Mood-Boosting Recipes to Try on Hard Days
Feeling down in the dumps and not your best? Some foods can actually boost your mood by helping to reduce stress, ease anxiety and fight depression. Try adding some more fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, fish, coconut, tea and saffron to your diet. Here are some of Sparkle Market’s healthiest recipes to try featuring these mood-boosting foods.
Salmon with Cilantro Quinoa and Pine Nuts
Salmon is a good source of protein, which is important for maintaining bone health, preventing muscle loss and helping the body heal. Its rich astaxanthin content may help maintain skin elasticity, reduce the signs of aging and protect the skin against UV damage. With the addition of pine nuts and quinoa, the meal can help you increase your energy levels due to their protein, iron, and magnesium. The antioxidant power of vitamin E contained in them may also help keep your skin healthy and young in appearance. Try out our recipe for Salmon with Cilantro Quinoa and Pine Nuts for a healthy option that is perfect for two!
Cherry Dark Chocolate Cake
Everyone loves a bit of sweetness to pick them up on a bad day! The cocoa in dark chocolate is a natural source of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and it has potential benefits for your heart, brain, gut and overall health. With several more antioxidants than green tea or red wine, dark chocolate contains substances that may help to lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels, brain function and the way your body deals with insulin. If you’re looking to try out a more health-conscious dessert idea, our recipe for Cherry Dark Chocolate Cake is a very filling option where the benefits are endless!
Greek Grilled Chicken Salad
Perfect for a light lunch, salads are a healthy way of adding your favorite ingredients while still maintaining the healthy nature of the dish. When creating a healthy diet plan, grilled chicken is almost always a staple. This is because grilled chicken is lean and contains far less fat and calories than other types of meat. Eating grilled chicken regularly can help you lose weight, especially when you swap it out for fattier meats like beef or pork. Stop into your local Sparkle to grab all the supplies needed for a delicious Greek Grilled Chicken Salad.
Chile Edamame
Nothing is better than a healthy and flavorful side dish to tie the rest of your meal together. This is the perfect option for families who struggle to get their kiddos to enjoy greens, as chile edamame has just the right amount of flavor to get excited with every bite. In addition to being a decent source of soy protein, edamame is rich in healthy fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin K. These plant compounds may reduce the risk of heart disease and improve the blood lipid profile dramatically. Try our easy to prepare recipe for Chile Edamame at your dinner table this week.
Stop in at Sparkle and grab all the needed ingredients to make your stomach and your mind a lot healthier! Sign up for our Sparkle E-Deals and get weekly recipes and specials delivered right to your inbox!
