Healing with Nutrition in the Journey from Addiction

Advances in the field of mental health and addiction have been plentiful in the last decade, however there is a lack of understanding of the role food and nutrition can play in supporting those with substance use and mental health challenges.

From the detoxification phase to reducing the risk of cravings, nutrients and food intake can play a critical role in wellbeing with substance use. As well, many of those who struggle with substance use suffer from concurrent mental health disorders like anxiety, depression and ADHD, all of which can be positively impacted by food and nutrition.

Substance use decreases a person's priority for and connection to their food, often resulting in undernutrition. Building food literacy and mindfulness related to hunger and fullness cues can be an inspiring focus for those in recovery from addiction and a huge focus for self-care.

Nicole supports organizations like Vancouver's Recovery Cafe, Vancouver Coastal Health's CORE (Community Outpatient Recovery Experience) Program and Bowen Island's Orchard Recovery Centre with food and nutrition workshops and client nutrition care. She presented her book Fuel Your Recovery and advocated for the inclusion of this topic in treatment programs at the 2025 Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction's National Conference.