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Abstract

Chrononutrition focuses on how nutritional timing influences biological rhythms (Castro-Mata et al., 2025; Kim et al., 2025; Raji et al., 2024). This includes examining how dietary patterns (e.g., timing, frequency, and regularity) affect the circadian system and metabolic health (Cart & Pauling, 2025; Juliana et al., 2023; Negri et al., 2025). Sleep schedule, shift work, substance use, malnutrition, and other external factors, which will be discussed in this article, can disrupt the circadian rhythm. This disruption increases the risk for serious mental health problems (Baron & Reid, 2014; Castro-Mata et al., 2025; Franzago et al., 2023). Alternatively, consistent and nutritious dietary patterns are linked to positive mental health outcomes (e.g., mood stabilization, anxiety management, and reduced side effects of psychiatric medications).

Although chrononutrition was introduced in the 1980s, this approach is often overlooked, as many healthcare providers are only just beginning to recognize its clinical significance. It is crucial that professionals working in mental health and allied settings develop a greater awareness of chrononutrition.  Specifically, an improved understanding of how dietary patterns and behaviors influence mental health could contribute to better short – and long-term outcomes for clients. Accordingly, this brief article introduces chrononutrition to mental health providers and allied disciplines. Key topics covered include an overview of chrononutrition, the influence of chrononutrition on chronobiology (e.g., circadian rhythm) and mental health, language and scope of practice, screening and assessment considerations, intervention approaches, chronotypes, and multidisciplinary collaboration in treatment planning.

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