Food Mood Connection

Several years ago, Food Network pioneer Bill Boggs (of Bill Boggs Corner Table) came to my former cooking school, Culinary Sol, for an appearance. He’s a really charismatic guy. It was early in the history of the school and 12 hour days were the norm for me. I guess I must have looked pretty wrung out because Bill asked me what I had eaten that day and insisted that I sit down for something to eat and drink. He said something that has stuck with me all these years. He told me to be aware of the “food/mood connection”.

If you pay attention to  how you feel, you’ll quickly realize that the connection is not only real, but it’s something you can control pretty well.  Choosing the right foods, getting the right amount of calories and adding a splash of caffeine goes a long way in how you operate- and feel – during the day.

Begin with breakfast. Nothing new here but I’m amazed how many people know this and still don’t eat breakfast! It’s the foundation upon which your day is built. The effects of eating- or skipping- breakfast last through out the day. Breakfast eaters have more energy and a better mood ALL day.  It’s a great time to eat good carbs, good fats and protein. I find if I skip the protein I’m starving within an hour of eating.  You can get protein  in lots of little ways- a handful of nuts provides great protein with the added boost of magnesium, a great energy booster.

Eat a little, often Mini meals every 3 or 4 hours keep your energy level up – and your mood elevated. A little high quality snack between meals keeps you going and keeps your will power strong. It’s easier to make healthier choices when you’re not starving!

Give in to your carb cravings, just make them the right carbs! Carbs are key to boosting energy and mood as long as they’re quality carbs like whole grains, brown rice and cereals. A doughnut,   while carb laden, will  cause your blood sugar to spike then free fall, leaving you more lethargic than you started.

If you feel tired, sluggish or head-achy, you may simply be dehydrated. Even slight dehydration can drain your energy. Remember what they say, if you feel thirsty dehydration has already begun. So drink up. Unless you’re a high performance athlete, make your drink of choice water and not energy drinks, which just load you up with carbs and calories.

If you feel a little unfocused, try a cup of coffee.  As a coffee addict, I speak from personal experience! For a quick (though short lived) burst of focus and energy, a cup of coffee really does work.  The Italians do it right- small cups of coffee through out the day do more to help you stay alert than the “grandes” we slurp up. Tea also helps us to focus and improves memory and alertness. It may be a stress buster, too.

Sometimes Chocolate is the only answer!  And it’s the correct one! A small amount of dark chocolate does double duty: it perks you up and improves your mood. Yes!

Here’s more good news: the foods on the super food list below are all great choices for improving your food/mood connection! Eat, and drink, up!

Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Oats
Oranges
Pumpkin
Salmon
Soy
Spinach
Tea (green or black)
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Yogurt