10 minute recipes to nourish you when you’re hypomanic AF
Hypomanic AF–that’s been me these past 2 weeks. One day, around 7pm, I realized, FUCK, it’s been almost 24 hours since I’ve eaten anything!! As a bipolar holistic wellness coach, I know how essential two things (other than medication!) are to help prevent hypomania from turning into mania: food, and sleep. Which are the two things we have no interest in when our mind is moving at a million miles an hour!
I decided to make myself a pot of quinoa and roasted vegetables. Easy, so I thought. As the quinoa was boiling, I rushed into my office to write down one of the brilliant ideas buzzing in my mind. Before I knew it, I started smelling something burning. Fuck! I ran back into the kitchen, where I found a cloud of smoke and a pot full of charred quinoa. Doh.
I had thought quinoa was a pretty easy meal. It only takes 15 minutes to cook! But burning the ass out of it made me realize, no honey, 15 minutes is still too long when you’re hypomanic!! Realistically, with all of our hyper energy and distractibility, we’re not going to concentrate on our dishes for more than 10! Any more than that, we’re either going to burn something and/or give up and eat nothing!
Yeah I agree with you Jenny about the 10 minutes. But why can’t I just eat microwave meals or ramen? Good question, and instant food is certainly better than nothing! But when we’re hypomanic, and eating very little, it’s extra important that the little food that you eat is full of vitamins, minerals, and nourishing ingredients that help bring you back down to earth.
Frozen/canned/microwaved food might fill your belly, but will give you very little real nourishment. Freshly cooked food is better for our bodies, and is proven to help us sleep better!
So what we really need when we’re hypomanic, is home cooked food that takes almost no time to prepare. You’re probably thinking, Does that even exist?” Absolutely! And I’d love to share some tips and recipes here with you that I’ve discovered along my bipolar journey. so that you can nourish yourself through all your moods!
Tip number 1– Save the chop!
Buy cut vegetables! Most supermarkets will sell precut veggies. Those 3-5 minutes of chopping it saves can make the difference between getting your vitamins or not when you’re low on patience!
Tip #2–Rock and Crock
Electric crock pots are a great kitchen aid in general, but a real lifesaver when we’re hypomanic! All you have to do it throw you’re ingredients (I’m a huge fan of rice and beans!) in the pot, go do your thing, and come back a few hours later to a piping hot NOT burned meal, woot!!
Tip #3–Soak not croak
By putting your dried beans/grains in a bowl of water, it cuts down the cooking time by at least half! Woot! For beans, soaking also removes the phytic acid that causes gas, so at least you’ll be fart free when you’re irritable AF.
Tip #4–Soup-er easy meals!
Soup is another souper easy dish that’s really hard to burn. Just throw all the ingredients in a big pot, add a bunch of boiling water (I always add extra water so it’s harder to burn!) and set an alarm for 20 minutes later! After you enjoy your bowl, save it in the fridge for quick meals for the next few days. I like to est my soup with avocado or cheesy toast!
5. And the winner goes to…Oatmeal! (Sweet or savory)
Oatmeal is my go-to food pretty much all year but especially when I’m hypomanic because it’s nourishing and fast AF. I make a savory version with carrots, zucchini and spices. And a sweet one with chopped apples, cinnamon, dates and walnuts, yum! I like to use rolled oats because they’re a bit more nutritious than instant oats but take only 5 minutes to cook (unlike steel cut oats which can take up to 20!.
Bon appétit and sending you much love and calming energy on your hypomanic journey