conscious eating


vorites, she suggests opting for snack foods seasoned with unrefi ned or pink Himala- yan salt, fresh guacamole, salsa, olives or pickles. Filling a seaweed sushi wrap with avocado can be a satisfying and easy snack. For easy-exotic, Marlowe says, “I


always keep coconut milk and unsweet- ened curry paste on hand to whip up a red T ai curry, my favorite 15-minute dinner. Simply add fresh or frozen vegetables and protein of choice and you have a satisfying, fl avorful meal that is faster than delivery.” Waddle’s healthy comfort foods in-


Feeding Happiness W


hether it’s a pandemic, a break- up or a busy day with the kids, heading to the kitchen for a


carb fi x or a pint of ice cream is a common knee-jerk response to stress. It’s easy to get caught in a whirlpool of poor eating when our bodies need nutritional support more than ever. Sustained or chronic stress can reduce


levels of dopamine and serotonin—neu- rotransmitters linked to feelings of both satiety and happiness. “When serotonin levels are normal, it leads to both emo- tional satisfaction and a sense of fullness aſt er a meal,” says Certifi ed Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Maria Marlowe, in New York City and Dubai. “Conversely, when serotonin levels are low, it can lead to depression and a tendency to reach for sweet and starchy foods.”


Avoiding Extremes Stress-eating sparks only temporary physi- cal and emotional fulfi llment. “When your brain is in need of energy, it can mimic the symptoms of depression and anxiety,” notes Tara Waddle, holistic life coach at T e Center of Balance, in Greeley, Colorado. Austin Area Edition


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“Finding healthier substitutes that are less processed can make a huge impact.” Experts agree that concentrating on


weight loss or super-strict diets during times of adversity might do more harm than good. “Focusing on the need to lose weight during crisis will only do two things—make you feel guilty if you’re not eating what you think you’re supposed to and potentially make you eat more out of guilt,” says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jennifer Neily, in Dallas. Opting for healthier versions of favor-


ite comfort foods is a doable compromise that can prevent endorphins from plum- meting aſt er the usual temporary spike. “With the right ingredients and recipes, we can satisfy our cravings for sweet, salt, creamy or crunchy with healthier upgrades of our favorite junk foods,” says Marlowe.


Friendly Fare Eating to stay healthy during hard times can tickle the taste buds without a lot of invested time. Marlowe’s go-to favorites like homemade banana ice cream or chocolate truffl es not only take minutes to prepare, but fortify the brain. For must-have salty fa-


AustinAwakenings.com


clude nuts of diff erent fl avors, dried fruits and baked Brussels sprouts with nitrite- free bacon, black pepper and a sprinkle of nutmeg. “T e food you consider comfort food is comforting because it’s familiar,” she says. “When you start eating healthier food more oſt en, it will become comfort food. Just keep trying new things.”


Lifting Moods with Feel-Good Foods by Marlaina Donato


Keep it Simple T e kitchen can be our greatest ally during any life-storm, but having a stress-free strategy is key, especially paying attention to emotional states. “Ask yourself, ‘Is it head hunger or belly hunger? Above the neck or below the neck?’ If it’s the latter and that’s truly what is desired, don’t deny yourself, but choose with conscious under- standing. Savor the fl avor,” says Neily. Marlowe recommends easy meal


planning and maintaining an eating schedule. “T is helps remove some of the stress and decision fatigue that comes with fi guring out what to eat in the moment, especially with random ingredients in the fridge.” Food shopping can be an instant junk food trap. Waddle’s approach is a sure way to outsmart impulse buying based on habit. She says,“Start with the produce department fi rst. T is fi lls your cart with fresh foods and your cart will be full by the time you get to the snack aisle.” Self-compassion can be one of the


most important, yet overlooked consider- ations. “Regardless of what you choose to eat, be gentle with yourself,” notes Waddle. “T e guilt of eating poorly is more damag- ing than the food.”


Marlaina Donato is an author and a com- poser. Connect at AutumnEmbersMusic.com.


Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock.com


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