THE FAMOUS STRESS DIET

For one reason or another I’ve been feeling a lot of stress lately; I don’t deal well with stress so I did some research into the best stress busting foods. I’ve always believed there is food for everything that ails a person [the food as medicine concept] and its true in this instance as well. Here is the famous stress diet:

Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 1 slice whole wheat toast, 8 oz. skim milk.

Lunch: 4 oz. lean broiled chicken, 1 cup steamed zucchini, 1 Oreo cookie, herb tea.

Mid-afternoon snack : Rest of the package of Oreos, 1 quart rocky-road ice cream, 1 jar hot fudge sauce.

Dinner: 2 loaves garlic bread, 1 large pepperoni double cheese pizza, 1 large chocolate milkshake, 3 Snicker bars, an entire frozen cheesecake, eaten directly from the freezer.

If this doesn’t end your stress there is something seriously wrong with you and you should see a doctor immediately. If you follow this diet for any length of time you may also have to consider going on a weight loss diet.

But in all seriousness there are a few foods that will help with this malady. Complex carbohydrates such as a whole grain toast or muffin, a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and honey, or tabbouleh salad; The dark chocolate cure is real, it reduces levels of the stress hormone and lowers blood pressure almost as well as drugs. Combined with nuts or seeds it decreases anxiety and depression and elevates moods; Kale chips made with olive oil is another mood booster. People who consume olive oil daily enjoy a bigger boost of the feel good hormone serotonin; A smoothie made with cow’s milk, soy or almond milk, cocoa powder and a banana; Broccoli and ranch dip gives a hefty dose of folic acid which helps decrease stress; A roast beef sandwich on rye bread has iron and protein and salmon with Omega 3 both help eliminate stress; Even just a warm cup of cocoa or herb tea will help since a warm drink of any kind gives one the feeling that all is right with the world. Of course exercise and a good night’s sleep along with eating the afore-mentioned foods will go miles towards relieving stress. Personally a bowl of hot homemade soup also does the trick for me so I’ve been making soup a couple of times a week….not that I really need a reason to make soup, its one of my favorite things to eat and I always have ingredients on hand to make some kind.

I’m in the process of drinking a cup of hot cocoa for my afternoon snack today, minus the Oreos and ice cream. If I had Oreos I’d probably eat those, but I’m not in the habit of keeping cookies in the house…that’s too dangerous. If that doesn’t work I’ll resort to eating Dove dark chocolate pieces with almonds. I have to admit that I do always have that in the house though I strictly limit the amount I eat; most of the time…some of the time…well who’s counting those small pieces anyway? If one or two are good for you then half a dozen two or three times a day must be better, right?

My last sure-fire way of relieving stress is to have a change of scenery, such as going on a trip. I have a trip coming up this weekend that I’m very excited about. That should help me a lot since I won’t have to do any of the driving like I had to the last time.
Just to be sure of eliminating all my own stress I’m trying all the tips I’ve written about and the ‘famous stress diet’ is at the very heart of it. Try it, I think you’ll like it.

 

 

BY WHATEVER NAME…

Zucchini, Courgette, Seemai Sorakkai, Baby Marrows; whatever name is used doesn’t alter the fact that it is now in season, very abundant, and extremely versatile and delicious.

It is one of the easiest vegetables [actually a fruit] to grow, and is so prolific and long bearing that I’d be surprised if you don’t know at least a couple of persons who have already offered you zucchini from their garden….and the season is just beginning.

Used world-wide it is thought to be originally from Italy. The first records show it appearing in the U.S. in the 1920’s, brought by immigrants and first cultivated in California. Usually harvested when about eight inches long, it can grow over night to a length of three feet. Zucchini can be eaten steamed, boiled, grilled, stuffed and baked, fried, made into souffles, fritattas, fritters and pancakes, and used in soups and casseroles. It is a key ingredient in a popular French dish called Ratatouille as well as being made into pickles and jams; it can also make delicious breads, cakes and cookies. In addition zucchini may be eaten raw, sliced or shredded into salads or put in sandwiches.

Zucchini is low in calories, rich in folate, potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and manganese; it’s the perfect plant for a home garden. Gardeners often say that they have to pull the plant up to keep it from bearing. But to control an over abundance of harvest, just pick the flowers, which are also edible. The female blossom grows on the end of each emergent zucchini but the male flower grows directly on the stem. The flowers are good in soups, fritters, or stuffed and baked. When ordered in specialty restaurants the flowers are an expensive delicacy.

Just this morning I made zucchini bread and the fragrance fills the house with sweetness and promise. I can’t wait to butter a warm slice and then eat another slice spread with cream cheese….which is my favorite way to eat it? Now that’s a mighty hard question to answer–one you might have to answer for your self. So if you’re lucky enough to get possession of some fresh zucchini, make a loaf of zucchini bread and try it both ways, perhaps then you’ll have the answer….or maybe not;  it might take another loaf or three before you can decide, but either way, Happy Eating!