After failing a math test, receiving a poor grade on an essay or having an overall bad day, CHS students said that they wanted hot chocolate, cookies and ice cream when asked in a survey. While these comfort foods may make your mouth water and increase your psychological happiness, “happy foods,” containing large quantities of vitamins and minerals that induce feelings of joy, are foods that have been proven to also increase physiological happiness while enhancing health. Here are some meals consisting of “happy foods” that can give you pleasure without sacrificing your well-being:
1. Chocolate Anything: Though you may feel guilty when indulging in a treat of this decadent ingredient, there is no need to! The sugars of chocolate increase serotonin levels to stimulate happiness; the fats assist in releasing endorphins and the caffeine and antioxidant amounts positively change your mood.
2. Beef Stew with Veggies and Potatoes: This hot soup warms your belly on a rainy day and the red meat provides tryptophan and protein which are both necessary for a balanced mood. With some vitamin-loaded veggies and serotonin-inducing potatoes, this meal is sure to lift your spirits on the grayest of days.
3. Sweet Potato Soufflé: The complex sweet potato possesses an infinite number of benefits. With vitamins, minerals and carotenoids, the profitable produce boosts moods long-term by regulating insulin levels. As the veggie also protects your immune system, ingest the mighty meal to knock out the spring flu!
4. Chili and Cornbread: The reason the American man’s greatest love is beans and meat is no mystery. While red, black, pinto and many other types of beans are a great side dish, they also are a great source of depression-fighting magnesium. Mixed with protein-rich beef and a side of gluten-containing cornbread to stimulate endorphins, this heart healthy meal will please both your taste buds and your body.
5. Banana Split: To avoid splitting your pants during your next trip to Cold Stone Creamery, modify the traditional sweet with low-fat ice creams to whip up one of the healthiest desserts you will ever consume. Containing huge amounts of tryptophan and B vitamins, this treat will please the senses as well as the intestines.
6. Mashed Potatoes and Turkey: While turkey may cause intense sleepiness, this is due to its large amount of beneficial tryptophan. Alongside the complex carbohydrate, the potato, this meal is too pleasingly scrumptious to only have once a year on Thanksgiving.
7. Spaghetti and Lean Meatballs: For lovers of Italian food, a plate of carbs with spherical meat will be sure to make you smile. But this smile may in fact be your body thanking you for ingesting large amounts of protein, selenium and B6, the vitamin that regulates serotonin production.
8. Scrambled Eggs and Oatmeal: As the most important meal of the day, breakfast should include ingredients your body needs, so that you can face whatever may come your way. Scrambled eggs, full of vitamin B, and folate-rich oatmeal which produces dopamine, the pleasure causing endorphin, will give you the energy you need to stay happy and healthy!
9. Fruit Salad: Not only can the bright colors change your mood for the better, but fruit salad does wonders for your body. This yummy snack will reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes while providing your body with necessary levels of vitamin C and potassium.
10. Homemade Macaroni and Cheese: Milk and cheese have enormous amounts of folic acid, a type of vitamin B which reduces depression, so next time you are feeling down in the dumps, make a steaming bowl of creamy mac and cheese.
