Mind/Spirit/Balance
Food can affect more than just your body
Mind
Studies have shown that people who eat a healthy breakfast (not donuts) every morning have improved concentration and better performance in the classroom. Your breakfast should include a protein (eggs or yogurt), and a complex carbohydrate (like whole wheat bread). We used to think that eggs increased your cholesterol, but newer science has disproved that, in fact eggs contain chemical compounds that are great brain food. Add some fresh berries or fruit and you will get even more nutrients that power your school performance! Nutritional Psychology is a new field of study that looks at the relationship of food to mood and mental illness. Eating lots of whole grains, veggies, nuts and seeds while avoiding processed food (stuff that comes in a box or can) can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Spirit
Communal eating is one of our oldest and most basic bonding human traditions. Now, we eat in our cars, in front of our screens, walking from class to class and we are losing the social/psychological benefit of “breaking bread” with others. Eating with others helps to push the “pause button”; we relax and unwind which has a beneficial effect on mental health. Even the act of sitting down in a chair and eating slower improves your digestion. So, make a date to have a meal with someone, organize a class potluck, or share food at a group project.
“If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give you their food give you their heart.” Cesar Chavez
Balance
You don’t have to give up the things you love, but try to be more mindful about them. If you want to have cookies, count them out and put them on a plate. It’s really easy to over indulge if you have a bag of chips or cookies, or a container of ice cream and eat while you are watching a screen. Instead of depriving yourself, start by adding something good – like adding a serving of vegetables or fruits. Learning to read food labels is a great tool to help you make good choices.
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