A Caregiver’s Experience with MoodBites
Food plays a central role in mental wellbeing not only through nutrients, but through routines, emotions, and everyday care. For caregivers supporting people with mental health conditions, this connection becomes part of daily practice. This text shares the perspective of a caregiver who participated in the MoodBites training programme, reflecting on how food and mental health meet in real life.
‘When I joined the MoodBites training, I was already working closely with people living with mental health conditions, but I often felt unsure about how to talk about food. I could see that eating habits affected mood, energy, and emotional stability, yet I lacked the confidence and language to address this without sounding prescriptive or invasive. The training didn’t give me rigid rules or “perfect diets”. Instead, it helped me understand food as part of everyday life something deeply connected to routine, stress, comfort, and a person’s sense of control.
‘’Food can be a powerful entry point for connection, dignity’’
What stood out most was how clearly the programme linked nutrition with mental wellbeing in practical terms. Through the course, I began to understand why stress can disrupt appetite, why emotional distress often shows up through eating behaviours, and how small, realistic changes can support both body and mind. Concepts like mindful eating, balanced meals, and daily structure were presented not as ideals to achieve, but as supportive tools that can help people feel more stable, grounded, and listened to. This shifted the way I approach conversations with those I care for with more curiosity and far less judgement.
Completing the MoodBites training changed my practice in subtle but meaningful ways. I now feel more confident discussing food as part of mental health support, recognising emotional triggers around eating, and encouraging gentle, achievable steps rather than quick solutions. Most importantly, the training reminded me that care is not about fixing behaviour, but about understanding lived experience. Food can be a powerful entry point for connection, dignity, and recovery, and learning how to work with that has made me a better caregiver.’
The MoodBites training programme focuses on the everyday connection between nutrition and mental health, offering practical insights for caregivers and professionals working in mental health support. Through shared experiences and applied knowledge, MoodBites aims to make food a meaningful part of care.
