Thanksgiving is a time of year where we get together with loved ones and reflect on what we are grateful for, but let’s face it: Thanksgiving can be a stressful time for everyone. Visiting with family whose opinions you may not agree with, dealing with travel hassles, conversing with opinionated in-laws, and even just cooking all that food! What if there were a magic pill you could take to deal with all that stress so you could get back to being grateful?
While there is no “magic pill” per se, there is magic to be found in what you decide to eat this Thanksgiving. Yes, that’s right; what you eat can have a drastic impact on your mood and mental well-being. Food is largely responsible for producing mood-boosting hormones in the body like dopamine and serotonin, and also supports good mental health through the gut–brain connection. If you’re dealing with extra stress this holiday season, here are a few tips to curate your meal to better deal with it, and help everyone you’re spending time with get along.
