Stress eating: not always a bad thing after all!
Lean beef
Stress tends to come easily when you’re already feeling crummy. Lean beef is a top source of zinc, which helps to stave off anxiety and depression-like symptoms.
Try this
Toss 3 cups leafy greens with 85g cooked sliced lean beef, 1⁄2 cup cooked cubed sweet potato, 1 cup red bell- pepper slices, 1⁄2 cup sliced green beans and 2 tbsp vinaigrette.
Oranges
Vitamin C in oranges can lower inflammation in your body. It tells your brain to stop flooding your system with the stress hormone cortisol.
Try this
Toss segments from one peeled orange with 1⁄4 cup pomegranate seeds, 11⁄2 cups cooked barley, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice and chopped fresh mint.
Edamame
A cup of edamame contains the amino acid tryptophan and 121% of your daily folate. These both help the brain produce the mood-balancing hormone serotonin.
Try this
Purée 2 cups shelled edamame with 2 tbsp each olive oil and fresh mint leaves, 2 tsp lime juice, a garlic clove and 2 to 3 tbsp water until smooth. Dip sliced raw veg in it, just like with hummus.
Dark chocolate
Chocolate really is the answer to life’s biggest problems. Its main ingredient, cocoa, contains compounds like polyphenols, thought to help boost the mood, as well as theobromine and caffeine to prevent sluggishness. Plus, dark chocolate has less sugar than milk chocolate, making it a comfort food that won’t cause a midday crash.
Try this
Make hot chocolate with a little kick by microwaving 28g dark chocolate and 1 cup unsweetened almond milk in a mug for 2 minutes or until chocolate is melted. Add a pinch of cinnamon to taste.
PHOTO: iStock/m-imagephotography
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