How to Manage Your Mood with Food

Here's a meal-by-meal guide to eating for energy and
managing your mood with food.

Breakfast

Eating a good breakfast boosts your concentration and revs
your energy, particularly in the morning when you may need it
most. Without breakfast, you're more likely to make that second
pot of coffee by mid-morning.

Instead, keep your blood sugar on an even keel with
complex carbohydrates. Avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white
bread and white sugar. These have a high glycemic index, which
can cause spikes and dips in your blood sugar levels.

The right complex carbohydrates provide your brain and muscles
with the steady flow of the energy they need. Grains are great
sources of B vitamins, which aid in the metabolic production of
energy. The best carb choices for breakfast are natural
whole-grain breads and cereals.

For the best breakfast, add a low-fat protein, such as yogurt,
cottage cheese, or skim milk, and watch your fat intake as well
as your meat consumption (meat takes more energy to digest).

Mid-morning snack

Turns out, snacking may not be such a bad idea. Eating every few
hours helps your body use nutrients more efficiently. It
stimulates your metabolism, keeps your blood sugar levels
steady, reduces stress on your digestive system, and decreases
hunger, which means you'll be less likely to overeat when
mealtime finally rolls around.

If you're craving carbs, which many of us do at this time of day,
choose whole-grain bread, cereal, or fruit.

Fruits and vegetables deliver a low-fat, high-fiber
alternative to the vending machine choices. Raw carrots
and sugar snap peas, for example, provide a crisp,
satisfying crunch and won't zap your energy.
Challenge yourself to eat at least five servings
of fruits and vegetables each day.

For maximum energy throughout the day, avoid foods that
are laden with simple sugars, such as cookies, pastries,
candy bars, and sodas, which can bring on erratic blood
sugar levels.

Instead, try some lean protein (low-fat yogurt, cottage cheese or
lean meat) to help tide you over until lunch.

Lunch

At midday, go light. Because a hefty helping of carbohydrates
can increase the amount of seratonin in the brain and cause
that sleepy feeling, focus on low-fat protein.

Protein can actually raise energy levels by increasing
brain chemicals called catecholamines. Eat a lunch of low-fat
cheese, fish, lean meat, poultry, or tofu.

Mid-afternoon snack

Choose something that will keep you satisfied until dinner.
A little bit of fat is fine. It gives those carbohydrates and
proteins some staying power. My favorite? All-natural peanut
butter and a few crackers.

Before your work-out

Carbohydrates are fastest to digest and pack quick energy.
Add protein for staying power, but stay away from fats.
They can make you cramp.

Dinner

The agenda for the evening can dictate what you'll eat
for dinner. Need to stay on overdrive for back-to-school
night? Choose low-fat proteins. If you're in relax
mode, indulge a little.

Whatever's on the menu, remember the Pie Test. Envision
your plate as a pie. Seventy-five percent of the pie
should be filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains
and 25 percent with other foods, such as diary
products and meat.

Before bed

Before turning in, a carbohydrate-rich snack can supply seratonin
to help you fall asleep. But go easy. Too much food can reduce
the quality of your sleep.

Eating for energy is one of the most effective, powerful, and
fast-acting mood-boosters. Try it today and see!