Separated But Thriving - Coping With Separation

Separated But Thriving

By Rob Hadley

This information is provided to assist anyone going through separation or divorce. Feel free to reproduce it and use it where you choose, on condition that you include the credit “by Rob Hadley, www.VancouverHypnotherapy.Org”.

Part 5

Guide for Males Unused to Cooking for Themselves

If you are living in a storeroom at your workplace and find yourself staring at a wall of dairy products in Safeway wondering where to begin, this information is probably for you!

Food Shopping

It’s hard enough to find time to eat when things are going well—it’s even harder when the world seems to fall in around your ears! Thinking right often means eating right, and if you’re not used to preparing your own meals, a good place to start is when you go shopping. If you’re living on your own for the first time, you will be faced with a dazzling array of foods and quite possibly find the whole situation a little daunting.

Follow the caveman model.

Your average caveman probably realized that a secure food supply was a GOOD THING. Killing the occasional passing large mammal would supply protein and fats and fruits and berries would provide a little carbohydrate and fibre. Although surprising to some recently separated males, this is no longer considered generally acceptable. The average caveman didn’t have the benefit of being able to drop into the nearest superstore to pick up a few multivitamins, but it probably wouldn’t have done any harm at all to add that to his diet.

Going out and buying a huge amount of cookies, chips, and beer does not count as setting up a secure food supply. Surprisingly to many men, beer is not one of the major food groups.

If, like some people, you find yourself literally out of the family home with no place to go, food can be very important. Getting basics as soon as you find a place to live is imperative. No good decisions are made on an empty stomach. At this point, you need only think in a day-to-day timeframe—until things are stabilized.

So here are some good tips on getting food organized.

• Even if you are so tired it’s not something you want to think about, food is still your first priority.
• You are very likely tired because you haven’t eaten.
• Additionally, being severely stressed, you are burning energy at a far higher rate than you usually do.
• There is no circumstances where drinking supercedes eating as a good idea.

One of your Key Disciplines is “Regular Meals.”

Just to clarify, the concept of Regular Meals does not include going to Macdonald’s every day at lunch time. As a newly single person, you are faced with the challenge of not only sustaining your body, but improving it. Improving your diet will not only make you feel better, you’ll also look a whole lot better, too.

It’s quite likely your physical appearance has suffered during the turmoil of the end of your marriage. Now is a great time to rebuild your physical appearance. If you always wanted to lose weight, separation is just the ticket.

Use this table to focus on getting the nutrition you need, when you need it.

The practicalities of your new situation may well mean you are not going to get a sophisticated meal organized. That’s fine. Our caveman did fine just by knowing what to eat. Here are some really simple meal ideas that will not take more than a few minutes to create.

Tinned Chilli
Just rip it out of the tin and you’re there!

Thai Salad, with Rice
Rice is a good friend to anyone in reduced circumstances, and adding a highly spicy meat or salad to it makes it more interesting. Don’t eat rice on its own; you’ll miss out on essential proteins. You can use a seafood salad as an alternative to the

Thai Salad
Chop part of a jalapeno and add it to the rice or salad, to pep it up a little.

Pasta with a Meat Sauce
A tin of meat sauce poured over pasta makes a quick meal. Not very elegant, but it works.

Salmon Omelette
Couple of eggs, add smoked salmon, and a little seasoning.

If you ever need help preparing food, use the Internet to find great recipes and simple instructions.

There are plenty of cheap and easily prepared foods at the deli counter of any superstore these days. You can buy them in 200 gram servings and you can get a broad variety, which is important if you are living in hard conditions. If you combine the occasional raw onion, tomato, or jalapeño, you’ll be adding flavour and nutrition to any dish.

Keep diet simple. You are what you eat. Simply avoid junk food unless you want to feel like junk. Smart people eat organic. Never ever buy food because it's cheap.

Following caveman dating rituals is not recommended, especially if they involve a club and a cave.

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