When people are depressed, they often feel that they don’t have the energy to do what previously seemed like child’s play. As a consequence, one can easily become immobilized, forget to eat, or drown your sorrows in unhealthy food and overeating. Sleep disorders are also a common side effect. One way to break this vicious cycle is to aim for a regular eating pattern throughout the day. It is a good idea to plan your meals for the same time every day, and avoid a gap of more than four hours in between meals. Furthermore, if you do not usually eat breakfast, it would be advantageous to start doing so - even just a tiny bite makes a difference.

The habit of eating breakfast will help you boost your digestion and will make you more energetic. A small meal is enough, such as cereal with milk, a biscuit with cheese and a glass of freshly squeezed juice, or yogurt with some fruit. As you become better at eating at regular intervals, you should include more healthy foods in your diet. These may be vegetables, fish, nuts and whole grains. Remember to stay hydrated. An adult person should drink approximately two liters water per day. Although parts of this is already covered through the ingested food, it’s still a good rule of thumb to make sure you drink at least one liter of clean water every day.

From the leaflet Simple Advice by the Norwegian Ministry of Health.