Feeling anxious, nervous, stressed out? Need a quick food fix? Snacking, when done right, is an art. Anyone can down a candy bar or a bag of chips and a soda. The real skill is coming up with a snack that not only doesn’t add to your stress level but also helps you reduce the stress you already have. Here are some guidelines:
Avoid highly sugared treats. They’ll give you a boost in the short run but let you down in the long run. You’ll crash.
Stick with snacks that have high-energy proteins and are high in complex carbohydrates. They’ll give you a longer-lasting sustained pick-me-up.
Here are some specific suggestions of quick bites and snacks that can boost your mood and help alleviate some of your stress:
A piece of fruit — an orange, peach, apple, or banana. Just about any fruit is fine.
A handful of mixed nuts.
A bowl of whole-grain cereal with a sliced banana.
A spinach salad.
A bowl of fruit salad.
A soft pretzel.
A handful of blueberries.
Air-popped popcorn.
An English muffin. (Go easy on the butter or margarine. A little jelly is fine.)
A container of high-protein Greek yogurt.
A piece of dark chocolate (but just a piece!).
A serving of sorbet.