Are you in a bad mood every morning right when you wake up? Perhaps you start your day with a nice shower or a fragrant cup of coffee, but nothing seems to work. You may even try eating a big breakfast but don’t like feeling full or bloated in the morning.
Well, you don’t need to eat cereal, bacon, eggs, and toast for the power to get through the day. Instead, why not try a healthy snack for a mood-enhancing energy boost?
Here are seven healthy snacks that are great for your mood and overall wellness — and they’re easy to get with ondemandly coupons.
1. Bananas
Bananas have several vitamins and health benefits, and this list would feel incomplete if they weren’t on it. Bananas absorb tryptophan, an amino acid used in protein synthesis, and convert it into serotonin with vitamin B6. Serotonin is the chemical in your brain that stabilizes your mood and helps you feel much happier.
A great thing about bananas is that you will always get the health benefits regardless of how you prepare them! You can easily just peel one and eat it before a workout for that extra motivation and energy, or you could create breakfast bars with them. The options are endless!
2. Berries
This staple for a healthy breakfast is also a great mood booster. Berries carry antioxidants, which decrease oxidative stress and stabilize your mood. You don’t have to stick with one type of berry either, as they all offer these antioxidants.
Another great thing about berries is that they are a sweet treat that will quench your sugar cravings without ruining your current diet. Berries are extremely versatile, so you can make them into a jam or mix them with some probiotic yogurt for an easy snack if you want to eat them raw. You can also blend them up with protein powder and make a delicious, tarty smoothie!
3. Edamame
If you have ever visited a Japanese restaurant, you probably saw little green pods that they serve as an appetizer. These pods are called edamame beans.
Edamame beans carry folate, a B vitamin your body uses to create more DNA and ensure strong neurotransmitters. Studies have shown that people with low folate levels are more likely to have depression, so make sure you get your daily dose of folate!
Edamame beans are a great snack food, seeing as you can eat the beans raw, salted and steamed, or grilled with garlic and pepper. They’re a delicious snack, but keep in mind that they are a bit messy since you have to remove the shells to get to the beans — you will need a separate dish!
4. Popcorn
Popcorn may seem like a surprising addition to this list since many see it as a salty snack for the theater. This unhealthy misconception stems from either the tubs filled to the brim with buttery popcorn or the microwaveable bags that you store in your pantries. But studies have shown that if you air pop your popcorn and lightly salt it, you will open yourself to plenty of great health benefits. If you crave that oily texture, consider a flavorful alternative like coconut oil!
Impressively, popcorn is a superfood that contains both folate and tryptophan, which regulate your mood. Just like bananas, popcorn can convert the amino acid tryptophan into the mood-boosting serotonin while also being a nice, salty snack to eat while you work or study.
5. Nuts
Unsalted nuts such as cashews and almonds have all the great mood-boosting benefits. They can even reduce inflammation, which will help you better cope with a wide range of painful symptoms.
However, you should eat this snack in a controlled setting. Consuming too many nuts can lead to unwanted weight gain because of all the calories, so be careful. It’s easy to get carried away with this small, deceiving snack.
6. Chocolate
Chocolate is the comfort snack of many because of its decadence and prevalence in many popular desserts. But did you know that a chocolate bar alone can provide amazing health benefits, including boosting your overall mood? Chocolate can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Particularly dark chocolate stimulates endorphin production, the chemical in your brain that enhances your mood.
Before you reach for that chocolate bar, note that the recommended serving size is only an ounce a day. So rather than snacking on chocolate throughout the day, try using it as a treat to reward yourself for all the work you accomplish.
7. Oranges
Oranges are both refreshing and extremely high in vitamin C, so it is no wonder why they are on this list. Studies have shown that vitamin C is crucialto our bodies as it can reduce stress hormones in your brain, along with other emotional and physical stresses that you may put on your body. Oranges are great for obtaining your daily dose of vitamin C due to the sheer concentration of it hidden within every slice.
You could also opt for orange juice or natural orange candies as well if you don’t want to worry about peeling them! If you reach for orange juice, consider a brand that includes no added sugar. 100% orange juice already contains plenty of natural sugar!
Ready to Dig In?
While it is always good to have snacks handy, sometimes we don’t realize how badly our body is begging for a boost. These snacks have the potential to lift you up during a stressful or tiring day. They’re also tasty, nutritious, and easy to eat.
Hopefully, this guide gave you a great starting point on what snacks you should try eating whenever you feel down. There are plenty of other foods out there to try, but it’s always a good thing to have these snacks on hand for when you start feeling burnt out or anxious. So, put away the potato chips and reach for one of these mood-boosting alternatives!