After the last blog entry many of you emailed me and asked me for a specific diet. There is no real specific diet for a better mood so what I did was give you an example of a bad diet for anxiety (which might mimic the one that you are eating now) and then the example of a good one.
An Example of a Bad Diet for Nerves
MONDAY
Breakfast
Two cups of coffee, a bowl of Frosted Cheerios
Lunch
Two grilled bacon and chess, fries cola, candy bars
Dinner
Fried chicken, rolls, mashed potatoes, pie and ice cream
TUESDAY
Breakfast
Skipped breakfast – coffee only
Lunch
Two cheeseburgers, chocolate pudding, cola
Dinner
Two hot dogs, beans, two beers
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast
Two cups of coffee, jelly donut
Lunch
Pizza, coke
Dinner
Steak, scalloped potatoes, cup of coffee
THURSDAY
Breakfast
Coffee, Egg McMuffin
Lunch
Taco Bell Taco, Cola
Dinner
Bologna sandwich, 2 beers
FRIDAY
Breakfast
Muffin, Coffee
Lunch
Reuben sandwich, fries, pie, chocolate bar
Dinner
Chinese food, beer
SATURDAY
Breakfast
Bowl of Frosted Flakes, two cups coffee
Lunch
Skipped lunch, Sprite plus a candy bar, bag of chips
Dinner
Deep fried fish sticks, potato salad, glass of wine
SUNDAY
Breakfast
Two eggs, two pieces of toast, French fries, sausages, two coffees
Lunch
Bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, orange juice
Dinner
Spaghetti, white rolls, butter, cake, coffee
The diet above is an example of one that contains too much sugar, refined carbohydrates and alcohol.
An Example of a Good Diet for Nerves
MONDAY
Breakfast
High fiber cereal, decaf coffee
Lunch
Whole wheat bread, salad, homemade bran muffin
Dinner
Chicken with skin off, vegetable, brown rice
TUESDAY
Breakfast
1 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons bran, decaf coffee
Lunch
Tuna sandwich, spring water, tea
Dinner
Spaghetti, whole wheat bread, 2% milk, fruit salad
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast
Two pieces whole wheat toast, sliced melon, decaf
Lunch
Broiled fish, salad, sherbet
Dinner
Shiskebob with Rice, Mineral water
THURSDAY
Breakfast
Two egg omelet, one slice wheat toast, decaf coffee
Lunch
Broiled shrimp, coleslaw, carrots, decaf
Dinner
Lean pork chops, mashed potatoes broccoli, gelato
SATURDAY
Breakfast
Banana, bran muffin, decaf
Lunch
Salad, Sprite
Dinner
Pizza, caffeine free soda
SUNDAY
Breakfast
Whole wheat pancakes, fruit, light syrup, decaffeinated coffee
Lunch
Club sandwich on whole wheat
Dinner
Tenderloin steak with baked potato and vegetable
This diet is good because it avoid caffeine and sugar as much as possible without depriving the eater of the occasional treat.
This diet is also good because it has adequate protein. This is very important when it comes to controlling the symptoms of anxiety and PMS.
I feel that it is so important that we do not take out our bad moods on our kids and spouses whether they are due to PMS, post-partum, menopause or whatever. The above guidelines are just that – guidelines – but hopefully they can help you make better food choices during the day.