You’re Doing a Great Job

McKenzie Jones | May 5, 2020

The pandemic has been a new and often tricky situation to navigate. Some of us may have struggled with loneliness while others may have craved for some alone time; some may have navigated a new reality of working from home, while others were crossing their fingers for any work whatsoever. And here’s the thing: we’ve all been doing our best during this time to move through the situation as best as we can. And in case you need a reminder: you were – and still are – doing a great job.

If your meal prepping, typical eating habits, or exercise routine fell a little to the wayside, cut yourself some slack. At nutribullet, we want to support our community in helping you feel your best. We’ve been living in unprecedented times and shaming food choices or “lack of motivation” certainly isn’t that.

From a food standpoint, we truly want you to have permission to eat the foods you love. Studies have shown that making foods off limits only makes them more desirable. If you allow yourself to eat the mac ‘n cheese or the blueberry muffin, it actually decreases the likelihood of binging. Comfort food is exactly that – it’s comforting. And right now, we could all use a little comfort.

That’s not to say we want you to rely on comfort food as your only coping mechanism. It’s always a good time to start exploring and adding more tools to your coping toolbox. You could call a loved one, take a nap, step outside for some fresh air, have a bath, play a board game, listen to music, or try out a DIY face mask (and we have recipes for that below!). Activities like these trigger the release of dopamine – a brain chemical that signals pleasurable feelings – the same way that eating your favorite comfort food does. A 2011 study, for example, found that listening to music – or even just the anticipation of listening to music – lights up the sections in the brain associated with dopamine release.

And if you personally find it difficult to eat meals due to anxiety or stress, try to schedule meals and snacks throughout the day as a reminder that your body needs nourishment. Our high-calorie, high protein smoothies (like this Nutrition-Rich Smoothie) are good options – especially for elderly individuals that have a difficult time getting in their daily nutrients due to decreased appetites.

We’re so thankful for our community, and we hope we can be a resource of helpful information and recipes during times of both stress and joy.

And now, for some DIY beauty inspiration:

Everything you need to make these face masks can be found in your kitchen.

Avocado Banana Mask

If your skin is still suffering from the winter blues, give it some TLC with an ultra-moisturizing face mask that’s made with three naturally hydrating ingredients: grape seed oil, banana, and avocado.

Moisturizing Oat Face Mask

Are your favorite beauty products are running low? Or are you watching your wallet? Try this homemade face mask made from yogurt, water, oats, and honey.

Body Sugar Scrub

Exfoliate dead skin away with this simple body sugar scrub.


McKenzie Jones

McKenzie Jones

McKenzie is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for nutribullet who aims to make the world a healthier, happier place. She believes that living a healthy lifestyle and eating for your health isn't meant to be complicated -- it's meant to be simple, enjoyable, and judgment-free (with room for dessert). When she’s not dishing out nutrition tidbits, you can find McKenzie visiting her local farmers market, hiking her favorite trails with her husband, and chasing after her daughters.

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