Nourishing Yourself While Caring for Others
Caregiving can ask so much of you including….
Your time.
Your attention.
Your emotional energy.
Your patience.
Meals can easily become an afterthought—something squeezed in between appointments, medications, conversations, and long days that don’t always end when you expect them to.
As the season shifts and the days begin to get longer, there’s often talk of renewal and fresh starts. But sometimes for caregivers, the rhythm of care continues regardless of the light outside. What can shift, however, is how gently you treat yourself within that rhythm.
A Comforting One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup
This is a gentle, nourishing recipe you can return to again and again. It’s forgiving, budget-friendly, and makes enough for multiple meals. And if you don’t like lentils, simple substitute for some ground turkey!!!
Ingredients
1 cup dried lentils (rinsed)
1 carrot, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 cup diced tomatoes (canned is perfect)
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: handful of spinach or kale
Instructions
*Add lentils, vegetables, tomatoes, broth, and seasonings to a large pot.
*Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
*Cover and cook for 25–30 minutes, until lentils are tender.
*Stir in spinach or kale at the end if using.
That’s it.
It reheats beautifully and often tastes even better the next day. You can freeze portions for future busy weeks.
Nourishment does not have to be elaborate to matter…..
It can be warm.
It can be simple.
It can be repetitive.
It can come from a slow cooker, a grocery store shortcut, or a one-pot meal made in between other responsibilities.
Feeding yourself well is not indulgent. It is sustaining.
When Energy Is Low, Keep It Simple….
On demanding days, the goal is not culinary creativity—it’s steadiness. Reliable meals reduce decision fatigue and conserve mental energy for what truly needs your attention.
Think more along the lines of:
One-pot meals
Slow cooker recipes
Rotisserie chicken shortcuts
Leftovers that reheat easily
These are not shortcuts because you’re “cutting corners.”
They are SUPPORTS.
A Gentle Reminder
You deserve to eat, too.
Not just quickly.
Not just standing at the counter.
Not just whatever is left over.
Even one warm bowl of soup eaten slowly can be an act of care toward yourself.
As the days stretch a little longer, may you find small pockets of light—not only in the sky, but in your own routine. Simplifying meals is one quiet way to create space. Space to breathe. Space to rest. Space to be supported in the same way you support others every day.
