What To Eat During Your Breakup
This week's guest blog comes to us from Janice Formichella, an author and breakup coach (Broken Heart Repair Kit), who works with women to find confidence and courage after breakups. We've enjoyed getting to know her and her powerful story. Today she is speaking about self-care by way of diet - making thoughtful choices to nourish and nurture your body amid stress and transition.
Breakups suck, but your body doesn’t have to suffer.
After a breakup, you may find yourself feeling unmotivated and lethargic. This can lead to bags of potato chips for dinner and some weight gain when you might want it the least. You could experience days when you don’t feel like eating at all, or you may find yourself wanting to snack non-stop. Either way; now is the time to step up and take care of your body as much as your heart.
From feeding the mind to avoiding stress and even some treats to enjoy, here are seven suggestions for your post break-up diet:
1. Salmon with sides
Salmon is stuffed to the brim with omega-3 fatty acids, which continue to be studied for their ability to ease depression. A personally prepared fillet with sides is the perfect dinner when you are feeling downtrodden. It’s simple to make, satisfying, and packed full of feel-good nutrients.
Grilling a salmon fillet only takes about 10 minutes, and placing it on the plate next to some hearty sides just makes a person feel accomplished. This alone is going to help get you through the night. Try some quick brown rice, a baked sweet potato, or a bag of pre-made salad to accompany.
2. Dark chocolate
Besides the well-known feel good reaction that the body has to a nice chocolate treat (chocolate is also known to aid serotonin production), cacao is packed with antioxidants. Loading up on antioxidant-rich foods is crucial right now as it will help your body become more resilient to stress and the impacts it has on your well-being.
3. Organic popcorn (stovetop only!)
Whether you’re staying in for a Netflix marathon, cleaning out your apartment post-breakup, or simply enjoying a self-care day, a hearty snack needs to make an appearance.
When air popped and kept butter free, pure popcorn is low in calories and high in satisfaction. When fresh and hot, it’s the perfect way to add a special touch to your movie night. When tossed in a baggie with some nutritional yeast (packed with protein and B Vitamins), it’s a great snack to enjoy on a weekend road trip or long hike.
4. Wine spritzers
One way to enjoy cocktails without too much fallout is to select drinks that are high in water content. This allows you the indulgence and the relaxing enjoyment without hangovers or high calories, and lessens the chances of making and sending those regretted late night calls and texts.
To prepare the perfect wine spritzer, make sure all ingredients are nicely chilled prior to use. Then, using your best wine glasses (any type will do for a spritzer), fill halfway with a standard white wine or rosé (save the expensive bottles for your next dinner party). Next, add 3-4 ice cubes and top with soda water. Garnish with the citrus of your choice and sip away, but remember, keep it moderate.
5. Morning eggs
Some consider eggs to be brain food, while others swear by their stress-reducing ability. I like them because they give me a boost of energy. What I didn’t always consider, however, is the fact that eggs are full of vitamin D, aka, the sunshine vitamin.
While eggs alone are packed with the good stuff, they are often paired with greasy, carb-filled sides and sometimes end up doing more harm than good. Avoid this by scrambling two eggs with a dash of olive oil and tossing half an avocado on top. For a heartier option, pair soft to hard-boiled eggs with some whole grain toast and sprinkle with sea salt.
6. Pre-made soups
Whether you lose your appetite after a breakup or find yourself wanting to snack even more, you’ve got to keep the nutrition coming in, and soup is an easy and nurturing way to do it.
Besides the fact that healthy soups (strong emphasis on the ‘healthy’ part) help to make sure you get a nutritious meal, they are clearly easy to prepare and will leave you feeling content. Pair your bowl with a dollop of Greek yogurt or some toasted corn tortillas and you’ve got the perfect go-to dinner for those days that come with a lot of struggle.
7. Tea instead of coffee
When consumed during times of stress, coffee can lead to increased anxiety, lack of clarity, difficulty making decisions, and most detrimental right now, trouble falling asleep.
Try trading in follow-up cups of coffee for a high quality herbal tea. It is commonly known that herbal teas have a calming effect, and some varieties also boost strengthening of the immune system, cognitive benefits, and even lowering of depression. Chamomile, sage, and rose hip are soothing varieties to start with.
While it’s always good to be intentional about your food choices, you may find that paying special attention to simple, healthy healing is going to make a massive difference in your post-breakup journey. Who knows — you may even find your body feeling more refreshed than ever when you need it most.
Janice Formichella loves studying women’s history, reading historical biographies, and being in the mountains. You can find her sharing break-up tips on Pinterest and follow her other adventures on Instagram and Twitter.