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Diet can play a key role in boosting mood in winter, with foods rich in nutrients, vitamins and healthy fats.
Summary
- Winter can affect your mood, but a diet rich in magnesium, omega-3 and vitamins D and B6 can help combat the blues.
- Foods like bananas, dark chocolate, salmon and sardines, as well as simple recipes like homemade soups, are real allies.
- These dishes, both comforting and accessible, offer both nutritional benefits and mental well-being to get through the winter serenely.
Winter, with its short days and lack of light, can quickly become a blues for many of us. Fortunately, there is a secret weapon to keep your spirits up: food. Yes, what you put on your plate can make all the difference in countering fatigue, seasonal depression … And that little gray cloud that sometimes hangs over our heads.
Foods rich in essential nutrients, good fats or vitamins D and B6 are your best allies. And you don’t need to be a star chef or spend a fortune to adopt these anti-gloom reflexes. With simple and economical recipes, you can transform your meals into real bursts of energy. So, are you ready to do something good for your body and mind?
Foods that make you smile
The first thing to do is to include foods rich in magnesium, such as bananas, almonds, or dark chocolate. These ingredients promote the production of serotonin, aka the happy hormone. A small square of 70% chocolate after a meal or a handful of almonds as a snack, and you’re already on the right track.
Oily fish, such as salmon or sardines, are also real stars for morale. They are full of omega-3, perfect for reducing stress and anxiety. A recipe idea? A salmon steak roasted in the oven with a squeeze of lemon and sweet potato puree: easy, quick, and good for the soul. If you’re on a tight budget, choose canned sardines and spread them on wholemeal bread with a little lemon juice.
Comforting and accessible recipes for winter
There’s nothing like homemade soup to warm you up and do you good. Try a soup of coral lentils, carrots, and coconut milk. Just brown onion, add lentils, sliced carrots, a little curry, and cover with coconut milk. In 20 minutes, you have a recipe rich in iron and flavors.
For a dessert full of pep, think of yogurt with honey and nuts. Mix a plain yogurt with a spoonful of honey. Preferably rich in polyphenols, like chestnut honey. Then, add a few walnuts or hazelnuts. It’s simple, but it boosts your energy thanks to the natural sugars and good fats in dried fruits.
Food is much more than a source of fuel: it is a real therapy against the winter gloom. By focusing on nutrient-rich foods that are easy to incorporate into your meals … You are giving your body and mind the tools to stay in shape. And the advantage is that all of this is accessible, even on a small budget.
So, make your kitchen a wellness ally this winter. Prepare simple but nourishing dishes, and don’t hesitate to vary the pleasures so you never get bored.
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