Eating right can help you maintain a healthy weight and can help you avoid certain health problems, but your diet can also have a profound effect on your mood and sense of wellbeing.
Simple things like eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, cooking meals at home, and reducing your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates can alter your mental and emotional states.
Here are some tips for eating right:
– Practice the 80/20 rule and eat only until you are 80% full. A good way to do this is to eat slowly, so you are aware of your satiation level while you eat. Eating on the go or while watching television are surefire ways to overeat and hinder your body’s ability to properly digest what you consume.
– Ramadan is an excellent opportunity to learn how to plan your meals carefully and how to avoid the post-iftar slump that hinders our ability to pray taraweeh comfortably.The excessive consumption of sweets that follows the long days of fasting in Ramadan and that are a big part of Eid celebrations will take its toll on your digestive system.
– Stay motivated with positive self-talk, pat yourself on the back for making good food choices and make exercise a priority by sticking to your workout schedule. During exercise, your body releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine that together improve your mood, keep you feeling healthy, fit and strong.
Rucola Salad
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cups baby rucola
- 8 ounces white button mushrooms, sliced
- Colored bell peppers, optional
- Parmesan cheese for garnish
Directions
Whisk the mustard, vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of ground pepper together in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil to blend.
Combine the rucola, mushrooms and bell peppers in a salad bowl, add the parmesan cheese and toss with the vinaigrette. Serve immediately.
