So it turns out last week’s column on healthy lunch boxes was a little premature … the kids almost went back to school!

We were so close and then got caught in the net of Saltus contact tracing and the school not being able to open with so many teachers in quarantine.

For the love of God, this is endless isn’t it? Remember when we all thought this would pass in a few months? It looks like Covid is here to stay for a while and we just have to figure out this new reality.

On the plus side, while our kids have reduced contact and a completely different school experience, I guess they are learning flexibility and resilience on a whole new level. I hate that they can’t see some of their friends and they have to second-guess their safety or the risk of a hug but, on the other hand, they see going to school as a treat and are more technologically savvy than I will ever be – the bar was not high, ha!

Although the hygiene and safety protocols are second nature to us now, it’s easy to forget the influence that diet and lifestyle have on health outcomes. Of course when it comes to preventive steps, you never know what you have prevented, but there’s no doubt that what you eat, drink and how you live (stress, exercise …) impacts your resilience. Whether you’re vaccinated or not make sure you are eating well, staying hydrated, keeping moving and getting enough sleep. It matters so much. On every level!

When I teach my Nutrifit class, one of the first principles I ask people to remember is that what you eat and drink can either build you up, or knock you down. Given that we eat over 1,000 times a year, it’s worth remembering that we have these 1,000 (plus!) opportunities to either boost us or break us. Small steps add up and never more so than when it comes to nutrition.

Nourishing our children and pets (even our plants!) is important to us – I’ve never seen anyone give a baby soda, or feed Cheetos to their cat – and yet sometimes we neglect to apply the same principles to ourselves as adults.

In the age of technology it’s easy to focus on all the superhuman things we can do (fly to the moon, develop the internet …) but we forget that we’re animals with the same biological needs as our babies and children. We need to be nourished!

If you struggle to put your own health at the forefront and consistently eat well, then join me for the next round of Nutrifit. It couldn’t come at a better time – the madness of summer is over and you’ll be feeling amazing in plenty of time for Christmas. If you’ve never looked into this programme, then you can find all the information at www.waterfrontwellness.bm where there is lots of information and testimonials.

There are also details regarding insurance coverage too. If you’d like some free information regarding the steps you can take to boost your immunity when it comes to Covid-19 then take a look at our community resources section (you’ll find it easily in the menu). Tons of tips and recipes! Have a great weekend, one and all.

Catherine Burns is a qualified nutritional therapist. For more details: www.natural.bm, 505-4725, Natural Nutrition Bermuda on Facebook and @naturalbda on Instagram