A Better Today

Nutrition in
Recovery

The Importance of a Balanced Nutrition in Recovery

Struggling with a drug and/or alcohol addiction is rough on the body. For some, drug abuse has robbed them of the desire to eat healthy and have three square meals a day. People who abuse prescription Opiates tend to skip meals to maintain a high and are often nauseous after using. After years of abuse, a person’s drug of choice can become the main focus of life, causing an unhealthy diet and nutritional deficiencies.

Those who struggle with alcoholism will also refrain from eating to achieve a certain level of intoxication. The importance of a balanced nutrition and eating regularly is usually the most adversely affected when abuse drugs becomes a regular habit. Due to the toxins from drugs that are put in the body, unhealthy weight loss and muscle deterioration are common side effects that affect many. Drug and alcohol abuse at a young age has been known to stunt growth and interfere with adolescent development.

A Better Today’s treatment center focuses on healing the person as a whole; educating our clients about the importance of a healthy diet while in recovery is part of our approach to drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Developing a healthy eating plan and learning how to eat well during your journey to recovery is part of that healing process.

Our cookbook was hand-crafted by a Dietician to ensure a balanced nutritious diet.

A Better Today’s Nutrition Experiences During Substance Abuse Treatment

A Better Today offers our client’s different types of options or experiences when it comes to nutrition and diet. At our Phoenix location, our clients are given privacy and freedom to cook for themselves. Our recipes were hand selected by a Dietician to ensure a proper balanced diet, and are always available, with the proper ingredients, to complete the meal. ABT respects each person’s heritage, culture and dietary needs, and at this level of care we offer our clients a variety of meals that will suit their needs, and substitutions will also be made when required.

At our Scottsdale location, A Better Today’s cookbook contains hearty and flavorful recipes that will spark the love of food back into our clients’ life. At this level, client’s will get into the habit of cooking for each other each week. From family style chili, to cornflake-crusted Halibut with chile-cilantro aioli, our culinary professionals purchase fresh, local produce, when possible, to promote healthy diets and satisfied appetites.

Drug and alcohol treatment is supposed to be life changing with opportunities for starting anew. Many of our clients have graduated with a peak interest in cooking and baking. Having the opportunity to develop new hobbies and explore something that make one happy, other than drug abuse, improves mood and overall quality of life during and after substance abuse treatment. Trust in A Better Today to provide the level of care our clients need for a better life in recovery.

Take a Peak at A Better’s Today’s Menu for Drug & Alcohol Treatment

Even though we provide two different experiences at certain levels of care, we encourage our clients to follow certain recipes that are based on seasons and food product availability.

A Better Today practices some levels of sustainability to encourage a healthier environment and to support local produce from around the neighboring regions. We support sustainable fisheries and local farms, and any of our recipes can be altered to be allergen free.

We respect our client’s needs for organic and pesticide free vegetables and are more than happy to substitute meaty meals for vegetable alternatives. Our vegetable lasagna is just as delicious as our traditional meat lasagna, or so we have been told. Below is just a peak at A Better Today’s menu selection:

We invite you to tour our drug and alcohol treatment centers.

ABT’s Light & Lean Recipes

  • Cornflake-Crusted Halibut with Chile-cilantro Aioli
    One of ABT’s favorite dishes, the cornflake-crusted halibut is always a success with thew clients being both healthy and flavorful. The chile-cilantro aioli is just our culinary professionals showing off.
  • Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw
    Fresh tilapia is grilled with a chili-lemon rub and dressed with salsa, cilantro, and locally grown tomatoes. Wrapped in a warm tortilla and consumed for your pleasure.
  • Honey-Balsamic Roasted Carrots
    Sliced carrots that are tossed in ABT’s  homemade honey-balsamic dressing and roasted till tender. Mouth watering delicious.
  • Maple-Soy Grilled Salmon
    Always a crowd pleaser, this lean salmon entrée is often paired with in season vegetables for a lean diet. The sweetness of the maple compliments the salmon nicely.
  • Zucchini Ricotta Frittata
    Zucchini, grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil frittata would make anyone want a second plate.

ABT’s Protein-based Hearty Recipes

  • Coffee-Braised Pot Roast with Caramelized Onions
    The sweetness of the caramelized onions pairs well with the coffee-braised pot roast. Fresh vegetables dress the lean chuck roast as the meat melts in your mouth with every bite.
  • Slow-Cooker Family Chili
    The best comfort food to drive the blues away, ABT’s family chili recipe is great for the winter months or game day fun. Recipe can be altered to accommodate a leaner diet with ground turkey.
  • Chicken & Steak Kabobs
    Summer months menu is composed of grilled chicken & steak kabobs marinated in a smoky lime sauce. Local grown red and green bell peppers balance out the smoky flavors making every bit worth getting sober.
  • Chicken & Shrimp Jambalaya
    Slow-cooked for 8 hours, this Cajun recipe wakes up those taste buds and demonstrates what it means about patience being a virtue.

ABT’s Breakfast & Salads 

Breakfast:
Veggie Omelets
Fresh Fruit Smoothies
Granola and Fruit Yogurt
French Toast Topped with Seasonal Fruit
Berries & Roasted Almond Oatmeal

Salads:
Chef Salad
Greek Salad
Tuna Salad
Chicken Salad
Fruit Salad

The Benefits of Promoting a Healthy Balanced Diet in Rehab

When drugs and alcohol overstimulate our pleasure pathways in the brain, finding enjoyment in the taste of food and the need for three square meals a day becomes replaced with the need to abuse drugs. Developing a routine of breakfast, lunch and dinner is very important for developing life skills beyond drug abuse. Having a well-balanced diet composed of meats, vegetables and carbohydrates encourages normal body functions and produce stable levels of dopamine, serotonin and endorphins.

We provide our clients with strength building exercises and beginners level yoga. Building muscle mass and exercising regularly require a healthy diet demonstrating the importance of providing our client’s will delicious and healthy food options.

Many treatment centers just focus on treating the addiction and fail to see the bigger picture when it comes to long lasting treatment. It is not just about flushing the toxins and pushing the individual through a program. It’s about improving the client’s quality of life, reconnecting them with a passion to dream big beyond the ‘fix-to-fix’ lifestyle, and giving them the tools and knowledge to live a life in recovery filled with meaning and direction. Trust in ABT to provide the type of care you need and deserve.

When you’re ready for rehab, we are ready to help.

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