Back-to-School Food

Posted on September 10, 2015 by admin

Healthy-Foods-Back-to-School

It’s that time of year again! With the school year starting back up, life can start to feel really busy and perhaps a bit stressful. Parents and students alike experience feelings of increased stress around this time each year. Fortunately, there are easy ways to offset and avoid the back-to-school blues and stress. Exercising daily, taking time to relax, or talking with a friend or counselor are tried-and-true ways to keep calm and centered. However, there’s another technique for combating stress and fatigue that is extremely under-utilized but just as (if not more) effective -our food.

Superfood Oatmeal

Posted on May 27, 2015 by admin

Oatmeal is one of the most versatile, nutrient rich, and energizing foods around, making it one of my absolute favorite go-to meals. We all lead busy lives, so fueling properly at breakfast is nonnegotiable if you’re looking to sustain steady energy levels throughout the day. Fatigue, headaches, mental “fogginess”, and inability to stay focused may seem like common, unavoidable side effects of everyday life – some of you may even experience one or more of these issues daily. I am here to tell you that feeling your best, even in the midst of a chaotic, busy day, is possible, and it begins with what you’re putting into your body.

Bowl of oatmeal

What makes this oatmeal recipe an ideal breakfast option is the combination of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and high-quality protein. This triad of elements is referred to as a ‘macronutrient balanced meal’. Meals consisting solely of carbohydrates, even good-for-you complex carbs (such as a fruit & vegetable smoothie), provide fast-acting energy, but will ultimately leave you feeling hungry and low-energy shortly after. Meals high in fat and protein without complex carbs to balance them out are often too heavy on the digestive system, and will leave you feeling tired and sluggish. By creating a balance between these three nutritional elements, your body is provided with both immediate and long-lasting energy while keeping hunger and cravings at bay. Though every body is different, this tends to be a universal rule among everyone.

Eating for Your (Mental) Health

Posted on April 1, 2015 by admin

Salmon for Mental Health

We’ve all heard of eating for better heart health and to lower the risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and even certain types of cancer – but what about eating to improve your mood?

Scientists are finding an increasingly large body of evidence to support the idea that the foods we put into our bodies play a substantial role in how we feel on a psychological level. That is, what we eat and drink directly affects our mood, behavior, thought patterns and learning ability.

The brain is an immensely powerful organ, and like any other organ in your body, it requires the proper nutrients to keep things running smoothly. Through some simple dietary changes, you possess the power to both boost cognitive function and decrease feelings of anxiety and depression.

Cheers to a New Year!

Posted on April 1, 2015 by admin

Happy-New-Year

The holiday season has passed, and we’ve entered into another new year! Collectively, the human race often enjoys a sense of renewed motivation and inspiration around this time. However, many of us may find ourselves feeling sluggish, unmotivated, drained, or a little “down” emotionally. While there may be many reasons for this, at the top of the list is the dietary overindulgence so common during the holiday season. By cleaning up your diet, you’ll not only give your liver a break, but you’ll also experience

More mental clarity
Less irritation, fatigue, anxiety, and depression
Better sleep
Increased energy levels

Working towards new goals and resolutions can be challenging when you’re not feeling your best, whether it be physically, mentally, or emotionally. In order to experience an increased sense of overall wellbeing, we at Jupiter Counseling always suggest a holistic approach.

Click here for a few recipe sugestions