Healthy home cooking for stressful times

Healthy home cooking for stressful times

Humans always want to be happy, and when stress punctures our happiness bubble, we turn to our favorite foods with their familiar rationalizations. “I deserve this, I work hard,” followed by “I’ll get back on track tomorrow,” and of course, “I’ll just have a small bite.” You'll work just as hard before you eat the chips as you do after, tomorrow either never comes or it takes the scenic route around different parts of your body, and that little bite can somehow make a pint of ice cream disappear!" The only thing these rationalizations change during stressful times is your weight, your self-esteem, and the level of guilt that leads to more stress.

Everyone experiences different levels of stress, and these days you don't have to look beyond your TV to find more than enough stress to add to your load. The good news is that you don't have to ban comfort food, you just have to redefine it and choose the types of comfort food that keep your body efficient and healthy.

First, do your body and your wallet a big favor by clearing your cupboards and refrigerator of junk food and replacing it with easy, healthy snacks and quick, easy light meals. That cookie, bag of chips, or pint of ice cream you hear calling gives you temporary satisfaction, followed by regret, which leads to more stress.

Pay attention to what you eat, especially when you feel stressed. Mindless eating puts more pounds on the body than yo-yo dieting. Keep several flavors of low-fat yogurt in your refrigerator and add sliced ​​fruit or nuts before eating. Crunching the fruits and nuts in your mouth is a great substitute for angry thoughts that you might otherwise express in harmful, inappropriate ways. If you must eat ice cream, choose a low-fat, reduced-calorie variety or frozen yogurt. Putting your treat in a small pudding cup instead of eating out of the container will provide portion control and satisfy your cravings, all while keeping you guilt-free.

Have fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, summer squash, zucchini, and other greens on hand. Cut into bite-sized pieces and place in the fridge next to a container of plain yogurt in which you have added a pinch of garlic, chives, Italian seasoning and chili powder. Eat these instead of high-fat, high-sodium chips.

Make a salad using a variety of lettuces and your favorite vegetables and keep it in your fridge for a lunch or snack with your favorite low-fat, reduced-calorie dressing.

Soup is a great comfort food and is easy to make. Buy low-sodium beef or chicken broth, add your favorite vegetables, cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender, and add a green salad for a quick, easy, healthy meal. When the temperature rises and the last thing you want is hot soup, try spicy chilled carrot soup. Peel and cut four carrots into pieces and cook them in three cups of carrot juice, two tablespoons of honey and one tablespoon of low-fat margarine until soft. Remove from heat, place in a blender or food processor and puree with 1/2 cup of low-fat milk and a teaspoon of ground ginger.

Benefit from seasonal fruits and vegetables. Summer berries are a great hand-to-mouth snack, and you can eat as much as you want without increasing your stress or waistline. Sprinkle berries with cinnamon sugar made from sugar substitute and cinnamon. Sit on your patio or in your garden and enjoy the delicious taste of summer. Pile colorful fresh fruit into bowls and watch as the colors, scents, and textures lift your mood and reduce your stress.

When stress reaches a level where you can no longer think clearly, it's time to take a break. This may seem easier said than done, but it is vital to your well-being. Take a moment to sit on a favorite chair with a cup of tea and your favorite fruit. Concentrate on the warmth and taste of the tea, feel the cup in your hand as you breathe in the aroma of the tea and taste this fruit as if for the first time. Not only are you giving your body a healthy snack, your stress is also getting a “break.”

Everyone experiences stress on many levels and in many areas of life. When stress sends you on a quest for comfort food, make sure you're well-stocked with tasty, healthy alternatives to junk food.