Emotional Eating: Eating What’s Good for You
At the beginning of the year, people typically set goals, especially toward health, physical activity and nutrition. Making healthy food choices is not always easy, particularly when emotions are intertwined in those decisions. Mayo Clinic defines emotional eating as “eating as a way to suppress or soothe negative emotions, such as stress, anger, fear, boredom, sadness and loneliness. Major life events or, more commonly, the hassles of daily life can trigger negative emotions that lead to emotional eating and disrupt your weight-loss efforts.” The opposite response, lack of appetite, can be triggered for some people when anxiety or other high-stress feelings impact your life. Responding to and advocating for your body is essential as you get older. Learning what foods (fuel) to eat (and not eat) may produce longevity. The body does what the mind tells it, and you have agency over both. Try this recipe when emotions are running high, but you want to fight back. Also, stocking these ingredients as staples in your pantry will aid in preparation whenever those high stress or high anxiety times do arise.
ingredients
2 individual wild-caught salmon filets (substitution: fatty fish, for example, trout)
1 cup of Jasmine rice (substitution: brown rice)
8 oz of broccoli
Kosher salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
recipe
Season salmon liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Cook in the air fryer, skin side up at 400 degrees, for 12 minutes.
Rinse jasmine rice and cook with desired method (i.e., instant pot)
Roast or steam broccoli (simultaneously while cooking rice or with salmon in the air fryer).
Add pesto sauce to your rice or drizzle sriracha on top to increase the flavor.
Plate, serve and take good care of yourself inside and out!
Brittany is a self-professed foodie and gladly tells everyone that “Good food is her unofficial love language!” She lives in an Atlanta suburb with her husband and 2 daughters.