One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.

-Virginia Woolf

In our work as adoption professionals, we get emails from people sharing that they’re trying to cut back on spending while they adopt. That’s is a smart idea, however, some areas of your life are just too valuable to cut back on. Your nutrition is one of those areas.

A healthy diet will keep you going during the ups and downs of your adoption wait. Domestic infant adoption can be stressful at times, and you’ll want to be in your best shape so you can respond well.

“Often, women who have faced infertility have hormonal problems. I speak from experience! If we don’t eat properly, we can get cranky, to say the least,” shares Lifetime’s Founder Mardie Caldwell.

Healthy food is excellent fuel for your body, and it’s a must-have if you’re stressed. Some people think that they can’t afford healthy food and fresh produce. So they just buy cheap foods like boxed macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. The fact is, healthy food is affordable! You just need to cut out the junk food and processed foods and replace it with healthy food.

Next time you’re at the store, try adding up what it costs to get cookies, chips, and sodas. Then, compare that to fresh veggies, fruits, lean meat and whole grains. You’ll see just how much further your money goes if you invest in nutritious foods. You’ll also live longer and feel better!

As the saying goes, ‘garbage in, garbage out.’ Think of your health as an asset in your adoption journey that deserves attention and care. “During my adoption journey, I was very healthy and remained active. But, my husband and I were both overweight. We had a birth mother tell me that she hoped to place her baby with a thin, healthy couple. Even though not every birth mother has this preference, they do want to place with a couple who’ll be a good role model in a healthy environment,” says Mardie.

We encourage you to begin eating healthy today. That way, your future child has healthy parents. And, you’ll have healthy children with a long life to live it together!

Written by Heidi Keefer

Heidi Keefer is a Content Creator for Lifetime Adoption and has 15 years of experience in the field of adoption. An author of thousands of blog posts over the years, Heidi enjoys finding new ways to educate and captivate Lifetime’s ever-growing list of subscribers.

Heidi has a keen eye for misplaced apostrophes, comma splices, and well-turned sentences, which she has put to good use as a contributor to Lifetime’s award-winning blogs. She has written and published hundreds of adoption articles which explore the various facets of domestic infant adoption today.