Which Came First? Mental Health or Nutrition?

Feb 16, 2021 | Health At Every Size®, Savor Food and Body

person clutching five eggs by chickens

We’ve all heard that eating well helps your brain function well. True. Some nutrients benefit the brain, like omega-3 fatty acids.

But what happens when your mental health alters your relationship with food and makes it more difficult to make food choices that nourish your brain?

Tara Rivera MS
Tara Rivera, MS, and clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate

Last week, I sat down with Tara Rivera, MS, and clinical psychology Ph.D. candidate, to discuss the nuances between mental health and nutrition. How promoting mental health by practicing self-compassion and allowing full permission with all foods promotes a healthy relationship with food. And how impostor syndrome can get in the way of nourishing your body, mind, and soul.

Tara’s goal is to serve others as they make holistic and healthy lifestyle choices to increase their quality of life.

She is passionate about how food and environmental systems impact mental health in marginalized communities, which led her to complete an M.S. Integrative and Functional Nutrition degree.

Tara is also passionate about how food affects the way people feel. Recently, she returned to school as a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology. By integrating her background in holistic nutrition, Tara hopes to help clients create a deeper understanding of the relationship between food and mental health.

You learn more about Tara’s work here.

Tara offers many nuggets of wisdom and reflection points throughout the interview.

Grab your journal, a favorite beverage, and join us!

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