I'm getting asked a lot about diet, how to tackle lockdown boredom (when a fridge is in the home) and what to eat until normal service is resumed.
Taking into account the moves around Europe to ease lockdown measures, the latter may come sooner than we perhaps think. But until such restrictions on movement and economic activity are indeed lifted I think there are some key principles which it would be useful to bear in mind.
The first is that, putting aside any considerations of dietary inputs (the what, how and when to eat), what matters in this context is individual conviction and morale.
By this I mean the confidence that we, as individuals, have that the current situation will improve and that when it does we should be best positioned to benefit from such improvements. If that conviction is maintained then it affects individual behaviour, the choices we make and how we maintain our diet (and exercise lifestyle) in the current temporised circumstances.
Conversely, if we do not hold that things will improve (if we lose hope!) our behaviour will respond accordingly, leading to a lack of concern or control over what we eat (because, after all, what's the point in thinking about tomorrow?).
One thing I learned from my years playing rugby is that team spirit is something that generates strength, drive and which delivers victory. It is also something that is created and maintained by the team, and which in turn keeps such team spirit alive during the more challenging times.
Individual morale, like team spirit, is not a given. We need to generate and maintain it as individuals to power us through the current difficult circumstances. It is what allows us to make intelligent decisions when choosing healthy foods (fruit as opposed to chocolate, mineral water as opposed to sugary drinks, nuts rather than crips) and which moderates our buying choices so that what we decide to eat later is based on a healthy set of menu options.
So, maintain a positive outlook, build individual morale and make the right choices from supermarket to plate until normal service resumes.
Which it will.