Good Mood Food

Elizabeth Somer, RD is an expert in the food and mood connection. In her book, Food & Mood she outlines several key principles to a Feeling Good diet (and deprivation isn’t one of them). Get started with these: 

1. Spread your food into five to six mini-meals each day.
   
2. Try and have your added sugars make up no more than 10% of your diet.
   
3. Listen to your cravings. They might mean something! If you are craving creamy or fatty foods you might need to raise your serotonin levels she says. Instead of cookies, try graham crackers with peanut butter or fig bars.
   
4. Eat breakfast. Try and include at least one grain, one fruit, and one milk product (low-fat).
   
5. Aim for at least 7 servings of fruits and veggies.
   

Finally, try this smoothie (excerpted from Food & Mood):

The PMS Smoothie

Ingredients:
4 dried apricots, soaked in ½ cup apple juice
½ cup nonfat milk
2 tbs. orange juice concentrate


This post was written by Melissa Williams for HealingLifestyles.com.