly understood than the link between diet and physical health. It is important to understand that maintaining an active lifestyle does have proven benefits for mental health and eating healthily is an essential part of that.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, research shows that exercise releases chemicals in your brain called Endorphins that make you feel good. Regular exercise can also boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep, look and feel better.

A study commissioned by Mind in 2007 found that of a group of 108 members of a Local Mind Association involved in an outdoor activity project, 94 per cent felt that the activity had a positive effect on their mental health

In addition to the indirect benefits of healthy living there is now a growing amount of evidence suggesting that the foods we eat can influence the way we feel. It is believed that eating more wholegrain cereals, pulses, fruit and vegetables can help stabilise mood due to the way the body absorbs sugar.

In contrast to this processed foods and those high in refined sugar are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. This may cause an initial ‘high’ or surge of energy that soon wears off as the body increases its insulin production, which can leave you feeling tired and low.

As a part of our newly formed partnership with Sainsburys in Scarborough we will be actively promoting healthy eating and as a part of this we will be introducing the "Monday Menu". The Monday Menu will be a new healthy, seasonal and affordable recipe posted on our Facebook page every Monday and we would love for you to get involved with it.

Please feel free to let us know what you think of the recipes every week, which ones you liked, which ones you didn't and most of all whether or not you enjoyed yourself cooking them!

 

Monday Menu

Spaghetti Carbonara (25 July 2011)

Serves: 4, Preparation Time: 10 Minutes, Cooking Time: 20 Minutes

 

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, peeled and finely chopped

½ x 400g pack basics mushrooms, sliced

250g basics courgettes, coarsely grated

1 clove garlic peeled and finely chopped

1 x 500g pack basics spaghetti

2 family free-range eggs, yolks only

150ml 1% fat milk

60g British mild Cheddar, finely grated

½ x 120g pack British cooked ham, torn

 

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and cook the onion for 5-10 minutes, until soft. Add the mushrooms and courgettes and cook for a further 5 minutes, until golden, adding the garlic for the last minute. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti following pack instructions.
  2. In a separate bowl, lightly whisk the egg yolks, milk and cream. Stir in half the grated cheese.
  3. Drain the spaghetti and return to the pan. Stir through the mushroom and onion mixture, the ham and creamy sauce. Toss together well.
  4. Return to the heat for 1-2 minutes and toss until cooked through.
  5. Season with plenty of freshly ground black pepper and sprinkle over the remaining 30g cheese.