- We're so excited for this,
because we're talking about the foods
that you eat
and how, maybe, those snacks and breakfast
really helped set you up for the day,
and how it can actually improve your mental health,
and all of that other stuff;
reducing stress and anxiety.
- Danielle Dimengo is joining us now, a dietitian.
It's so good to see you!
- It's good to be back!
- I know! Because we've done these remotes with you,
and we're like, "We want to hug you!"
- It's so much better in person! (laughs)
- I know!
So I understand,
you recently saw an article that was in the New York Times,
and it really kind of sparked you saying, "This is really
important survey and study."
- Yes. Listen, with the pandemic,
we all are facing so much stress,
and new levels of anxiety.
- [Interviewer] Yeah.
And even depression
- [Interviewer] Yes.]
That we've never,
experienced before.
I'm seeing a lot of patients and clients turn to emotional,
what I know, what I call is,
"mindless eating".
- For sure.
- And turning to those comfort foods
that are typically high in sugar.
- Yeah.
And actually do more harm than good.
- And that's scary, and the other thing too,
so many people are home more now,
and you're a few steps away from going to your kitchen.
- Absolutely.
- And so you, you have all those a little more handy too,
and more available.
So talk about how we can eat to improve our lives,
and how we feel. Even COVID,
people who've had it,
they're showing signs of more anxiety.
- Yes.
Depression, and mental health issues.
- Absolutely. Listen, we can't control
a lot of things that are happening around us,
but we can control how we react,
and also what we put into our bodies.
- That's true!
Okay. So it's all good stuff too.
And it tastes great.
- All great stuff!
So there's four big categories,
and I am a big pusher
of the Mediterranean diet,
because the Mediterranean diet fits
in all four of these categories.
The first category is antioxidants.
So you want to make sure that you're getting foods
that are rich in antioxidants,
and they help fight those free radicals.
They help decrease inflammation in the body.
- [Interviewer] Great.
And these foods are found in fresh fruits and vegetables.
- [Interviewer] Love the blueberries.
It's so easy to incorporate this stuff.
Throw a handful, wash them,
throw a handful on your cereal every day.
- Yep, smoothies.
- Or ice cream, if you want a snack at night.
This is my best friend.
- Avocados. Yep we were just talking about that.
- So this is what I packed today in my lunch.
- Yep.
- A little sea salt on that,
and it's one of the best foods
you could possibly put in your body.
- Packed with micronutrients. Great omega-3 fatty acids.
Wonderful, and stores are even making it easier
to incorporate more fruits and vegetables.
You know,
it obviously might be a little bit cheaper to spiralize
your own vegetables,
but there are, in the freezer sections,
ways to even have your pasta in the form of a vegetable.
- And that's awesome, right? Okay.
So what else do we have here?
- So next we have fermented foods, or probiotics.
So when we have a happy gut, we have a happy brain and body.
So we want to make sure that we're feeding
our gut microbiome, the healthy gut bacteria,
the right foods.
So these foods, fermented foods, are that.
We want to make sure that we're getting in yogurt.
We want to make sure
that we're getting in sauerkraut or kimchi.
And these are things that we can throw on,
on our sausage sandwiches, for example.
Or when grilling out this summer.
- Wow. Okay. Or in a smoothie
or something like that.
- Absolutely!
- Great. We've only got a minute.
So we've got to get through these next three.
- Okay.
So the next one omega-3 fatty acids,
and we had talked about that with avocado. So that's great.
Chia seeds. Easy ways to these get in,
put them in your morning oatmeal.
- [Interviewer] Yes. Okay.
- [Danielle] Same with magnesium.
So we can add these walnuts on top,
and then we can even get in a little bit of dark chocolate,
maybe, at night.
- [Interviewer] I like that, okay.
- You want to look for higher percentages of the cacao.
- Well, unfortunately we start craving
when we get depressed, and sluggish, and tired.
We want more sugar.
We want more of that junk food, comforting foods,
but these actually can kind of satisfy those cravings.
- Yeah! And sometimes that means,
when we have those cravings,
that we're actually micronutrient deficient in something.
- So you might need chocolate.
- You have to listen to your- (laughs)
Okay.
- All right. So finally, what's this?
- [Danielle] So a smoothie is a fabulous way
to get in all four of these amazing food categories.
So I made a blueberry smoothie,
because the frozen blueberries
can kind of hide that green spinach,
if you want, you know,
your kids to get in a serving of fruits and vegetables
in the morning.
I added Greek yogurt for some protein.
We really kind of balance those macronutrients
of protein, fats, and carbs. So this is great!
You can have a smoothie on the go.
- Perfect!
- You can even dump it into a drink.
- Love it! (liquid pours)
Oh, that looks fantastic,
and did you mix some spinach in there too?
- I did put some spinach in there.
And avocado for a creamy texture!
- Mm, that's so good!
That incorporates almost all of this stuff.
- And it's refreshing for the summer,
and you're getting everything just in a smoothie!
- Danielle, thank you!
Notice no meat on this table.
I was just reading studies, too,
that say, maybe you shouldn't have more than meat
five times a month.
- And going more plant-based.
- Right. It helps you live longer! (Danielle laughs)
And happier! All right,
we're going to take a short break,
and for all more ideas,
you can go to our website, Fox8.com.