Link Between Traditions’ Menus & Mental Health

Diet Has A Large Part to Play in Mental Health

Quick Tips:

• Make meals and snacks nutrient-dense.
• Use fresh herbs and spices when cooking. This is standard for all of Traditions’ recipes.
• Make meals colorful and appealing.
• Serve several small meals and snacks. Traditions offers an ‘All Day Café Menu.’ at our Fieldhouse Restaurant
• Do not fill up on non-nutritious Items.
• Make mealtime enjoyable and social.

Eat the Rainbow

Colorful fruits and vegetables, such as apples, tomatoes, red peppers, blueberries, etc., have higher antioxidant content, which in turn has been found to lower the rates of depression. The antioxidants also combat inflammation, which is linked to mental health. As an added bonus, these foods also provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, and fiber—important for overall health, including mental health.

Importance of Protein

Adequate protein consumption with every meal (from sources such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, & tofu) has also been linked to adequate Tryptophan production, which helps produce Serotonin, the ‘happiness hormone.’ Our entrées at Traditions have at least 14G of protein per meal.

Indulge in Healthy Fats

The healthy fats listed below are linked to better cell walls and brain health, possibly lowering depression. Furthermore, these healthy fats, often rich in Omega 3, have also been found to lower overall inflammation. At Traditions, we regularly utilize Extra Virgin Olive Oil in our recipes. Salmon is also on our standing menu.

• Olive/walnut/avocado oil
• Fatty fish – mackerel, sardines, and salmon
• Nuts and seeds

Link Between Key Vitamins & Folate to Mental Wellbeing

B vitamins, especially Folate and B12, have also been found to relate to mental health. The best food sources of B vitamins are whole grains (brown rice, barley), meat, seeds, nuts, eggs, legumes (such as lentils), dark leafy green vegetables, and citrus fruit.

Cannot Go Wrong with Classic Balanced Diet

Ensure that each meal is balanced and contains good fats, protein, and fiber from fruits and vegetables (frozen are fine).

Foods To Avoid

Several foods have been found to negatively affect mental health. These include excess sugar-containing foods and drinks, refined carbohydrates (bread, pasta, biscuits, cakes, etc.), and excess alcohol. Try to reduce your consumption of refined carbohydrates, sugars, and alcohol. At Traditions, we use honey in place of refined sugars whenever possible.