11 Easy Recipes With Foods to Boost Your Moods
Can zucchini squash Zoloft? Is papaya more potent than Prozac? Will celery KO Cymbalta as the top selling antidepressant?
Remember Mom telling you to eat all your vegetables? Mom was right. Studies show a dramatic correlation between the amount of servings of fruit and vegetables per day and definite improvement in mood – especially in women. (For more information about these studies, read “Can the Right Food Boost Your Mood“).
This is not to suggest anyone should initiate a “cold turkey” departure from their prescription medication. However, considering more than one in ten U.S. citizens are prescribed some form of SSRI (a class of antidepressant), it is apparent a vast population could benefit from using other methods to boost their mood and outlook on life.
Even though we have accepted the role as cheerleaders for “Fresh & Healthy”, we do acknowledge that eating recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables can get boring after a while. Therefore, we have tracked down several examples of fresh and easy recipes that are chock-full of nutritious, mood-enhancing, yummy goodness, guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
Joy-Filled Jars
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Vibrant purples are such “happy” and “healing” colors! This salad mix of vegetables and fruits contain concentrated antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Simply translated…a jar full of joy. What is even more fun is that the ingredients can be prepared in advance and stored in a glass jar in your frig. Make this the night before to avoid the mad morning rush for your to-go lunch. Produce With Amy did a great job with the Tangerine Vinaigrette, too.
Breakfast At Its Best
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Do you think veggies are only served after 10 AM meals? Actually, where do you think Dr. Seuss got the “green eggs and ham” concept? Obviously, he had eggs mixed with greens, such as spinach, broccoli or zucchini. Yummy for the tummy! This great recipe incorporates avocado with its spinach and goat cheese egg scramble. A great way to start your day with a smile. Danielle Walker shares the recipe on her site Against All Grain.
Morning Breakfast Tacos
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How about tacos to spice up the typical boring breakfast? With the colorful mixture of bell peppers, zucchini, and yellow squash mixed with eggs and goat cheese, morning can look like a fun fiesta! A bit of salsa may seal the deal. The mastermind behind this delicious meal is Kate, with her fearless dog, Cookie (presumably, the taste-tester). Check out the full recipe at Cookie and Kate‘s site.
Perky Vegetable Mélanges
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Following a Japanese tradition of at least 5 colors at each meal, this spring-like blend combines various garden produce into one dish with practically every color imaginable. The point of the Japanese philosophy is that the more colors of food you have at each meal, the more nutrients you are consuming. These nourishing bite-fulls, packed with flavor, can perk up you and your dinner table. Brought to you by The Wicked Noodle!
Striped Salad Fixings
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An inventive way to arrange salad fixings, try serving “stripes” to put your family in a party mood. Pretty colors and textures are artistically arranged to give a festive impression. However, the true mood lift is from the ingredients. Laden with vitamins and minerals, pomegranates, butternut squash, barley, baby spinach, walnuts, goat cheese, and a “bit” of bacon (especially, the bacon) can cheer up most souls. See all the details here.
Spring Cauliflower Clean
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This salad looks just like Spring, doesn’t it? Grain-free, clean eating… raw chopped cauliflower is used for the base and couscous substitute. Turnip The Oven chooses a feisty lemon vinaigrette for the dressing. The mixture of cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and parsley is similar to tabouli, and is packed with powerful nutrition for cheering. Easily put together – any time of day.
Bugs Bunny Thai Delight
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Carrot soup may not typically sound very appetizing. However, this is not just “any” carrot soup!
This would be Bugs Bunny’s favorite carrot soup (if he actually ate).
Little did you know that ol’ Bugsy-Boy actually has a hankerin’ for heat.
With the right amount of red curry and coconut milk, this creamy carrot soup will delight the tastebuds, eyes and yes, actually the mood!
Studies have shown a direct correlation with mood and getting plenty of beta-carotene.
Garnish with cilantro, avocado, and chopped almonds.
Rachael at Avocado a Day Nutrition delivers the complete recipe.
Grilled Over-The-Rainbows
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Vibrant colors look like the vegetables have been picked from the nearest rainbow. These skewers will bring out the sunshine and the right mood for a walk… accompanied, perhaps, by a new bounce in the step. Gimme Some Oven has complete directions for these crowd-pleasing, and remarkably easy, Rainbow Veggie Skewers.
A La Ratatouille
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Isn’t it fun to see how artistic some of these dishes can be? Presentation is always half the battle of meal-appeal. Standing in a bed of tomato sauce, the creative arrangement of vegetable slices in this fabulous French-Mediterranean dish produces a mouth-watering blend of bold flavors . It’s a good idea to choose veggies that are similar in diameter, so they can be sliced evenly for a balanced presentation. The full recipe can be viewed at A Little Bit Wonderful.
Best Of Both Worlds
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Since studies suggest that 8 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day can uplift mood, you may wonder how you can possibly get enough variety. This delicious salad has the best of both worlds with plenty of tasty fruit mixed with broccoli for the vegetable. Yes, the dish is more weighted toward the fruit end of the produce requirement; but children and husbands, alike, find it delectably delicious! Check out this summer salad recipe.
And Our Patriotic Favorite – Red, White and Blue Salad
No boring fruit presentation here! It’s our go-to July 4th tradition. And, it couldn’t be easier. Start with watermelon chunks, sprinkle with crumbled feta or goat cheese, fresh blueberries, and add a sprig of fresh mint to top it off. Dressed up and pretty enough for a party! Obviously, quick and easy with no recipe needed. Definitely a favorite!
Just watching this video, below, and the balancing act for this crudités platter can “cheer up the sad and make someone feel glad.” So, it’s a good one to share with your family and friends. And though, you can “try this at home”… probably best to take it at a slower pace!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tamara Gaisford - Applied Health Solutions Growing up in a family where nutritional medicine was the first step to combating illness, Tamara learned early that balanced nutrition can often reverse disease. At the age of 30, after 6 months of unsuccessful medical treatment for a difficult case of Valley Fever, Tamara went through a complete improvement within 3 weeks of beginning a disease-specific nutritional program. This experience taught her the vital role nutrition plays in a healthy body, inspiring her to study the options available for natural healing. By 1997, as a logical career change, Tamara found herself in the nutrition industry, now, passionately sharing her knowledge to help others.