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Healthier Eating: Planning our Meals

Mandi Page

Feb 21, 2023

Planning your meals wisely is key to not only staying physically fit and healthy, but also to staying mentally strong and being able to best manage your levels of stress. Knowing which foods to avoid and which are the best to reach for to snack on when you’re feeling worried and anxious is important to helping you get control over your emotions and fears.

When you’re feeling stressed, you may be tempted to reach for classic ‘comfort foods’ – usually foods which are laden with sugar, very starchy, or greasy. However, although these foods can make you feel momentarily better, they will actually make you feel worse in the long run.

Having stress-busting snacks such as fresh berries, dark chocolate, yogurt, walnuts or pistachios, or even a fruit smoothie with avocado and leafy greens in it can help you to feel better in both the short and long term when it comes to stress.When it comes to combating and dealing with stress in the long run, it’s important to make sure that for the most part, you are eating a diet which is healthy and balanced.

In order to stay on track, it’s a good idea to make a meal plan for your week and plan ahead to make sure that you have a good selection of these stress-busting foods in your kitchen to make meals and snacks from when you’re feeling like stress-eating. Making sure that the majority of your meals include foods such as lean proteins and leafy green vegetables will not only make you feel healthier overall, but can improve your mental health and stress levels, too.

A good example of a healthy, stress-busting menu would be:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with berries or a fruit smoothie with avocado and berries Mid-morning snack: Natural or dairy free yogurt with fruit or a handful of pistachio nuts or seeds Lunch: A whole-grain pasta salad or quinoa filled with plenty of leafy greens Afternoon snack: Dark chocolate Dinner: Grass-fed beef , grilled chicken or fish with vegetables Before bed: Chamomile tea

Of course, you don’t need to stick to this menu – but it gives you a good idea! Remember to exercise good portion control when eating foods such as nuts, chocolate, yogurt or avocado! As the saying goes, you are what you eat – so make sure that first and foremost, you’re filling yourself up with foods which are good for your mental health.

*I offer virtual cooking workshops if you are not local so feel free to inquire about that!

www.mandipwellness.com

About the author

Mandi Page
Making Magic Where it Counts!
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I have been a wellness consultant since 2015, after spending the first 30+ years of my life with very unhealthy habits. The awareness of the change of flooding my body with fruits & vegetables led me to build my health coaching business. I love helping people feel & be the best they can be. Without our health, what do we have? I help men, women & children achieve their goals by coming alongside them, being their cheerleader and motivating them with gentle methods of accountability and consistency! My life experience has helped pave the way with trial and error and speaking from an authentic place. I am a breast cancer survivor/warrior and proud to help anyone who has been diagnosed by helping them come out on the other side with a positive mindset and experience throughout their healing process. Positive mindset and good nutrition are key and as somoene who has been through it, I can share my journey and help you through yours. It is my honor to serve you and be there for you. I typically do 1:1 coaching for 3 months or 6 months, and also have one off sessions as needed, virtual cooking workshops & kitchen cleanouts. Magic starts in the kitchen- we need to take care of our one and only body so lets make the magic happen! Lets link arms and build that healthy lifestyle you deserve; one small achievable step at a time! I am your partner in prevention.

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