When you’re depressed, it’s difficult to get out of bed, much less cook yourself a nutritious meal. But good nutrition and eating healthy can help alleviate or at least moderate depression. In this article, we’ll give you some suggestions on easy-to-fix meals for those days when any extra work seems monumental.
Stock Up on Frozen Meals
One of the symptoms of being depressed is a lack of appetite. So when you do eat, you want to make sure that you’re consuming as many calories as possible. Frozen meals that contain veggies and complex grains are a great option for quick, simple preparation and nutrition. You can stock up on these meals to make sure that there’s always food around. And because they’re frozen, they lower the preparation barrier.
Eat Healthy, High-Calorie Snacks
Keep high calorie snacks around the house; cheese, peanut butter, eggs, nuts, and energy bars are all convenient and require little to no prep time. Many people have reported that it’s difficult to consume a full meal when they’re feeling depressed. Having these high-calorie snacks around can give you the energy you need without having to eat a lot.
Eating To Change Your Microbiome
Depression isn’t just about feeling down, but about your self-worth. Cooking for yourself seems like a chore when your opinion of yourself is low. Sometimes, an easy-to-make meal is just enough to feel as though you’ve treated yourself. Try to stick to fruits and veggies. Studies have shown that foods can alter your gut microbiome, which in turn can affect your mood. For low-maintenance health foods, try bananas, grapes, celery and carrot sticks (pre-cut), and cherry tomatoes. Simply, wash or peel, then eat.
Ordering Food
In a pinch, order food! With apps like Seamless and GrubHub, you can treat yourself to a good meal without having to lift a finger! Actually, you’ll have to lift your phone with your hand and use a finger to order, but you can stay in bed to do all that.