Are you coming home from a long, tough day in the office, feeling utterly stressed out, and reaching for the most sugar-filled, carb-rich grub imaginable in a bid to cheer yourself up?
Stop! For the love of God, stop what you’re doing right now!
You’re actually making yourself feel much, much worse by scoffing that jumbo pack of salty crisps, tub of indulgent icecream or king-sized packet of biscuits – in fact, experts believe good nutrition is an important piece of the stress puzzle.
Don’t know where to start? Here’s our fave stress-relieving snacks so you can keep calm and carry on with a happy tummy.
Hot water & lemon
This is the best way to start a day when you know you’re going to be feeling the pressure. The water flushes out your intestines, while the addition of lemon gives your bod the acidic tartness it needs to help you wake up and start the day clear-headed.
Oatmeal with berries & nuts
Otherwise known as the holy trinity of stress-busters… The oats stablise your mood due to B vitamins, the fruity vitamin C is known for keeping stress at bay, and finally, nuts such as walnuts are packed with happiness-boosting omega-3s! A winning combo!
Wholegrain crackers & nut butter
We love this tasty one – the crackers help to regulate your blood sugar (essential for your emotional state), due to being high in complex carbohydrates, as does the nut butter, with its punch of protein and healthy fats. You have to try Keen Nutrition Almond Butter…NOM.
Dark chocolate
Yep, chocolate is on the list! Trust us, this makes us just as happy as you! The reason we reach for choccy when we’re feeling blue can actually be scientifically explained: the sweet treat prompts the brain to release endorphins, or feel-good chemicals, and can lower blood pressure. Need that chocolate kick? Opt for the dark variety, with 70% cacao or more. This has more antioxidants and a bigger boost to your endorphin and serotonin levels.
Kale smoothie
Everyone seems to have gone kale-krazy lately, but there’s a good reason why you should jump on the bandwagon. A quick smoothie is a great source of antioxidants and fibre for a much-needed energy boost, which will in turn help increase productivity and possinly decrease anxiety. Win!
Sweet potatoes in coconut oil
We love a good, crispy sweet potato fry (shout out to our local Jo Burger who does ’em best!) but make sure to try this healthy variety – the natural sweetness of the ‘tato, coupled with a drizzle of coconut oil, will curb your urge for sweetness and refined sugar.
Avocado toast
We can’t get enough of these little green pieces of heaven… which turns out to be quite a good thing, as this snack supplies a satisfying serving of healthy fats in the form of omega-3s, which boost energy and improve learning ability, problem-solving and memory skills! Did you hear that? Avocados make us smart… Wahey!