How to maintain a healthy lifestyle during lockdown

So what can we do to curb these new habits, eat more healthily and get back to feeling our best?

How has lockdown affected our lifestyles?

Research has shown that a change in daily routine can increase stress and anxiety and this may result in dysfunctional coping behaviour, leading to more comfort eating and emotional eating. It's therefore unsurprising that our lifestyles have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and especially during periods spent at home in lockdown.

A survey conducted by Ipsos MORI and King's College London found that during the first national lockdown, 35% of people reported eating more food or more unhealthy food than they normally did. Close to 50% said that they put on weight during lockdown. The same percentage reported feeling more stressed or depressed than usual. Almost a third of people said they drank more alcohol.

Curbing lockdown eating

Whilst comfort food and alcohol may seem like a quick and easy fix for difficult emotions or boredom, they won't actually solve the problem and may make the situation worse.

Madeleine Hawkes, weight management dietician at Nutrition Synergy, recommends taking some time to consider whether or why you're actually hungry in order to eat more intuitively.

"Next time you find yourself heading to the fridge, ask yourself, 'Am I truly hungry?' If not, ask yourself, 'What am I actually hungry for?'"

• If you're bored then what you're seeking is stimulation, not food. You could try playing some games like sudoku, or read a book to keep yourself occupied.

• If you're feeling low and you're actually hungry for comfort, why not reach out to a friend or run a warm bubble bath?

• If you're feeling stressed, get outside for a walk in the fresh air, or try a home workout online in your living room to get the blood pumping. Evidence shows that exercise can really bring stress levels down.

• If you're feeling anxious, you could try some meditation apps or yoga to keep you grounded in the present.

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Finding balance during a pandemic

With many of us either working from home, furloughed or possibly out of work, our days have lost their usual structure. This can lead not only to our sleep getting disrupted but also to our meal patterns becoming disrupted. Try to maintain your usual routine of meals to increase a sense of normalcy and reduce grazing.

For those who find themselves snacking between meals, try to pick some more nutritious alternatives. "It's best to have healthy snacks in the house which are easy to reach for," says Madeleine. "Fruits make an excellent choice for a sweet tooth. Vegetable sticks with hummus, Ryvita crackers with reduced-fat cheese or unsalted roasted nuts are great savoury choices. BBC Good Food has some fantastic snack ideas if you're lacking inspiration."

Stay hydrated

The body's cues for thirst due to dehydration can often be confused with hunger. To keep hunger at bay, make sure you're drinking enough. Any drinks, except alcohol, contribute towards your fluid intake, and you'll need more if you're partaking in regular exercise.

"Reduce your intake of sugary drinks and alcohol as these are 'empty calories'," explains Madeleine. "Avoid drinking too many coffees (ideally fewer than four per day) and energy drinks - they can make anxiety worse if drunk in large quantities because of the caffeine they contain. Great choices include sugar-free squash, herbal teas and water with fresh herbs like mint or fruit and vegetables such as cucumber, ginger or grapefruit."

Be kind to yourself

Finally, and most importantly: be kind to yourself. We are living through a global pandemic for which none of us has been prepared. Whatever you are doing to cope during these uncertain times, you are doing the best you can. Self-criticism and blame serve no function other than to make a difficult situation harder. Try to extend the same gentle acceptance and empathy that you would for a friend in the same situation to yourself.