If you're like me, you didn't have to panic buy two to four weeks of shelf-stable and frozen foods because you already shop like a Midwestern mother of six (again, I live alone with a dog), and have plenty of frozen and dry goods. That said, dry goods aren't always the healthiest (hello, spaghetti and macaroni and cheese!). Here's what else is keeping me fuelled these days:
Plant-Based Foods
I'm trying to veggie-based soups and meals as much as I can to ensure I'm getting a nice array of micronutrients. The other day I made a big meal-prep batch of pav bhaji, my favourite Indian recipe from the Dishoom cookbook I got for Christmas (thanks, mom!). It's essentially a super spiced mash of cauliflower, carrots, peas, green beans, tomato, onion, and potatoes.
Quick and Easy Smoothies
What has also helped: my friend Lisa, a badass dietitian, created a smoothie delivery service and I literally ordered a box of her Woman On The Run smoothie packs (the irony rn) a week before all this went down. Having something ready to blend-up that was put together by an RD has been extremely chill, particularly because she has anti-stress recipes. Of course, you can make your own smoothie packs at home, too.
Doctor-Prescribed Tips
A few diet tips my doctor recommended to me for anxiety relief during our FaceTime:
- Eat fava beans: Dr. Sadeghi told me these have the highest levels of dopamine of any other food.
- Try dried jujube fruit: I had never heard of jujube (besides the candy), but it turns out it's a Chinese fruit. Dr. Sadeghi told me it's a natural immune booster.
- Hydrate: He instructed me to get lots and lots of water, as it's easy to forget drinking enough when you're anxious and stir crazy. He said this is important for immunity, energy, blood pressure, and mood.
- 80/20: So this is for me personally, but you could benefit from it as well. Instead of obsessing over making all my food healthy or making so many batches of chocolate chip cookies I can't move, Dr. S advised me to stick to an 80/20 diet — that's 80 percent good-for-you foods and 20 percent indulgence — to feel balanced and nourished, while still getting in my comfort foods.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Dominique Michelle Astorino