Fight Stress With Healthy Eating

Whenever we get too busy or stressed, we all tend to make poor food choices that will actually increase stress and cause other problems. To get the most of your healthy eating and avoid stress, follow these simple tips.

Always eat breakfast
Even though you may think you aren't hungry, you need to eat something. Skipping breakfast makes it harder to maintain the proper blood sugar levels during the day, which can lead to fatigue, distraction, and ultimately, stress, so you should always eat something in the morning before beginning your day.

Image via WikipediaCarry a snack
Keeping some protein rich snacks in your car, office, or pocket book will help you avoid blood sugar dips, the accompanying mood swings, and the fatigue. Trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, and energy bars (all-natural, of course -- we love Lara Bars - only a couple of ingredients, 100% natural, and SO yummy) all have the nutrients you need to keep going through that mid-afternoon lull.

Healthy munchies
If you like to munch when you're stressed out, you can replace chips or other non healthy foods with carrot sticks, celery sticks, dried fruit, or even sunflower seeds. Crunchy things such as nuts or seeds or veggies are good foods to eat when tired or bored for a pick-me-up, while chewy or creamy snacks such as dried fruit, yogurt, or cheese help when you are stressed and need to calm down.

Bring your lunch
Although a lot of people habitually grab fast food for lunch, you can save a lot of money and actually eat healthier if you take a few minutes and pack a lunch at home. Even if you only do this a few times a week, you'll see much better energy and health over eating junk food.

 Stock your home with good stuff Image via Wikipedia
As important as it is to get the bad food out of your house, it's even more important to get the good food in! The best way to do this is to plan a menu of healthy meals and snacks at the beginning of the week, list the ingredients you need, then go shop for them all at once. This way, you'll have what you want when you need it and you won't have to stress over what to eat. (It will also save money if you avoid multiple shopping trips and their accompanying temptations.)

Healthy eating can be easy if you plan ahead, and can help reduce stress in many ways - both budgetary, and time and health-wise. Following these tips can help you stick to your healthy eating plan, as eating well becomes easier and less stressful.

Related articles on Healthy Eating:

• Healthy Snack Options For Children (brighthub.com)
• List of Healthy Holiday Snacks (brighthub.com)
• Eat Your Way Through Stress, the Healthy Way (geteconow.com)
• Healthy Eating at the Office (joelcomm.com)