Mood-boosting foods — Improve your mood with these healthy recipes

Mood-boosting foods — Improve your mood with these healthy recipes

Did you know the foods you eat can boost your mood? Yes, you’ve read that right. Foods loaded with important nutrients can help lower stress levels and ease anxiety. Not to mention that eating the right foods can directly affect our energy levels.

Have you ever felt tired after eating junk food.. bloated, sleepy, fatigued? It’s because the types of foods we eat, play a vital role in how our bodies function. Foods that offer little nutritional value may trigger abdominal pain, bloating, and an upset stomach, which makes us feel like crap. That’s why I encourage you to try out the recipes below. They are packed with protein and fiber rich ingredients, which help provide a feeling of fullness. Research also shows that fiber has beneficial effects when it comes to improving gut health. Here are some of my favourite fiber rich foods:

-Raspberries and blackberries: Just a cup of these berries equals 8 grams of fiber

-Blueberries: A cup of blueberries packs 4 grams of fiber

-Bananas: We get around 3.1 grams of fiber from a medium-sized banana

-Oats: 16.5 grams per cup of raw oats

-Chia seeds: 10.6 grams per ounce of dried chia seeds

Eat things that make you feel good. Eat right for your microbes aka improve your gut bacteria and digestion by consuming the right food. And remember, gut health is no joke. It affects your mental health, blood sugar levels, and liver. Our gut is pretty much responsible for how we feel.

Now.. let’s get into the recipes.

Acai smoothie bowl with chia pudding and peanut butter granola

What you’ll need to make this recipe:

Smoothie bowl: handful of spinach, frozen raspberries, frozen bananas, acai powder, splash of water

Granola: rolled oats, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, peanut butter, dates, vanilla extract, chia seeds, flax seeds

Chia pudding: thick coconut milk, chia seeds, maple syrup

Greek yogurt banana breakfast bowl with nutty granola

What you’ll need to make this recipe:

Yoghurt bowl: plain Greek yogurt, medium banana, cinnamon, raisins, maple syrup, raspberries

Granola: oats, coconut oil, maple syrup, pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, cashews (roughly chopped)

 

‘Peanut butter and jelly’ oats

What you’ll need to make this recipe:

Oatmeal: regular oats, plant based milk, ground flax seed, cinnamon, vegan protein powder (optional), maple syrup, peanut butter

Chia jam jelly: raspberries, chia seeds, maple syrop

Drizzle some peanut butter and add almonds on top

Raspberry oatmeal

What you’ll need to make this recipe:

Oatmeal: rolled oats, plant based milk, one ripe banana, frozen raspberries, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, vanilla protein powder (optional), cinnamon, maple syrup

Add your favourite toppings: ex. silvered almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, peanut butter

Yogurt bowls

What you’ll need to make this recipe:

Non-vegan option: greek yoghurt, cinnamon, maple syrup, frozen berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)

First vegan option: coconut cream, cinnamon, maple syrup, frozen berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)

Second vegan option: soy yogurt, cinnamon, maple syrup, frozen berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)

Toppings: chopped banana, almonds, hazelnuts, raisins, roasted pumpkin seeds, peanut butter/ almond butter, cranberries