finding peace in food

As much as we would desire to live peaceful lives, it's not always our choice. In this blog, I'll include some tips to acquire some feelings of peace through simple ways.

food

This may not be something that first comes to mind when you think of peace. The food that we ingest daily has a significant impact on our bodies as well as our minds. Eating food that has poor nutrition provides the body with lower energy, which affects our body's ability to repair and regenerate. This also decreases our immunity against pathogens. The common cold is anything but peaceful.

With our daily stressors, our peace signals get interrupted. This alone affects our moods and emotions. By eating more healthful foods that provide enough nutrients for our bodies, we significantly reduce disease, low energy, and mood imbalances. Healthy food also allows us to manage daily stress more efficiently. You could say that road rage may be due to hungry people!

Sometimes eating healthy is more difficult due to access, affordability, and confusion surrounding healthful food choices. Effieandmeadow aims to help resolve these issues by providing insight.

Here are some easy-to-find, affordable, healthy food options:

breakfast: avocado toast with eggs & tomatoes

The Benefits of Avocados:

• High in healthy fats

• High in fiber

• Rich in vitamins C, E, K, and B6

• Rich in minerals, folate, potassium, and magnesium

• Lowers cholesterol levels

• Promotes eye, skin, bone, and gut health

Considerations

• Choose organic or pasteurized eggs to reduce exposure to growth hormones

• Organic tomatoes are grown without pesticides and harsh chemicals

• Choose whole-grain bread

green isn't always healthy

There are many misconceptions surrounding healthy food. Not all fruits and vegetables are equal. This is like comparing apples to oranges literally. Make sure to do your research on the specific benefits of the fruit or vegetable that you are interested in. Due to the absence of nutrition labels on individual fruits and vegetables, knowledge about the nutritional values is not easily accessible. Due to access to the internet, these facts can be discovered.

dinner: chicken with rice & broccoli

The Benefits of Chicken:

• Has all 9 essential amino acids

• Contains minerals, Calcium, Iron, and Magnesium

• High in B6 for nerve function

• High protein

• Low in fat

• Promotes muscle growth, bone health, decreases cholesterol, and boosts immunity

  
  

  Considerations:

  
  

• Light meat has less fat content than dark meat

• Types of chicken can vary in nutrition (roasted versus fried)

Rice and Broccoli

• White rice has more sodium and fat than whole grain rices like Basmati and Jasmine

• Broccoli is a nutrient-dense vegetable that offers significant vitamins and minerals

healthy desserts

As appealing as a piece of chocolate cake may be, the nutrition facts could be anything but. If you're a sweet tooth, we understand. There are many options available to satisfy while also being healthy.

dessert: strawberry oatmeal bars

Benefits:

• Fresh strawberries

• Whole grains

• Only require a bowl

• Can swap butter for coconut oil if vegan

• Makes 16 servings

• Each bar is 100 calories

• Prep & Cook time is under an hour

Considerations:

• Can be made with frozen strawberries, but will not be as nutrient-dense

• The main ingredients are common

overview

All three of these healthy meals provide nutrients that are essential for adequate body function. All of the ingredients for these meals are readily available at larger corporations such as Target, Walmart, and Aldi's as well as local farmers' markets. Eating healthy is doable and flavorful!

Eating healthier not only supports your body, but it also provides adequate brain function. Healthier food choices can improve cognitive function, emotion regulation, and sleep. By eating healthier, you can significantly improve your quality of life.