Easy Foods That Help Kids (& Adults) Feel Calm
We Could All Use A Healthy Dose Of Calming Foods, Right?! Instead of overeating the common “comfort food” that leaves us feeling bloated & tired, enjoy these foods as a family to help everyone feel calm & comforted…
This list is not all inclusive, but it's a good balance of foods that children are commonly open to eating. These foods contain micronutrients that are said to help us feel calm, but as always, listen to your body & adapt to see what works best for you.
Also, I realize that we might not all have access to these foods so don’t feel like you have to eat these in order to be calm...these foods are simply helpful and not the only source of calm feelings :) Other calming influences: yoga, exercising, laughing, talking, walking, getting some sunshine, music & more.
Fruits: Bananas, Strawberries, Raspberries & Blueberries
Veggies: Spinach, Carrots & Broccoli
Beans: Chickpeas, Black Beans & Pinto Beans
Nuts & Seeds: Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds & Almonds
Complex Carbs: Oats & Quinoa
Proteins: Eggs, Grass-Fed Beef, Poultry, Tuna & Organic Low Sugar Yogurt
Breakfast Ideas: Scrambled eggs with chopped spinach, Smoothie with yogurt & frozen fruit, Oatmeal with nut butter & honey.
Lunch Ideas: Pinto or black beans with cheese & taco sauce, Tuna sandwich with side of hummus (chickpeas) dip & carrots.
Snack Ideas: Granola bars made with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds & oats, Low sugar yogurt with fresh berries & toasted oats.
Dinner Ideas: Stir fry quinoa with sliced carrots, broccoli & lean meat of your choice, Baked chicken nuggets with steamed carrots or broccoli.
My (personal) BEST TIP: if your children or family is wanting sweets always eat sugar WITH the meal instead of an hour later or in between meals. Sounds odd, but when we eat sugary foods, even healthier options, on an empty stomach our blood sugar spikes & then drops leaving us feeling cranky, tired & craving more sugar.
Simply offer sweets as part of the meal or right after to slow the metabolism of the sugars so the sugar spike isn’t as high and the drop isn’t as low.
How will you adapt this information to your daily routine? Do you love planning and making big changes? Or would you rather slowly adapt and work these foods into your diet/routine?
Both ways work, so do what's best for you and your family!
Also, I'm here for you! If you have any questions email me at catrina@granolabarpan.com or message me on Facebook or Instagram @granolabarpan
:)