Nutrition for Recovery, Health & Healing in the Time of COVID-19

Acqua Recovery is a sanctuary where you can refresh your body, mind, and spirit as you begin the path to recovery. Throughout that journey, our patients are able to heal from the inside out—not just because of our stellar clinical team, but also because of our incredible program of nutrition for recovery. At Acqua Recovery, clients receive three meals a day and snacks cooked fresh by Chef Camille and her team in our open and welcoming kitchen. Our pro-recovery diet features organic fruits and vegetables, sometimes even from our own garden! Nutrition for recovery is intended to support the body as it undergoes the physical changes and healing associated with drug and alcohol addiction recovery. At the same time, that diet supports the immune system overall—a helpful benefit in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, Chef Camille shares her tips for eating healthy in recovery—and in the time of coronavirus.

  1. Eat at least half a plate of fruits and veggies at every meal.

  2. Eat foods high in beta carotene. Some examples: sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, dried apricots, kale, leafy vegetables, or cantaloupe.

  3. Eat foods high in Vitamin C, such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, red peppers and kiwi.

  4. Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, such as fatty fish (tuna, salmon), egg yolks, and Vitamin D fortified foods like milk, orange juice, or cereal.

  5. Make sure to eat plenty of proteins for cell building. That doesn’t have to mean meat; legumes, nuts, seeds, and even some vegetables can provide the protein you need.

  6. Stay hydrated! Now more than ever, your body needs water to stay healthy. Plus, if you’ve been indulging in comfort foods and sweets to get through this stressful time, drinking more water can help flush out the sugars.

There are no known cases of coronavirus being contracted through food. Still, there are things you can do outside of mealtime to reduce your risk.

  1. Wash your hands before consuming any food or drinks.

  2. Eat off of clean plates and store food in new containers.

  3. Keep hand soap, disinfectant wipes, and cleaning sprays handy in your kitchen.

Following these guidelines will help keep you safe and healthy now and in the future. If you or a loved one are ready to heal from drug and alcohol addiction, contact our team today. Or, to learn more about what recovery from addiction looks like at Acqua Recovery during the COVID-19 outbreak, check out this post on our new protocols to keep clients safe.


Nutrition for Recovery, Health & Healing in the Time of COVID-19

Dr. Daniel Pickrell

Dr. Daniel Pickrell
Medical Reviewer

Dr. Pickrell is a board-certified psychiatrist with interests in addiction and psychiatry. He strives to identify the underlying cause of substance use. His understanding of addiction as the overlapping symptoms of biopsychosocial development is the foundation to his care model. He is committed to helping both patients and families understand that addiction is a treatable medical illness. He has been involved in the treatment of addiction for the last 17 years and completed his residency training at the University of Utah.

Acqua Recovery is a sanctuary where you can refresh your body, mind, and spirit as you begin the path to recovery. Throughout that journey, our patients are able to heal from the inside out—not just because of our stellar clinical team, but also because of our incredible program of nutrition for recovery. At Acqua Recovery, clients receive three meals a day and snacks cooked fresh by Chef Camille and her team in our open and welcoming kitchen. Our pro-recovery diet features organic fruits and vegetables, sometimes even from our own garden! Nutrition for recovery is intended to support the body as it undergoes the physical changes and healing associated with drug and alcohol addiction recovery. At the same time, that diet supports the immune system overall—a helpful benefit in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, Chef Camille shares her tips for eating healthy in recovery—and in the time of coronavirus.

  1. Eat at least half a plate of fruits and veggies at every meal.

  2. Eat foods high in beta carotene. Some examples: sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, dried apricots, kale, leafy vegetables, or cantaloupe.

  3. Eat foods high in Vitamin C, such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, red peppers and kiwi.

  4. Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, such as fatty fish (tuna, salmon), egg yolks, and Vitamin D fortified foods like milk, orange juice, or cereal.

  5. Make sure to eat plenty of proteins for cell building. That doesn’t have to mean meat; legumes, nuts, seeds, and even some vegetables can provide the protein you need.

  6. Stay hydrated! Now more than ever, your body needs water to stay healthy. Plus, if you’ve been indulging in comfort foods and sweets to get through this stressful time, drinking more water can help flush out the sugars.

There are no known cases of coronavirus being contracted through food. Still, there are things you can do outside of mealtime to reduce your risk.

  1. Wash your hands before consuming any food or drinks.

  2. Eat off of clean plates and store food in new containers.

  3. Keep hand soap, disinfectant wipes, and cleaning sprays handy in your kitchen.

Following these guidelines will help keep you safe and healthy now and in the future. If you or a loved one are ready to heal from drug and alcohol addiction, contact our team today. Or, to learn more about what recovery from addiction looks like at Acqua Recovery during the COVID-19 outbreak, check out this post on our new protocols to keep clients safe.


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